The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-13
A Leaf from History Applicable to
Present Times.


Kansas that nearly every Governor in turn,
"a he went there, no matter what his previous
,,olitioal sentiments had been, was forced to
espouse the Free State side, even at the penalty
of removal from Office. Poor Pierce started
out by appointing the late Governor Reeder,
a man of fine abilities and of honest i'm
pulses, but always, previous to his Kansas
experience, Democrat of the straitest sect.
Goyernor Reeder went to Kansas, and endea-
vored to administer its affairs upon an honest
and lust basis. The result was, that the
outrages of the pro-slavery party, their inva-
sions from Missouri, their wholesale stufing of
the ballot-boxes, and their general disregard
n, the rights of the Free State settlers, all per-
retrated in the name of Democracy" com
pelled the Governor, as faithful officer and
as an honest man, to side with the Free State
party. For this poor Pierce at once removed
him.
Governor Geary was tried. He, too, had
been q lifelong Democrat. He, too, was an
honest man. He found, upon his arrival In
Kansas, and becoming acquainted with its
affairs that an honest discharge of his duties
as Governor would array against him the
Democratic or pre-slavery party Of the Terri
tory. He went ahead, administered the gov
ernment Justly and impartially, called down
upon himself the bitter hostility of the pro-
slavery faction, who attempted to assassinate
him, was refused support by the Pierce ad-
ministration, and forced to resign.
The Buchanan dynasty, of ever infamous
memory, next came in; and with a great
flourish of trumpets, and much formal parade,
Robert J. Walker, ex-senator and Secretary
Of the Treasury was sent to Kansas as Gov
ernor, accompanied by Frederick P. Stanton,
of Tennessee, as Secretary of the Territory.
Both of these men were lifelong Democrats,
and had achieved honorable distinction in
their party. They went to Kansas, and
plunged boldly into the struggle. They bat
tied manfully, but before one year was up they
had each been forced by the logic of events to
espouse the Free State side, or else to them
selves become the instruments of injustice and
infamy, such as they could not for moment
contemplate. The result was that Walker
resigned and Secretary Stanton was removed.
1t was not until the attempt to make Kansas
slave State was finally and fully abandoned,
that it was found possible for Democratic ad-
ministration to keep Governor there more
than a few months at time.
Andrew Johnson, if he were capable Of
learning anything, might learn a valuable
lesson from recalling this peculiar feature Of
the Kansas struggle. He is trying to head of
events in the South in the same way that
poor Pierce and Buchanan did in Kansas, and
with similar result. Why Is it that every
officer of the army, no matter what his pre-
vious sentiments, as soon as he goes into the
late Rebel States and endeavors to do his
duty as an officer of the Government, at once
becomes firm supporter of the policy of Con
gress, and an opponent of the unconstitutional
and usurping policy of the President These
officers are not politicians. By education ant
association they are generally inclined to bt
opposed to the Republican party. Why
Is it that they find themselves forced
to adopt the policy of Congress
General Sheridan is removed, and hi
successor continues all of his order
in force. General Sickles is removed, and hi
successor, General Candy, finds it necessar
to follow in his footsteps, and has already in
CURED the Executive disfavor, and is threat
ensd with removal. The game Of the Kansa
Governors is being repeated. The Presider
can arbitrarily and unjustly remove gallar
officers who have simply done their duty, BIT
be cannot change the circumstances which SUI
round the question OF reconstruction, an
which force every honest officer to take tn
side of the peoples policy as opposed to IL
Presidents. Just as the logic of events an
the power of truth and justice oompelle
Reeder, and Geary, and Walker, and Stantol
Democrats though they were, to take the Ere
state side in Kansas, as opposed to Pierce an
Buchanan, so the same considerations no
force Sheridan and sickles, Pope and Thoma
Schofeld and Candy, to take the side of loyalt
and Union and the people, as opposed to th
of Andrew Johnson. Just as poor Pierce W;
angry with Reeder and removed him bacau,
he told the truth in regard to the terr;b
crimes and outrages perpetrated by the bord
rufians in Kansas, so Johnson was filed wi,
rage at the noble Sheridan because he refus
the Executive invitation to garbe and lie, a,
told the naked and appalling truth concerni
the horrors Of the New Orleans massacre.
Pierce and Buchanan failed. Their admin
trations are monuments of shame and disgra
and their very names have become infamo1
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