The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-15

Gradual Reconstructi0n 80 La.t-Tho True
Course for President johnson.
When Appius Claudius proceeded to the
execution of his neat little plot for the posses
sion of the beautiful daughter of virgnius he
little dreamed Of the swift and decisive retri-
button that was to follow against himself and
his confederate rulers of Rome. AS little did
Mayor Monroe and his confederate rulers Of
New Orleans dream last July that their bloody
suppression Of hostile political convention
would result in radical reconstruction Of
Louisiana. Yet such has been the result Of
that historical New Orleans massacre. In
truth 1t has not only brought about local
revolution, but decisive issue with President
johnson and definite solution Of the whole
problem Of Southern restoration in this
Louisiana bill, which, rejecting all that the
President has done, begins the work as from
the collapse Of the rebellion. Thus the New
Orleans riot becomes IN enduring landmark OF
great political reaction and revolution, like
the sacrifice Of Virginia or Lucretia, or the
Harper's Ferry raid and the hanging Of old
John Brown.
The bill which has passed the House and
which will surely pass the Senate for the radi-
cal reconstruction of Louisiana came from the
committee appointed to visit the spot and to
inquire into the facts and causes of the New
Orleans riot This bill is the remedy proposed
for the evils to which that riot is traced-the
outcroppings from the still living roots of the
rebellion. These roots, sprouting SO vigor-
ously under the Presidents policy, are, with
his policy, to be extirpated, root and branch,
and Louisiana, under the directions and super
vision of Congress, is to be reconstructed by
loyal men upon the basis of universal suffrage
to loyal whites and blacks, and "none others"
This bill will doubtless 60 to the President in
season to require his veto, if he would prevent
its becoming law, and the question here re-
ours, "what will he do with it,"
The task Of answering this question devolves
not upon us, but upon Andrew Johnson. Had
he followed our advice, however, upon the heel
of the elections of last autumn, he would have
escaped this dilemma. Now he is pushed into
a corner, and one of two things he must make
up his mind to do--he must surrender his policy
or evacuate the White House. A somewhat
famous American traveller, the Chevalier
Wikof (who is going to bring out new book
before long), says that "once upon time," in
journey among the mountains of Attica, in
the classic land of Greece, ne found himself on
his donkey in a narrow pass, confronted by
another donkey with his driver walking behind
him. The two donkeys came together face to
face at point whore it was impossible for
either to pass by the side of the other, and
where it was very difficult, too, for either to
back out In this emergency the riderless don.
key, with the sagacity Of an old campaigner,
laid himself down fat and well braced upon
his stomach with his face close TO the ground,
thus making bridge over which the Cheva-
lier's donkey and the Chevalier passed in
safety This done, the PROSTATE donkey rose
again to his feet, and both donkeys, one East
and the other West, went on their way rejoicing
Now, as matters stand, the Chevalier Wikoff's
donkey is "Old Thad Stevens" who has the
right Of way by the wall, aud the other donkey
Is Andy Johnson, who, by the law of the road,
must yield the wall or in some way make
passage. II he can't diverge from the path
without going over the precipice his only
alternative Is to lie down fat and well braced
upon his stomach, and still and steady, so that
"Old Thad," with Congress upon bis back, may
walk right over him. Will not this be better
than the example of Curtius' leaping into the
gulf? We think it vastly better.
Let Mr.. johnson remember that the rustic
belle Of Goldsmith's fancy stopped to conquer,
and be encouraged thereby. Let him surren-
der this whole question Of Southern recon-
struction as General Lee surrendered when he
found himself fairly run down and cornered.
The wise man makes virtue of necessity, and
the true statesman comedies something to gain
something. Giving up his Southern policy,
then, as lost and hopeless, let Mr.. Johnson in
his message to the new Congress on the 4th Of
March take new departure on the money
question, involving the abolition Of the national
banks and the substitution Of legal tenders, the
abolition Of the income tax and the modifca-
ton Of our internal revenue tax to tax, like
the English system, upon ten or dozen lead
ing products or manufactured articles, and the
modification Of the tariff for revenue purposes
only TO the extent OF eighty millions receipts,
and before the end Of the year he may so divide
the republican party as 10 become master of the
situation.
We know that Mr.. johnson. misled, perhaps,
by Mr.. Seward and Thurlow Weed, or by Gov
ernor Orr and that set, or by Dixon and Doc
little, or BY all OF them, has not followed our
advice since his return from Chicago; but il is
never too late 10 mend. II must be clear to
him now that his Southern policy must be
dropped or that be win be dropped, and that
in surrendering the South to Congress he must
do something 10 get footing in the North or
be mere auioma ton 10 the end Of his term
a skipjack pulled by old /" Thad Stevens" The
new departure suggested on the money ques-
ton Is the ticket. This thing, at all events, II