The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-30

Mr. johnson has unsheathed the sword Of
disturber and usurper, and there can be no
further parley with him,
a conflict with General Grant is then simply |
question OF time. The Generals GOODNESS /
and sagacity may enable him for brief period |
10 avert an open rupture but come it must |
eventually, unless Mr.. johnson abandon his |
pretensions-and even that step would not |
save minor unless General Grant himself |
recede from the position in which Congress
has placed him. Neither of these contingencies
peing probable, the collision which now forms
snpJect OF gossip and speculation must be
considered certain
That this estimate of the case is not exag
gerated is proved by, the antagonism that ex-
lists between the claims of the President and
the duties and responsibilities of the General.
Admitting that the former yet possesses the
power of removing the District Commanders,
and recognizing as obvious his purpose to
retain in command only those who share his
hostility to the form and spirit of the Recon-
struction acts, it is plain that there his authO-
rity ends. Over all else the General-in-Chief
is supreme. Being clothed by the law with
the power of revising, revOlIing, or confirming
the doings of the District Commanders, he
holds in his hands the means of counteraoting
much of the mischief to be apprehended from
the Presidents removals. 1t is possible for
him to impose an absolute check upon those
whom Mr.. Johnson may send to execute his
troll to make them instruments of carrying out
the law. All this General Grant may do. All
this the law enioins him to do. And by doing
it promptly and WELL he may from the outset
Illustrate the Vaccinations of the President.
But to this exercise of lawful authority on
the part of General Grant Mr.. Johnson refuses
to quietly submit. AS Commander-in-C Chief
under the Constitution, he claims the right
not only to remove and appoint, but also to
instruct. On the hollowness of his claim it is
scarcely necessary to speak; for even the Com
mander-in- Chief albeit holding his Office inde
pendently of Congress, must be governed by
it's laws in the exercise of his functions.
Abstractions aside, however, the President has
| asserted his pretensions in this respect in the
cases of Hancock and Candy, and we are not
| permitted to suppose that he will qualify them
| when the exigen ncies of his position grow more
| imperious The explanation supplied at his
| instance to the Boston Post is too explicit to
| be misunderstood. Under the pretense of up
| holding the law, he is attempting to annul
| those of its provisions which confer ON Gene
\ raj Grant the task of supervising and regu-
] lating its administration. Mr.. Johnson is, in
4 fact, exercising an authority which the law
| declares is no longer his, and to this extent is
| seeking to curtail the powers of General Grant.
The gift of prophecy is not needed to tell
! how this conflict of pretension with lawful
| power will end. A positive collision may be
| aVerted to-day, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps
week, if General Grants habitual modera-
tion suggests temporary methods of escape.
But in the nature of things these expedients
cannot endure. Mr.. Johnson's career during
| the last few months has shown that he can
not appreciate moderation, and that forbear-
| ance but feeds his arrogance. The truce of
to-day will prompt him to urge further de-
mands Tomorrow and at last General Grant,
obeying the dictates Of duty, will be COM
| PEELED to assume an attitude of open, avOwed
hostility. The prospect is not pleasant
one, but we shall gain nothing by ignoring
! its probabilities, or closing our eyes to its
! perils. 1t is some consolation to feel that, as
| between Mr.. Johnson and the bold, bad men
who surround him, and Congress, with Gene
raj Grant at its side, the ultimate result is
not doubtful. But this certainty of final
triumph for the right does not afford COM
pensation for the immediate injury to business,
and the losses and gloom of the intervening
period, which proceed from Mr.. Johnson's
wild and wicked proceedings.
| The Three Great Forces of this RevOIu-
! ttOnary Age.
From The N. Y Herald.
! What are the leading characteristics of this
| age This is a question to which many diff
ferent yet appTOpropriate answers might be
| given. We know only one answer which is at
once distinctive and exhaustive. 1t is the age
| of tba 11rintipo 1orass tho ctaarn angina and