The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-09
ANDREW JOHNSON sTEREOscOPI-
CALLY VIEWED.


politicians who nominated him. His face was
long familiar in the National Assembly. His
abilities, his politics. his habits. were fully
understood by those who placed him before the
people for the exalted position he now holds.
And II he has disappointed us they are respon-
sible. We we'll remember how heartily we cast
our ballot for--as they taught us 70 believe
Honest indy. We confess TO great disap-
pointment. We would not think of voting for
him again, even for Mayor. He has good
points of character but is not calculated to give
dignity 70 the position nor harmony to the
popular elements. IL should be to those elec-
uon managers a wholesome lesson for the
future. In the meantime, we should be as amla-
BILE as possible over our folly, and show our
wisdom by making the best of it.
We propose to view our subject irnpartially-
not with the contracted eyes OF a partisan, but
with the even scales of liberal Judgment.
We would open an account with him debtor
and creditor, and strike the balance according
10 the strict rule of justice. No easy task this,
we confess. Prejudice has been the blind halter
TO truth throughout all history. We remember
how II bent the stubborn knees of old Copper
nlcus, and forced hlm to recant grave convlc-
tlon; how IL reviled Harvey, imprisoned Ste
Vens, burnt heretics at the stake, and hung
men mel anu women IN Boston for wearing drab
anu Iunnel bonnets. IL is still rampant, bar
ring truth, shutting out the light, dragging
pack the car Of progress, and blowing the
dying embers of an expiring sectonalism,
which has too long distracted our country. We
would rather err In liberality than pander to
such spirit.
We have watched the progress of this quarrel
between the President and his old friends with
much care, and have arrived at this conclusion:
IN the beginning he meant well. He mas been
rrliated into his present obstinacy by deter
mined enemies in the camp; and his unGuarded
tongue is the rope with which they have exc
cuted him politically. Early, Sumner scanned
the situation. Sumner is Phillips reflected with
increased focus from the Senatorial telescope.
He saw that Andrew johnson was to be "a bar
rler to tndscrtminate suffrage, and forthwith
proceeded TO pour out his walls of wrath upon
him. In the face of astonished Senators he de-
cared the President Il WLUeJOuSher Of secession"
and was sorely rebuked by them. II was
trick OF the willy AboiitonISt 10 head off old
Tennessee and was successful, no doubt, be-
yond the most sanguine calculation. The
President waxed hot with wrath, and popped
his head into the moose most obedcntly. This
was on the 22d OF February, 1860. In the pre-
sence OF large assemblage he, in passion,
kicked the beam OF political respectaoility, his
last words being "dead duck
His unguardeu tongue mas done more TO de-
stroy his popularity than ali the Congressional
pack together. II has out-Stevened stevens, and
made opponents by the score. That unfortunate
speech, III which he stopped from his august
position TO handy epithets with his opponents,
ana mis- unprecedented eXlempOres in his
memorable pilgrimage To the grave of Douglas,
did more to neutralIZe his statesmanship than
all his enemies could nave done in years OF
wOrdy battle. In comforting ID. ID. on Forney
he lost his title to respect from those who
elevated him to power. Let all future PreS-
dents adopt silence for their motto IL they would
enjoy an easy couch.
to, We are rather with johnson, with his quail
fled suffrage, than with Sumner. We would
like TO see universal suif. age when we are ready
Tor it. We hope to live To enjoy this glorious
elimination of political reform; but we know
ignorance is a tyrant, moSt unjust to its own
VOIaries, and the very Dane of the ballot. This
was fully proven in the late struggle. For thirty
years past 1t has given US worthless paper for
currency instead OF a conndIng national gold
representatives. Prudence tells us to take warn
ing from The past, and beware how We throw
our "pearls before swine"
The President has clearly disappointed his
friends; but, to "give the Devil his due" he has,
in the past deserved well OF his country in It's
most trying hour. We remember MIN as Sena-
tor, when treason raised It's slimy crest in the
Senate. How he faced the music, and smOte
witn keen lebuke the arch-traltors OF MS own
sunny South. How, AT the close OF JhAt eN-
citing contest, he journeyed through the North,
arousipg the leLhaTgic populace TO their danger.
How, when the Border States hung trembling
i'll the scale he flew 10 the post of danger, and
1or Jour trying years beat back The maudened
turies of secession. The Judgment of all loyal
men up 10 this time was that, next To Abraham
Lincoln, Andrew Johnson was most deserving
of honor at their hands.
"How has the mighty fallen! Strange meta
morphosis. He is to-day the most unpopular
man in public; and defiant majoriLieS ride
rough-shod over his vetoes. as sort OF Con
gressional recreation. Had he cultivated an
amable department., he might have retained
much of his popularity, and rendered harmless
he thrusts OF his designing enemies.
Doubtless the Presidents egotistic, dogmatic,
stubborn, impetuous, unguarded; but we cannot
Lelieve him a traitor, or In improper sympathy
hink he has proved his patriotism above SuS-
picion; and credit should be given him in
making up our balance-sheet
W ould we impeach? No. why waste our
ammunition on a dead duck2" We would not
exchange our lrying-pan tor the hre. Were we
Andrew johnson, we would pray without ceas-
ing for impeachment. II would be his oppor-
unity. We can conceive how eminent ana
able counsel could add a new page TO the
volume OF our national eioquence IN the
defense OF such a case, the woTlG holding breath
less attention TO every utteIance. AcqulIJal
would in all probability follow; and the great
Union party-that hope OF prosressMWo9iu
slagger under the effects OF its own FOLLY. It's
power Tor good would be perllled, ana the
detunct corpse OF Democracy-Lhat arch-enemy
OF pTogresS-might start afreSh from the grave
TO which tried patriotism has consigned II.
Philips, sumner and Beecher are all, aouoJ-
less, well-meaning men. They nave thelr noD-
bles, and black ones they are; and they choose
10 rlue them, without CnarL, lantern, or COM
pass, into the unsurveyed future, reckless OF
consequences. Shall we mount behind aud 40
likewise? This Is notthe platform OF our party
we prefer listening TO the admonitlons OF ex-
perlence, and TO exercise, at least, little OF the
caution NOuchSaled to us by nature. w
we can recognize "a flaw in our own web. we
thlnk II the height of bigotry TO assent TO every
eulcI OF our party. What party, either IN
stare OF church. was ever perfect, and void OF
pIeJuoice? MnjOrtieS run into tyranny as
freely freely as water runs down hill. We should be
ever awake to the tendencies of human nature.
Inc PRESIDENT may have too much charity for
AIeDels' his opponents may err on the other
eAueIne. we would choose "A middle ground,
on Whlcn Doth reconstruction and recOncilla-
@ @llOn coulu De contaminated, TO secure the one
mttlout Ihe olher, would be like a foolish at
tempt 10 rear house oi stone without the
necessary cement with which to render IL en-
We would not justify the President in his per-
NeIsenesS, but We dare 70 credit him for the
goo9 ueeuS OF the PASTOR the faithful spirit
! w hiou ii Wntch ne stroVe to save the Union nom
lne Whlrlpool OF secession. One thing is de-
serving OF consideration. Traitor or not he has
oNnIaehGe OF the best men of Abraham