The Portland daily press., 1867-09-04
A" ne Election and Jehus0n's Comp
fi .-u..r I o. d,Rtat.

! zen ",aneer, Jerry Black, the Maryland
iepeis' ana the New York 9opperhead papers,
| LII more guarded manner. are snu,r;ng Mr.
| johnson on 10 the commissio, of !. ,r,,,,o
that would not only eclipse his own h,sn;an,
achievements in that direction, but would
rank as the first crime in history. Nero 6d.
die in hand, and burning Rome in the back.
ground, is very well in its way; but the fiddle
being a sine qua non TO the impressiveuess
of the story, and being at the same time
ridiculous humbug-for the era OF the fiddle
was not yet-the Roman Emperor is slowly
but surely gaining respect in the upper his
torical circles. Ere long he will be universal
ly regarded as awarm-hearted and impulsive
your man, the buoyancy of whose spirits
sometimes led him into slight indiscretlons
All the moderks are beginning to follow SEN
eca and to enrol themselves as panegyrists OF
the man who has perhaps done more service
IN pointing morals and adorning tales than
any lndiscreet young gentleman whose name
has come down to us. ,... ...
tits not 10 be supposed that Mr.. johnson
eontemplates supplanting Nero in the regard
OF moral essayists by burning Washington.
1t is particularly improbable that he would
fiddle during the progress of the confagra-
ton, for mis- published addresses give one the
impression that his tastes are open to the
objection Of grossness, and that his early de-
votion to sartorial pursuits had SO diverted
his attention from the fine arts that he would
find no qualification in listening to the dulcet
notes of the violin. But there is no doubt
that as black a thought has found its way
into the dark recesses OF his mind. To re-
sist Congress by force, to convene revolu-
tionary body IN the capitol and, in short, to
import Mexican institutions from across
the Rio Grande, are things that are
clearly within the possibilities OF his nature.
Soon after his Inauguration as President, be
is reported to have said that those who ex-
pected that he was going to administer upon |
the estate of Abraham Lincoln would find |
themselves mistaken" At that time no one
believed the story, but subsequent events have
rendered it entirely probable. We know now
that, whether he declared hisintention or not,
he had determined to act as the personal rep
resentative of John Wilkes Booth, and we
know the subterranean party to whom he has |
given bonds for the ful6llnent of his trust.
The world knows who his sureties are, and |
what measure they propose for resuscitating |
the lost cause which was so dear to the heart |
OF the assassin. Fortunately, johnson has |
that almost universal safety valve of villainy |
-cowardice Benz. Wade would have been l
in the White Houseto-day, IL johnson had reso-
luton Commensurate with the wickedness of |
his desires. The frmness Of the people and
eagerly watching for the slightest indication
that they are faltering in their opposition to |
his revolutionary schemes for building up q |
one man power. But, encouraged by the par |
asi.es and fatterers who throng the Executive
mansion, he is getting the better Of his appre-
tensions. Long ago he declared that, IL he
chose, "he could easily make himself dictator"
He has only seventy eight days left in which
to accomplish that amiable- purpose. After |
Congress meets on the 21st of November he
will esteem himself fortunate II he remains
even President. If we pass these seventy
cihi'e ooyo III SoiSey, cnc SiOoV uduSOi 70 PaSts
B No one can tell how slight thing may de
eide the question of peace or war in the |
Presidential mind. He is quick to construe
reduced Republican majority as an indica- |
tion that he may safely do his worst. Let ]
not the result of next Mondays election in
this State by any possibility be an encourage
ment to the revolutionary junto at Washing |
ton. There is something more than cider or |
currant wine at stake. 1t is not, of course,
certain that our worst apprehensions would |
be realized as a result Of a largely de-
creased Republican majority, but the risk Is |
avoided simply by securing the presence Of
every Republican voter at the polls. II |
would be Is a mistake to suppose that |
the present election is unimportant for If |
ever the cause OF Liberty and Union needed
the earnest action and support of every pa
triot, 1t Is now.n nzadaA e.l' -uoaa l7iai