The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-26
al President DecIIning Ego.

no depth Of thought, no vivacity OF senu-
ment, no felicity Of language about them
They are commonplace and barren to re-
1narkable degree Even in his speech upon
Masonry. delivered at the great Masonic cele-
bration In Boston-a theme and an occasion
which ought to have inspired him to elo-
uuence-there is a poverty of thought and
expression absolutely painful to contemplate.
The only thing, aside from himself, that
seemed particularly to impress his mind, was
the fact that the Masons had paraded the
streets in full regalia, and nobody had insulted
them This seems to have been SO unusual
thing in Mr.. Johnson's experience that his
mind dwelt upon it. Perhaps, had he always
lived in Boston, the scene of procession
quietly passing the streets without ieers would
not have been so new or strange to him.
But whatever poverty of thought Mr.. John
son may exhibit upon ordinary topics, there is
one subject upon which he never fails to have
both ideas and language, and that is-himseG
His egotism is boundless. What he has done,
and said, and been, from alderman up--his
devotion to principle, his consistency, his
courage, his oonscientiousness, and all his
other virtues, are the themes of his never
ceasing remark. No matter what the occasion
or the circumstances, his mind naturally and
inevitably falls into this train of thought. In
this Boston Speech for instance, there are but
four sentences that do not contain the per-
sonal pronoun referring to himself. He tells
the audience first how thankful he is for the
reception accorded him. He next excuses him
self for not addressing them, and Immediately
proceeds to address them at length. Next he
alludes to the fact that he has witnessed and
participated in many Masonic celebrations, in
which he has heard jeers and taunts cast upon
the members for appearing in their proper
attire. He then adds that he should not have
visited Boston on this occasion had it not been
for the Masonic Order. Fearing, apparently,
that this statement might not be fully
credited, he adds that he came in good faith for
the express purpose of witnessing the dedica-
tion of the Temple, and to give it has
countenanoe and sanction. And in the
next sentence he amusingly asserts
that in this-that is, in going
to Boston-as Gin most things in which he
has participated he has first satisfied his
conscience that he was right, and then cleft
consequences to take care of themselves"
This sentence was evidently lugged in to allow
Mr.. Johnson to boast of his conscientiousness,
not so much in this trip to Boston as in those
'smost things" in which he has participated.
He next runs back to the idea that he had
not intended to make speech, asserting that
what he had said was by way of episode.
But his mind still dwelling upon himself, he
evidently supposes others to be thinking of
his speech-making faculties, and adds that
there are some, perhaps, who would not be
prepared to concede that he was "not loqua-
cious." But he AYERS 81 am not, as gene
raj thing, however, very garrulous or loqua-
cious." Started on new tack by these re-
marks, but still thinking of himself, he goes
on to say that what little talking he has done
has been from necessity rather than from
choice. But it has only been on great occa-
sions that he has talked. "When truth,
when principle, when my country, when the
great cause of the human family was at stake
have spoken" With Mr.. Johnson's speeches
made last summer, in his notorious swinging
round-the-eircle campaign, before him, one
might well suppose this passage to be ironi-
call but it is not. 1t is pure, simple egotism
1t is Mr.. Johnson setting himself up as the
defender of truth, principle, his country, and
the human family.
He next is apparently about to discuss the
principles of Masonry, for he says:-'I believe
that the great principles of Masonry are
synonymous with the great principles of free
government" But this is only half the sem
tence, and is merely introduced to pave the
way for him to add-"and if my brothers will
examine my public career from my advent in
political life to the present time, think they
aoH find that hare been true to boh." Still
harping on himself, still boasting, still declin-
ing egO'
But he is not yet done. He next informs
them that he is personally stranger to Massa-
Chusetts, but still her eliminate friend and
acquaintance" and that politically, when
these great principles" come up, men who
understand them can act in harmony. He has
never failed to defend the Order even in its
most trying Ordeals. And here he leaves the
Order and swings around to the more congo
nial subject of himself alone. He says:-sI
care not whether II is religion or politics. or
both combined, in the pursuit and in support
of a correct principle have never hesitated to
express my views. live for principle, I am
devoted to principle, and l take fresh courage