Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-05-22
The Mask Thrown CT.

In the frantic rage which the radical
leaders feel at tie unexpected possibility
OF the PRESIDENT escaping their hands thev
crop the mask altogether, and no longer
hesitate to disclose the low purposes of the
!" impeachment movement. They, in fact.
now W, affect no disguise. Hurting bitter
SCOTS at the cant Of an oath" at ,ecye-
oM senators, at traitors to pdrtv, mean
ing thereby those sworn juuges who pro-
pose 10 decide this case according to their
81 U"an0 anu consclences, and the evidence
tneJ lofSe.' or remember only to despise.
the grounds of law and public Justice on
which, with great formality and nomn
they professed to inaugurate this proceed
ing. 1he solemn array of high crimes and
mlsdemeanors, the specifications showing
wherein the constitution had been violated
the portentous style of setting forth the
usurpatlons Of "the great criminal" no
longer continue the staple of discourse.
butlnstead thereof we hear that "the par
ty cannot thus be killed by traitors in its
ranks, whilst the New York Tribune
throws overheard law and testimony. and
shouts for conviction upon the claim that
political necessities outweigh all other CON
slderatlons. 1t asserts that impeachment
involves the same issues that the war did.
and asks: Sin what essential does the is
sues between Bingham and Evarts differ
from those between Grant end Lee ?"-
The hurricane of passion which is sweeping
through the breasts of infuriated partisans
bowling derision at all pretences of law and
justice, should warn those members of the
Senate who are acting upon their own in
dependent and honest judgment, who
have taken their stand upon con-
science and upon law, gentlemen who re-
SDlcf thpD0GnlvnC
valuable public services have won them the
respect of all whose respect is worth
having, that they cannot go with the men
who, III their desperation, have thrown off
all semblance of justice and decency, with.
out sinking to the same level of besotte5
partnership, and being dragooned from
their present high elevation by those who,
intellectually, morally and politically, arc
their interiors, and ought to look up to
them for guidance, instead of presuming
to suggest, and even daring to threaten
and bully them. The sober and rejecting
people of this country, who do not wish to
be lashed into an eternal fury upon the
subject Of party, will stand by and uphold
the great intellectual lights in politics and
law, and do not desire to see them dis
turbed for moment in their proper in.
huence by the eccentric movements of
those comets and meteors which are, let us
hope, only translently glaring through the
same armament. In ordinary times, when
no great principles or interests are involved
III the political broils at Washington, the
people might not object to being amused
by such antics as those which Butler and
others of the Impeachment ring are playing
off but when it comes to grave and mo-
mentous matters like the present, the
people desire higher qualities in their
leaders than those which belong to the
sensational drama, the circus or the bear
garden. They will look with confidence
to the wisest statesmen and ablest lawyers
of the Senate, and we trust they will not
look in vain.-Baltimore tSua, 18th.