The Portland daily press., 1867-09-07
snstain Grant!

Ane assassination seems more calamitous
event now than it did two yeai. AGO, when
our loss was new. Then the sorrow oflthe
people was largely made up Of a feeling OF
personal regret for the man who was murder
| ed 1t was the good Duncan, who had been
$50 clear in his great Office" and who had
"borpe his faculties so meekly" that the people
OF the United States realized the poetic idea
OF the Indians, and, with one accord, mourn
ed the death of their Great Father" But,
so far as the public welfare was concerned, it
was supposed that 1t would be guarded with
the same conscientious solicitude as be ore,
and that johnson would administer the gov
ernment in the spirit of his predecessor--not
SO bumanely perhaps, but as firmly and under
the inspiration of the same patriotic motives.
There was even a feeliny of apprehension lest
the great Boanerges, who had thundered so
'naghihcently in the Senate against treason
ana traitors, should make the y ork of restora-
tlon vlndictive, if not sarguinary. The more
humane OF the abolitionists were so mucb dis
tafped Dy the anticipation of wrathiul vista
tions OF executive power upon the prostrate
Southern foe, that they hastened to counse,
modera ion and beg for the exercise of a
Christian magnanimity. II an angel from
Heaven bad in the summer of 1865 described
to the American people the Andrew johnson
of 1867, some mundane court would have is
sued its precept for his apprehension in order
to compel him to make such amends for an
atrocious libel as a celestial visitor might
But the sentiment of the people has become
revolutionized so rapidly that more than q
year has elapsed since any serious attempt
has been made to characterize the conduct of
Andrew johnson as it deserves. The dsap-
pcintment occasioned by bis apostasy is more
than one man ever before occasioned great
nation. -H'
But while il is at times impossible for pa
triots to repress the utterances of profound
sorrow that Lincoln should have died, the re-
gret is lightened by the thought that Grant
is alive. The good Duncan was slain, it is
true, but the assassins allowed stout Macduff
TO escape, and he, if sustained, is able to de-
fend the legitimate authority of the country,
and to thwart the schemes of the revolution
fallen, and not upon the Man of the 22d of
February, who Is an accessory after the fact
to the assassination. johnson may not
have conspired with Booth and his associ-
ates for the accomplishment Of their purpose,
but he has ever since been their yindicator
by taking the measures without which their
work would have failed to effect anything
which they dasired.a 4a .a,asf
I Though the rumors from Washington are
conflicting, there can be no doubt that Grant,
representing the people, is withstanding the
President with all the energy that the author
ity vested in him by law permits him to exer-
else. He cannot be removed, suspended, or
assigned to duty elsewhere without his con-
sent. 1t is even doubtful If he can be ousted
from his position as Secretary of War. IF
he should be removed from the War Office, |
all orders to the army must still be promul-
gated through him.. Owing to the wise pres
cience of Congress, johnson is thus deprived |
of the power to make use of the army for |
unlawful purposes. Though he is Ccm-
Chief, Grant would not hesitate to
disobey any order having the subversion of
the Constitutional power of Congress in
view; and the army, composed of intelligent
and patriotic men, would disregard commands
not coming through the authorized channels
This situation of affairs brings home to ev-
cry adult citizen of Maine this vital question
for descision. Will you vote next Monday for |
johnson and Dictatorship, or for Grant and
legitimate authority? The issue is as plainly
before you as if their names were written on
your ballots. Yet under the circumstances
there be those who will talk of currant wine
ana nomem made cider. Heaven ivip tir5r,r,
for the issue is not cider, but Libertyi