New-York tribune., 1867-08-23
THE NEW PROCLAMATION or WAR.

makes IuIlDcr aJempJS dI pO1IiO''
THE NEW PROCLAMATION or VAR.
1t is not by compromise that this war OF
principles can be ended No johnson Conven-
ton, no cringing of weak RepuDncanS can
avail. We are not of those who are content
now that Gen. Thomas has gone 10 NeW-Or-
leans. and assure the people that the country
is safe so long as Grant remains IN the Cabinet.
Those annointments may strengthen our hopes
but do net remove our doubts for against them
stands the all-important fact that Sheridan
has hoen removed. This is the proof that the
country il not safe; that Mr.. johnson, undis
uoved by all his hair-breadth escapes from inn
neacbment. has the bOldness to defy the peO-
ple and to resolutey carry'out his purpose OF
breaking down the reconstruction policy OF
Congress. Sheridan was to the President the
embodiment of a principle I'm Sheridan he
saw the great executive of Radicalism-the
whole legislation and spirit of Congress summed
I'D in the action of Military Commander.
Personal enmity was not the impulse OF the
President Sheridan was to him the Repubh-
can idea made tangible, and he struck that
idea down. Can we delude ourselves with the
belief that the blow falls on Sheridan alone,
| aud not upon usf Can we take lh99masS APP
| pointment as an atOnement for SherdasiS aus
grace7 Can we suppose for moment tna
| Andrew Johnson, having successfully dehed the
Republican party, having deliberately struck IL
full in the face, will rest satisfied with his
| triumph9 We do not thus mistake HIM or his
policy. We understand the removal OF Shen-
dan IA 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 IL.
The Presidential attack upon Sheridan is al
ready begun upon Sckles and Pope, and 1he
National InteIligenoer, the Presidents adjutant,
has drawn up the order for their removal, ana
| it only needs to be signed. That VIII
be done at the right time, if Sickes and
Pope persist, as those upright soldiers
will, in executing the Reconstruction laws
as Congress intended The reputation of the
pure and gallant Howard is undermined by
ISLANDERS, and he is to be mustered out. Why
should these officers not be removed What
difficulty does Mr. Johnson fear, having tri-
umphed over Shcridanf He has taken out the
keystone of the arch, and may pull down the
rest of it at his leisure. In tho Presidents
new course there is more courage and ability
than the people had supposed him to
possess. 1t was n master-strOke To bring
Grant into his Cabinet. The appointment of
Thomas was an excellent plan to enable such
papers "a The Times to divert the attention of
the country from the infamy of the removal
of Sheridan. 1t was equally shrewd to send
him to fight the Indians, that all journals OF
the kind might fall into nptures to see the
hero of Five Forks once more at the head OF an
army. Nor is Mr.. Johnson less adroit IN re-
solving to reorganize his Cabinet-in any event
it is perfectly safe, for the new one cannot
easily be more distasteful to the people than
the old
These preparations are OminOus of change,
and not of change for the better. Andrew
johnson does not retract; no sane man can
hope that movement which begins with the
removal of Sheridan can mean repentance or
remorse. The change is from the defensive to
the offensive, and Mr. johnson marshals his
desperate forces 10 open attack upon Congress
1t may reconstruct the laws, but he will recon
struct the machinery by which they are ad
mnistered We believe that the President
desires to so far modify his policy that it
may obtain the support of the Conservative Re-
publicans, and TO dazzle with the robbery Of
great names, or the betrayal of splendid reptl-
tations, the perception of the people. He will
use any weapon that comes to'hand. He throws
the fame Of Thomas as a vail over the down
fall of loyalty in Louisiana, and makes the Gene
raj of the Army sentinel at the door of the
White House. But beneath and beyond all
this parade the keen eyes of the people
detect the swiftly moving, unrelenting
foe pushing onward to the attack. They know
in Andrew Johnson a man.rcsolyed to prevent
the reconstruction of the South upon the prn-
ciples they have laid down through Congress;
they know that his purpose is to replace the
Rebel States in the Union without guarantees
or pledges, free to repudiate hereafter their
surrender of Rebel principles; they know that
when he disgraced Sheridan he insuted them
They perfectly understand that he means war,
an! no longer one of defensive strategy, but
deliberate and combined aggression.
|
NAPOLEONS NEW MOVE