The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-09-13
The disturbance at IndIanapOIIs.

AS was anticipated the Copperhead |
papers. are endeavoring to make the |
most possible out of the disturbance
at the Presidents reception at Indian
apolis. There is no difference of
opinion, even among the opponents of
the President, as to the IMPROPERLY of
preventing the delivery of his speech.
The interruption was not creditable
to the city, nor to the men engaged in
it. Mr.. JOHNSON, or any other citi-
zen, was entitled to hearing, and the
conduct of the crowd in fronto of the
Bates House cannot be excused, Ell
Their by his Cleveland or st. Louis
speeches, both of which were insult
ing to loyal men and disgraceful to
the President. Still his harangues are
only damaging to his own reputation
and the cause he advocates. We do
not defend the disorderly crowd, which
shouted down the President of the
nation. But there is one fact, which
is undoubtedly correct: the first vio
lence which led to the bloodshed,
originated on the part of the Copper
heads, and the victims of the disturb
ance were Republicans. Had it not
been for the rufianism of Democrats,
| the crowd would have dispersed with
out the loss of life or the shedding of
blood but it was too good an opportu-
nifty not to be improved. ~
We were in Indianapolis the morn
ing after the occurrence, and found
the leading members Oft Republican
party unanimous in deprecating the
action of the crowd in refusing the
President hearing And we know
that there is no one who more sim
cerely regrets and discountenances
such conduct than Governor MORTON
The Governor had been absent all the
previous week, attending the Phila-
delphia Convention, and did not arr
rive in the city until Tuesday, after
the President had left for Louisville.
Copperhead papers are entirely un-
warranted in charging him with COM
blicity In the affair, or any knowledge
whatever of it. ae Is
In looking at the affair, it is not
however to be forgotten that Mr..
JOHNSON has repeatedly declared that
he does not appear before his audi
ences as the President of the United
| States, but as private citizen, the
humble, individual and. to use the
language of his speech at Indianapo-
lis, on Tuesday morning, he was
upon this tour of travel, probing the
feelings Of the people, to see whether
his policy was acceptable to them"
He has declared that he cared not for
dignity, and has repeatedly placed
himself upon an equality with
the brawlers in the crowds of
our cities, banded epithets with
them, and made use Of the most
contemplate phrases. He has in
suited the opinions of the dominant
party of the North by calling its mem
bers traitors, towards, and govern
ment swindlers. He has debased and
dishonored his Office, and made him
self the butt of popular laughter and
i conte1n1,ts sEaTJnfler sueh - scircum-
stances, it could, hardly be, expected
/ of any popular assembly to listen pa
tiently and quietly to abuse and SLAM
der even from. the President of the
United States. The wrong and the
mistake, however, was in refusing to
hear him at all His speeches are one
! ly injnring himself, and, as matter
/ of policy, We think he ought to be al
lowed to make them wherever he
| goes. s4no 7#iaia-.ltt1s ISL 1860 -