Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-08-16
A DEAD SHOT.

The telegraph brought us, last week, an
interesting item from Washington, to the
effect that the President VISITED the grounds
OF the German Sharpshooters during their
recent Prize Festival, and having been pro.
vided with magnificent rifle, fired three
times in succession at the bull's-eye, hitting
1t every time. Some of the newspapers,
wishing to make his accuracy appear still
more remarkable, add to the brief report of
the telegraph the information, derived from
special sources, that Mr.. johnson, before he
hit the bull's-eYe, had imbibed several glasses
oil lager, and that after he had done shooting,
he was loudly cheered, and pelted with In
Vulnerable bouquets. So far from disapprov-
ing of any part of these proceedings, we
cordially approve the whole performance.
AS for the lager, we are glad to hear of the
President taking anything SO weak, and
though with politeness that does it credit,
the telegraph says nothing of how near the
amlable sportsman was to the bull's-eye
when he hit it, we are so pleased with the
condescenson of the thing, that we will ex-
press no rude doubts as to his skill. With a
magnificent rifle in his hand, his spirits
genially excited by few glass of lager, a
very large bull's-eye placed comfortably near,
and an admiring world at gaze, we think the
spectacle of the President hitting the mark
three times in succession picture that ought
at once to be consecrated by the talent OF
Mr.. Powell, and set up in whatever vacant
space Mr.. Leutze may have left In the Capt.
toll.
And yet, we cannot but contrast the Presi-
dents success in hitting this particular bulls
eye, with the lamentable failures he has
made whenever he has tried to hit anything
else. He has fired off innumerable guns,
pop-guns, and squirts, but the mortiiying
result has uniformly been that the only game
he has brought down has been himself. The
rccoil OF his piece has fioored him without
fail. He has repeatedly been hoist with his
own petard. First, he tried his hand at
Congress; but that obdurate body, SO far
from being afraid of him, seems to have con-
cluded that the safest place for 1t to stand
was directly in front OF his rifles muzzle, as
twas plain whatever he aimed at he was
sure TO miss.
Then, there is Phil Sheridan. The Presi-
dent has failed so signally 10 hit that bulls
eye, that it makes his success at the German
Festival seem either miraculous or acciden-
tai. Sheridan is a splendid target to aim at;
there IS no reason, apparently, why the
President should not hit him. Congress
has left sufficiently magnificent rifle within
his reach, if it did not actually put it in his
hands. No doubt, he has taken plenty oI
lager, if not something else, while, if he
should once hit that shining mark, no one
can doubt that he would be showered with
rebel bouquets in plenty. But, thus far, he
has done nothing but put his rife to hii
shoulder, and bring it down again Some
say he is afraid others say that Grant won
let him fire; but, whatever may be his rea
son, that bull's-eye is yet to hit.
The last mark the President has missed
has been Mr.. Stanton, whom he has at las
hit, but with only the most ludicrous result
There stands the target - our venerable
marksman walks straight up to it with
confident air, and takes aim at it with til
sublimest assurance of success. But, alas
as the smoke clears away, n very dlfferen
| spectacle is presented from what his admi
) rers hoped. 1t is not Mr.. Stanton who
sprawling in the dust, but the valiant Ter
s nesseean himself, who, though apparent
l ignorant that he is shot, will sooner or late
, feel the wound.-N y. Tribune.