Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-08-29

1t is not by compromise that thls war OF
principles can be ended. No johnson Con
vention, no cringing of weak Republicans,
can avail. We are not of those who are
content now that Gen. Thomas has gone TO
New Orleans, and assure the people that the
country is safe so long as Grant remains in
the Cabinet. These appointments may
strengthen our hopes, but do not remove our
doubts, for against them stands the all-im-
portant fact that Sheridan has been removed.
| This is the proof that the country is not
| safe /; that Mr.. Johnson, undismayed by all
his hair-breadth escapes from impeachment,
has the boldness to defy the people and to
resolutely carry out his purpose of breaking
down the reconstruction policy of Congress.
Sheridan was to the President the embodi-
ment of principle. In Sheridan he saw the
great executive of Radicalism-the whole
| legislation and spirit Of Congress summed up
| in the action of Military Commander. Per-
sonal enmity was not the impulse of the Pre-
sident. Sheridan was to him the Republican
idea made tangible, and he struck that idea
down. Can we delude ourselves with the
belief that the blow falls on Sheridan alone,
and not upon us? Can we take Thomas's
appointment as an atonement for Sheridan's
| disgrace? Can we suppose for moment
that Andrew johnson, having successfully
defied the Republican party, having deliber-
ately struck ii full in the face, will rest salts
fled with his triumph? We do not thus
mistake him or his policy We understand
the removal of Sheridan as a proclamation
of war, and are ready to accept the issue.
Our Washington correspondent asserts
that the policy Of removing all Generals. in
the Rebel States who do not take Mr.. john
sons views of reconstruction will be carried
out, and we can see no reason to doubt it.
The Presidential attack upon Sheridan is al
ready begun upon Sickles and Pope, and
The National Intelligencer, the Prcsi-
dents adjutant has drawn up the order for
their removal, and it only needs to be signed.
That will be done at the right time, If Sick
les and Pope persist, as those upright sol
diers will, in executing the Rcconstroc-
ton laws as Congress tended, The
reputation of the pure and gallant How.
ard is undermined by ISLANDERS, and
he is to be mustered out. Why should
these officers not be removed? Wha
} difficulty does Mr. johnson fear, having tri
} umphed over Sheridan? He has taken out
J the keystone of the arch, and may pull
down the rest of it at his leisure. In thu
Presidents new course there is more cour
age and ability than the people had Supposed
him to possess. 1t was a master-stroke tt
bring Grant into his Cabinet. The appoint
, ment of Thomas was an excellent plan tt
! enable such papers as The Times to diver
the attention OF the country from the intamN
: of the removal of Sheridan. 1t was equally
/ shrewd to send him to fight the Indians
that all Journals of the kind might fall int
! raptures to see the hero of Five Forks ono
! more at the head of an army. Nor is MIR
I johnson less adroit in resolving 10 reorgan
: izc his Cabinet-in any event it is perfectl,
safe, for the new one cannot easily be NOR
c distasteful to the people than the old.
. | frhaen nrpparatiOus are OminOuS o
1 change, and not the change for the better
a Andrew johnson does not retract; no san
4 man can hope that movement whic
h begins with the removal of Sheridan cal
u mean repentance or remorse. The chang
: is from the defensive to the offensive
q and Mr.. johnson marshals his desperat
: forces TO open attack upon Congress
1t may reconstruct the laws, but he will re
}, construct the machinery by which they al
l. administered. We believe that the Presider
@ desires to so far modify his policy that
Y NAV obtain the support Of the Conservativ
Republicans, and to dazzle with the robber
e of great names, or the betrayal of splendi
d regulations, the perception of the peopl'
d He will use any weapon that comes to han,
d He throws the fame of Thomas as va
IS over the downfall of loyalty in Louisian
N and makes the General of the Army a sent
N mel at the door of the White House. B
beneath and beyond all this parade the kes
IL eyes of the people direct the swiftly mo
1t ing, unrelenting foe pushing onward to IL
Of attack. They know in Andrew Johnson
Of man resolved to prevent the reconstructit
L. of the South upon principles they have la
ID down through Congress; they. know tn
ie his purpose is to replace the Rebel States
I'd the Union without guarantees or pledge
IN free to repudate hereafter their surrender :,
t. Rebel principles; they know that when
er disgraced Sheridan he rnsulted them. The
a perfectly understand that he means wal, al
at no longer one of defensive strategy, but
I'd deliberate and combined aggression.