Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-02-08
EDITOR.
THE sTATEsMAN's X EAgEs.


banner for the coming campaign. Without
seeming to be aware of the absurdity OF its
conduct, from this it proceeds to give the mo-
tives and reasons which have actuated it in
pronouncing, so far in advance, in favor OF the
two individuals whose names 1t flies They are
Gen. Grant, for President, and Senator Will
liams, of Oregon, for Vice President But
our Radical contemporary is SO condescending
and accommodating in the matter that ne en-
presses himself willing to submit these, his
choice, ..subiect to the decision of the National
rdis1 Union Conventions" When we reflect
that the citizens Of Territory have no voice
in the election of President and Vice Pr esi-
dent, it will not be difficult to discern the very
ridiculous position the Statesman has run itself
into, in its imprudent haste for cheap glory
and any kind of notice. .1 .s5a s'sa4 Ass
But while we do not propose to discuss the
selection or election Of Presidential candidates
in this, because we deem the subject to be vain
ON the part of any newspaper in any Terrific
~, we shall take occasion to briefly review the
position of our Boise City Radical neighbor in
the matter, for we think his choice, as ex-
pressed, betrays a greater degree of folly and
inconsistency on his part than we had thought
even him to be capable of exhibiting, while it
also reveals the Statesman's real character.
Be it borne in mind that the Statesmas is q
Radical Of the strictest sect, ard without hes
itation or investigation approves and adopts
whatever its party leaders commend or com
mand. 1t denounced the act by which STAN
ton was removed from, and Gen. Grant was
placed in, the War Department; and though it
was shown that Grant had introduced reforms
and stopped swindles in that Department. by
which over s.. 100000 per year was saved to
the Treasury, it rejoiced when the fanatical
Senate reinstated the Infamous Stanton. Yet
it hoists Grants name for the Presidency. The
report of the Impeachment Committee reveals
that when Gen. Grant was examined before
that body he emphatically declared on oath
that the policy of President Johnson relative
to the South was exactly that which had been
resolved upon by Abraham Lincoln; that when
Mr.. johnson assumed the Presidency he was
in favor of much more stringent and vigor-
GUS treatment of the rebel leaders and promi-
nent men Of the South, than was Grant him
self; that while he (Grant) insisted that their
paroles protected Generals Lee, Johnston, and
other great commanders of the Confederates,
Mr.. johnson strenuonslY contended that they
should be brought to speedy trial for treason
and rebellion, and be made to undergo the full
penalty of the law after conviction; and that
he president Johnson) went even farther than
Mr.. Lincoln had ever expressed himself in re-
lation to the desire to infict severe penalties
upon all who had participated in the rebellion.
Yet the Statesman, which worshipped Lincoln
living, and still worships his memory, denoun-
ees johnson 40 traitor for having carried out
Lincoln's own system towards the South, and
proclaims as its choice for the Presidency the
man who deliberately swears that not only did
he deem Johnson's disposition towards the
rebel leaders and the South too harsh. but that
1t was by his own counsel and conduct that
Generals Lee and Johnson, and other conspic-
uous rebels, were protected from punishment
for their participation in the war. /, ....
Inconsistent as the choice Of the Statesman
IL in reference to Grant, for President, it is
still more inconsistent in its advocacy Of Will
liams, for Vice President. The Radicals are
more bitter against johnson. perhaps, for hav-
ing, as they insist, betrayed the party which
nominated him, than for any other thing The
party, then, ought to be- careful in its selection
Of Vice President-who may become the
President, and be sure to have one who has
a record for stability and frmness, against all
!. temptation. in his political faith. How stands
: Senator Williams in this respect:
Originally q Democrat, he was appointed
from Iowa to Oregon az one Of the Territorial
Supreme Judges Tn January, 1851, be made
the strongest Calhoun speech ever made in
, that Territory; in July of the same year he
published long address in which he declared
: for free State, and enumerated the fullest
Free Soil, anti-slayerS sentiments. In Janua-
Try, 1858, he came out for Douglas, in the cele-
abrated Buchanan onglas iembrogIio, and in
" February he changed over to Buchanan. In
the first State canvass, that year, from April
to June, Williams harangued all over Oregon,
the strongest champion Of Buchannn's position,