The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-07
The National Peril.

IF Andrew Johnson be an honest patriot at
heart, and striving TO do what he can to restore
justice and harmony to the country, he is so
stupidity ignorant, 80 wofuny mistaken, 80
perversely lycounselled, so desperately obstinate,
that he succeeds only in casting himself before
the wheels of progress at every step that he
takes. But among his ecoentricities is pre-
tended reliance on the voice of the people. A
more Oonsummate coward was never entrusted
with the destinies of great nation. He has
not the courage to adopt a ''policy" upon its
merits, and then, like old Davy Crockett,
being once sure that he is right, "to 60 ahead"
He is perpetually appealing to the people here
and there, forever in doubt as to whether he
has interpreted Alright the vor Del which
speaks through the cor popuH. In this
way alone can we account for the
hesitation which has marked his
course of late He has, without any qualiGoa-
ton, pronounced the so-called Military bills
passed at the last two sessions Of Congress
unconstitutional, and yet he has attempted to
enforce them after a fashion. No sooner has
he selected the agents for carrying out their
provisions than he complains of the interpreta-
tion which is put upon them, and Sheridan
and Siokles are relieved of their commands
And then he appoints as their successors
tried soldiers, whose first official acts are con-
frmatory of every vital measure of their prede-
oessors.
The fruits of this vaoillation are seen on all
sides. By his denunciation of the acts of
Congress he has inspired the unrepentant
Rebels with hope; and by the assignment of
such soldiers as Sheridan, Sickles, Hancock,
and Candy to the command of the Military
Districts, he has disgusted his adherents in
the Northern States. And now he has
paused in anxiety and alarm, to await
the result of the elections which are to be
held tomorrow in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and
Iowa. Once more he appeals to the people,
and once more the voice of the people will be
heard. If the Democratic party bears off the
palm in these three great States, Andrew
Johnson will pick up fresh courage, and
when Congress meets in November
they will find him just as obstinate
and Just as stupid as they found him on the
5th of July last. But if Pennsylvania, Ohio,
and Iowa speak out in tones that are not to
be mistaken, we imagine that the task Of
Congress will be comparatively an easy one,
and that the only impediments which will be
thrown in its way will be the harmless pro-
testations of the man who accidentally Occu-
pies the chief position in the nation. The
forcble installation Of the unreconstructed
members from the Southern States is again
revived and discussed by the adherents of
the President, and if the result of the elections
tomorrow be favorable to this scheme, the
cause of liberty, justice, and harmony will be
placed in great peril. Backed by the voice of
three great States, and by the counsel of such
men as Seward aud Stanbery, the mischief
that Andrew Johnson may work will be incal
culable, even if he fail in his attempt to force
upon Congress men whom that body has
solemnly and repeatedly declared it will not
receive. The duty of the people is therefore
plain. Let them thunder forth from the bal
lot-bOx their condemnation of "my policy" in
all its variations and vacillations. Let Andrew
Johnson have before him the unmistakable
assurance that the nation estimates him at his
true worth.