New-York tribune., 1867-08-13
A DEAD Mot.

II
teresting item from Washington, to the effect
that the President visited the grounds OF the
German SharpshOoters during their recent Prize
Festival, and having been provided with
magnificent rifle, fired three times in succession
at the bull's-eye, hitting it every time. Some
of the newspapers wishing to make his accur-
acy appear still more remarkable, add TO
the brief report of the telegraph the intorn1a-
tion, derived from special sources, that Mr..
johnson, before he hit the bulls-eye, had i'm
bibed several glasses of lager, and that after
he had done shooting, he was loudly cheered,
and pclted with innumerable bouquets. SO far
from disappearing of any part OF these pro-
cecdings, we cordially approve the whole per-
fOrmance. AS for the lager we are glad to
hear of the President taking anything so weak,
and though, with pOliteness that does 1t
credit, the telegraph says nothing of how near
the amiable sportsman was to the bulps-eye
when he hit it, we are so pleased with the
condescension of the thing, that we will express
no rude doubts as to his skill With mag
nifcent rifle in his hand, his spirits genially
excited by few glasses of lager, very large
bulls-eye placed comfortably near, and an adj
miring world at gaze, We think the spectacle
of the President hitting the mark three times
in succession picture that ought at once to
be consecrated by the talent of Mr.. Powell,
and set up in whatever vacant space Mr.
Leutze may have left in the Capitol.
And yet we cannot but contrast the Presi-
dents success in hitting this particular bulls
eve, with the lamentable failures he has made
whenever he has tried TO hit anything else.
IL hoe c--I Innumerabe guns, pop gums,
and squirts, but the mortifyiug result has uni
formly been that the only game he has brought
down has been himself The recOil of his
piece has foOrcd him without fail He has re-
peatedly been hoist with his own petard.
First, he tried his hand at Congress but that
obduTate body, so far from being afraid OF
him, seems 10 have concluded that the safest
place for it to stand was directly in front of
his rifles muzzle, as twas plain whatever he
aimed at he was sure to miss.
Then, there is Phil Sheridan. The President
has failed so signally to hit that bull's-eye
that it makes his success at the German Fes-
tival seem either miraculous or accidental
Sheridan is a splendid target to aim at there
is no reason, apparently, why the President
should not hit him. Congress has left suffi-
ciently magnificent rifle within his reach, if it
did not actually put 1t in his hands No doubt,
he has taken plenty of lager, if not something
else, while, if he should once hit that shining
mark, no one can doubt that he would be
showered with Rebel bouquets in plenty. But,
thus far, he has done nothing but put his rifle
10 his shoulder, and bring it down again.
Some say he is afraid others say that Grant
won't let him fire but, whatever may be his
reason, that bull's-eye is yet to hit.
The last mark the President has missed
has been Mr.. Stanton, whom he has at
last hit, but with only the most ludi-
crous result. There stands the target
our venerable marksman walks straight up
to it with n confident air, and takes aim at it
with the sublimcst assurance of success. But,
alas, rs the smoke clears away, n very differ
ent spectacle is presented from what his ad-
mrers hoped 1t is not Mr.. Stanton who Is
sprawling in the dust, but the valiant Iennes-
seean himself, who, though apparently Ignorant
that he is shot, will sooner OF later feel the
uoun1