The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-02

of affairs in Tennessee and all the Southern
states, cen hardly be estimated, even by tnJss
who are directly Interested"
That one part of the statement is true, the
more recently reported interview OF the Presi-
dent with a reaotionary delegation from
Tennessee has clearly proved. The doctrine
attributed by the Louisville Journals inform
ant to Mr.. johnson is identical with that which
he expounded the other day for the encour-
agement of the lawless element which ch lfes
under the repressive measures of Governor
Brownlow. 1t is evident that Mr.. Johnso is
inclined as far as possible to weaken the au-
thority of the Southern Executives: and the
oversight OF Congress in allowing provision
to continue which Was enacted under entirely
different circumstances, affords both a pretext
and an opportunity which he will not hesitate
TO turn to the account of the Democratic party.
The proposed removal of General Thomas,
and the substitution of commander more
clearly in political fellowship with the Presi-
dent, is in keeping with other parts of the
scheme. Not only'would he deprive the loyal
Government of the means of maintaining their
authority, but he desires to place the national
troops under commands whose bias is toward
the Democracy.
We agree with Mr.. Forsyth that If this
policy be ''frmly adhered to and vigorously
carried out" by the President its effect will
not be limited to Tennessee. Its inh uence
throughout the South will be so immediate
and so great that it ''can hardly be esti-
mated" Whatever it amounts to, we may be
sure that IL will be altogether on the side of
the disaaected element and that its exercise
will be preudicial to the rights and interests
of the loyal people. The satisfaction which
the prosp pect affords to the Rebel Press indicates
the light in which Mr.. JOhnson's course in re-
gard to the maintenance of peace is viewed at
the South.
The subject Is a grave one, and one which
official wfopgheadedness may at any moment
swell into gigantic proportions. The telegram
from Arkansas via St. Louis is, we trust, an
exaegeration, II not an invention. But it were
criminal to ignore the danger of collision
which exists there, as elsewhere in the South
in sequence Of the aggressive spirit which
the proceedings of the New York Convention,
and the known sympathies of Mr.. Johns son have
impaired to the Democracy. They were obsti-
nate before; they are now defiant. And nothing
but. t.eXtreme care, and the adoption of a.wiser
course by the President will svert very serious
trouble. 1t is not pleasant to confess the fact,
but nothing can be gained by closing our eyes
to its existence. Disloyalty manifests itself
in forms which constantly grow worse; and the
duty of the President is certainly not per-
formed when be takes counsel with AID in
effect supports those who are hostile to loyal
rule. To be halfhearted or indifferent would
be bad enough at time when the maintenance
of order in ten or eleven States is in a large
degree contingent on the course of Federal
authority. But the position is infinitely more
serious when, as at present, the party whose
plans imperil peace are able to point to the
President as a sympathizer and possible ally.