The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-02-08

ful OF democratic W
gress of human liberty, bulwark of the despotsms Of
the earth, contradiction and reproach among the
nations
Why is such measure as this additional Reconstruc
ton Bill necessary? There is evading this question;
and it is time it should get plain and distinct answer
Such enactment is necessary because the present
President of the United States has gone to the
enemy 1t is necessary because Andrew johnson, armed
with the immense Executive authority of nation of
forty millions, is endeavoring to do in Washington
what Jefferson Davis failed to do in Richmond.
Dr. Samuel johnson, the celebrated photographer,
is said to have been of strong Tory proclvities
"The right divine of kings to govern wrong" was
all but sacred in his eyes. For his sovereign-who
happened be the third of the fools and the tyrans
called George he had the profoundest reverence.
Anything more absurd than this it is we'll nigh impos-
sibe to imagine. It hardly exceeded by the picture
presented the page of history of the ancient
Egyptians with all their learned lore entering mag
nifcen temple and bowling down in alteration before
monkey. The great man-for such he unquestionaby
was-of whom speak had faith in human liberty.
He sneered at it, and certain occasion gave sar-
castle definition of it. the power of compelling other
people to do as we thought right" And it must be
confessed that such really does to be the idea of
liberty which great many individuals, and
nations, which we could name, to have imbibed
So long you agree in all things sacred and secular
with our opinions and preudices you may speak pub
lish as much as you please Stroke down. is done
with CATS and we will purr with intense satisfaction
Tell us we the most enlightened of all possible peo-
PIES that all the rest of mankind wrong and that
we only are right, and will pay you any price for
such valuable service. But tell of our faults and
errors and we will tear you in pieces The budgeon
and the brck-bat will soon be forthcoming. A ducking
in horsepond coat of tar and feathers, possibly
final swing lamp post, will be your speedy reward
Not doubt of it. The only " liberty" in which null
titudes believe is the power of compelling other peo
pie to do as they think right"
Such, if we may judge by his action, appears to be
the theory of constitutional liberty which Mr. Andrew
of the Republic imagined that they were sovereign
Peep that by their supreme will and wish-ex-
pressed through the voices and votes of their represent
atves in Congress assembled-the country and every
part of it were to be ruled and regulated. Such was
the old theory, which of simple enough to
believe. But all that is now exploded Our eyes have
been eectualy opened at last And have found out
that it is the President that to make the laws whether
the people or their representatives like it dislike it,
This grand discovery Mr. johnson has not been slow
to reduce to practice What he thinks right is to be
the law, not what the people solemny enacts This is
the style of liberty" at present dispensed from the
White House in all directions, and that has been espe-
caly lavished the unfortunate States of the South
Those State Governments which deliberately voted
themselves out of the Union at the commencement of
the war were guilty of treason. They forfeited every
right in the national Union and staked their existence
on the power of revolution When that failed them,
they were justly abolished. Now, when the Confeder-
acy collapsed the Executive of the Federal Government