New-York tribune., 1867-09-18
TILE PEOPLL.

Rcncath all the political excitement, the dal-
GERS which we fear, and the evils which we
tnovv. there is profound element OF pe1ma-
rept security upon which the country rests
The Presidents threats shake the surface, but
tbe depths are undisturbed The lawful method
Of reconstruction is met by prOclamatlons III
tended to restore plans repeatedly repudlated
by the country; gold rises to IA. Sheridan
and Sicklcs are removed, and the Ect Is an
swcred by the Indignation of the people. But
no manic follows; no doubt Of the result Is
felt Our bonds arc not deprCciated and Ill
Europe the demand for them is as steady ms
the demand for breadstufis. The farmer
pauses i'll the fuTOw to hear ol new
Presidential usuIpatiOnS, and then lays MS manu-
again to the plow. The mills and factories 90
not pause; everywhere is the hum OF ihuustl!
new railroads are projected commerce epos
and flows with the tides; the crops are gar
ncred, and the fields titled anew. The busi-
ness of the country is affected 10y its pdillcal
dangers. but the injury is slight in comparison.
The blow is heavy, but it falls lightly Yet
tbis general peace and serenity OF the people
exist while the country Is threatened With Il
new revolution. The politics OF the United
States are to-day in a more dangerous state
than those Of any other nation in the world. II III
any South American State, or even in France the
executive officer should dare to do what Mr.
Johnson has done, and the elements OF disorder
should be as strong and active as they arc
here. two weeks would not pass before dozen
armies, headed each by a scf-proclaimed Dlc-
tator, would be marching upon the capltal,
But Mr.. Jolnsons example arouses no armed
l,lc mil of soldiers
melted into the population, but no power but
that of the Government can make thcih Noi,''eis
AGAIN. This absolute peace is not the result ol
indifference or ignorance; the people KNOW 'hc
dangers of the country, but also know how
they are to he met
That Mr.. johnson opposes their will and seeks
TO overthrow their principles the people per
fcctly understand, and they feel all the evils
that his course produces; but they have learned
that their principles are indestructible, and that
their will is irresistible. They are calm be-
cause they are strong They never dream
OF resorting 10 an arbitrary exercise oil
power, because they know that 10y consiitu-
tional and peaceful methods everything can
bc ACCOMPLISHED Gen. Grant has recently
been praised for his moderation IN not
making himself Dictator, Int doubtless no one
knows better than he that that Is the one
Office which is impossible to reach III our Re
pubhc. Ii exists only in the visions OF luna
tie. We all understand that any usurpatlon OF
the President, any conspiracy, can be subdued
by the civil or military powers lodged in the
Government by the Constitution. We have put
down the Rebellion, and can deal with It's re-
suits. The people have earned their
~ IN
a better right to believe in the strength OF the
Republic Democracy has been tested and
needs no other test for centuries. 1t has been
prosperous in peace Of 20 years, and has tri-
umphed over its greatest dangcr-thc war oi
brothers against brothers. Our victory was
gained by terrible sacrifices II Is used with
unexamplcd moderation we believe that under
no other form of government could -four mil
lions of slaves have been liberated by force
the rebellion of five hundred thousand citizens
subdued without resulting III q dcspOtism on an
oligarchy.
The quiet and confidence of the people is the
best proof of the security Of thc country. Ii
may suit some men to predict panic and linan-
cial ruin, but there is no fear that the future
will be worse than the past and every reason
to believe that in Kidding ourselves of slavery
we have established the Republic upon
foundations which nothing but the slow
changes of centuries can affect. The people
will proceed to ultimate victory through
peaceful means the laws Of Congress will be
enforced if any officer, military or civil, dis
obeys them, he will be punished. We have
only to continue to be firm and moderate TO
obtain the full triumph of our principles and
the defeat of every man OF measure that
opposes them.