The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-01

can party nor democratic party, but avowsdy
combination Of kindred forces The Union people
IN 1864 followed the rule which has SO generally
s e. Os
ties or interests giving the greatest weight TO the
larger section Or part with nice Judgment. There,
fore they chose Abraham Lincoln, o Northern Union
patriot OF republican sntecedents to be President
and Andrew Johnsen, Southern Union patriot
Of democratic apteeedents to 9e Vice President
TIE FRENCH REVOLUTION IN 1850 AND THE SOUTH
xRN KlBRLlI0N IN 1851.
Active hostilities. however, had hardly ended
before there appeareA portentous conhict q popu
tons OF peace and reconciliation; and these IDEAS
and opinions had relation to the so-called recon.
States Personal ambition, Of course, entered into
the controversy. Social ideas and popular aW,
billions are inheren N all republics, and fevoiq,
| tons stimulate Their rapid developments. No one
form OF political idea, no one form OF personal am
ton that has presented itself in recent dstrac
| tanned complete, though many Of them only tenn
| porary ascendancy during the French Revolu.
| lion OF 1883 revolution which, az we all
See gave way after short while to military des-
| potsm that still survives We now that in the
insurrection the rebe States became revolutionary
states within Themselves AS such they nave expe-
renced the fortune q all revolutionary States. Each
new political idea ard every distinct personal ambi
lion IN the revolutionary States demands either a
severe c0nstltutionalfom or change OF the exist
ing constitution altogether. The right OF the people
ana their power In sich States TO make such changes
isnot only unchallenged but also unchecked tiol-
lows as consequence that the constitution forged In
the white heat OF revolution Will forever endure.
We have forgotten that this nation went through the
revolutionary contest practically without any consti
tltion at all. There was indeed, declaration OF
Independence from Great Britain and from all other
nations, and precious association OF human rights;
put no constitutional government was established or
framed until seven years after the last belgerent
disappeared from the ded. We have forgotten that
brilliant constitutions came out like fire beacons in
tne murky gloom OF the French Revolution. All
these constitutions were based upon some sound
political idea, and all ought to have been compatible
WIN any patriotic ambition. Yet they sue
o ceeaed each other 50 rapidly that when ao
seller IN Paris and asked for the constitution
OF France, he was answered:-"We do not deal In
st last to have acquired consiitaton, but only after
forty years OF civil wars, eliminating in the great
Gasmty which we have 50 happily escaped-ioreign
pubics have been Independent through period OF
forty nifty years yet it cannot be certainly said Of
adopted final constitution Revolutions have con-
nued to overthrow constitutions there az fast they
Ss the nna as as nn e
Migrant rebellion and yet allowed by the federal con.
stntion TO reconstitute these forms Of government
lor themselves and by their own proper act In con-
formity with the federal constitution, could all at
once adopt constitutions which should be perma
presence Of an entire new condition OF society pro-
duced by the emancipation OF four millions of slaves.
What they have wanted was time; what they have
The nP0RTANCR OF THE ELECTION OF 1884
These two wants indicated the cause Of popular
reconstructionby whatever name it may be called.
Reliance, however, was Justly placed upon the ad-
'vantages which Abraham Lincoln had for oyercom.
ing these embarrassments. Leaving out OF
view his peculiar moral and intellectual quail
tiles Mr. Lincoln possessed decided advantage
III the TACT that be had conducted the government
with approved fidelity and wisdom through the
entire course Of the civil war. AS the people gave
their entire confidence to Washington in organizing
the government upon the ground that he had safely
led them through the Revolutionary war, as the
cd
the greatest peril OF the Mexican war, so the people
were expected to give their full confidence TO Abra
led them successfully through the late terrific revo
mtionary Revision Of the country. No wise and
could be ended or that peace and reconciliation could
De effected under any administration that did not
iully enjoy the public confidence upon two cardinal
points. VIZ; First the justice OF the Union cause In
the war record; the necessity, wisdom and justice OF
the abolition Of African slavery, which the war had
greater advantage. he had been chosen--nsy he
had been twice chosen-by the people themselves to
CO Ss e @ sy T ossa wsEs as
an accepted impersonation Of their own conviction.
they all knew or believed they knew him thoroughly;
they had committed themselves to his support IN ad-
failure would be felt and deplored as their own fan
ure Thus was enlisted in his own favor the national
nde What combinaons could have reaiste eda',
magistrate thus armed, and aiming only to com
plete the great and glorious work Of saving
hour Abraham Lincoln fen by the hand Of the as
sassln; that fearful calamity which was equally be-
and profoundly interfsred with our high purposes and
patriotic desires. Human nature around the whole
Of e AMI sear mai Saa mere
the country sank for moment into sadness
and despair of its future, from which
where, in the government and out of H.
In the North and in the South, at home and abroad
for secret authors, agents and motives for the horr
Ia which slsDcIOQ attached
turns TO everybody. 1t justly fastened itself upon
the rebellion and demanded new and severer punish
ment OF the rebels instead OF the magnanlmous re-
Cancellation which the beloved President, OF whom
IL had been bereaved, had recommended. Who win
say that it Is even unjustP Revolution haA always
the same complex machinery, besides the
public machinery, which Its managers d.
ton wheel carefully contrived and ready to come
into activity when CRISIS Is reached. Revolutionsts
cannot relieve themselves OF all the responsibility for
II by pleading that IL was unknown 10 themselves.
who can say how far this great crime of assassina-
tion mas been effective IN delaying and preventing
the desired reconciliationg
TIE RECONSTRUCTION Policy or MIR. JOHNSON
II was in the midst Of this distraction that Andrew
Johnson came TO the Pres1ency-not by virtue Of
two popular elections to that Office like his predeces
sor OF one such election but by virtue OF his
constitutional election to be only Vice President.
The unfinished work OF the lamented Lincoln de.
volved upon him. The Conditions and considerations
which were The advantages In his election as Vice
President suddenly became disadvantages to HIM as
President. The Southern States ana the democratic
party were mlnorities remembered but too unfavor-
ably nv the Northern anti slavery victors In con-
necton with the rebellion, the civil and African
slavery. In addressing himself TO the holy work OF
national reconciliation the President proceeded
with due elaboration and with nrmnesa, decision
and vgor. He retained all his lamented predeces-
sor's counsellors: he adopted his lamented prede-
cessor's plan OF reconciliation which seemed
TO him. IL seemed then to the
whole country, to be practicable and
easy because II was simple ana natural.
It consisted simply in opening the easiest and
shortest safewav for return into the national family
Of rhe people OF the Southern States, who now re-
pented their attempted separation. Those States
were invited TO resume the vacant places In the
legislative councils by sending Senators ana Repre-
sentatives, who should be chosen by the people OF
those states, and who should prove themselves by
every practical test unquestionaby loyal to the
Onion. some constitution and frame of govern
ment In the rebel States, however would be q
necessary fundamentally Of making such choice
Of senator's and Representatives, There was at
the same time q manifest necessity for such
renewed institutions OF municipal government for
the restoration OF peace and order in the dsorran-