The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-09
The Democracy and Impeachment.

The same want of patriotism and princi-
pie that characterized the Democratic party
during the war; is observable in the conduct
OF its members during the trial OF the Presi-
| dent. Whatever may be the event of that
trial, the Democratic party deserves to re-
ceive from it stigma only second to that re-
ceived from the rebellion ITSELF
Toward johnson himself they have acted
most unhandsome part They have tempt
ed him to the commission of crimes, and
then defended him for their own purposes
alone, neither concealing nor affecting to con-
ceal their contempt for the man. In the
very first days of the prosecution, the New
York World, the ablest Democratic paper in
the country and the most influential, if we
except the La Crosse Democrat, formally an
| nounced that the party did not hold itself
responsible for johnson, and did not recog-
nize him as having any claim upon it for sup
| port or indemnity. Still both the World and
| other journals of the same class have defend
ed him SO far as they could make political
capital out of his prosecution, while doing
the least possible for the man for whose ruin
their party is chiefly responsible. The con-
temptuous and unfeeling manner in which
President johnson has been treated by the
| heartless politicians he attempted to serve,
| will forever remain a solemn warning to pub
| lie men who hope 10 better their standing by
| allowing themselves to be made the tools of
the Democracy.
Another striking example of this want
| of principle is seen in the votes of the
Democratic Senators while sitting for the
trial of the President. In the progress of
that trial interlocutory questions arise which
are pure questions of law, but the decision of
them either makes for or against the interest
there have been many of them-Repupncan
Senators have been divided in opinion, as
would naturally happen. Now it is simply
nconceiVable that, il the Conservatives had
been honest, this would not have been the
| case with them. There would not be one
| chance in million for an absolute coincidence
oil opinion on an abstruse and doubtful legal
| pomt among Is~on gentlemen. most of
whom are lawyers. We see os--sner voting
with Hendricks for the admission of evlu,,
offered by the Presidents counsel, but when
did we see Hendricks or any other Conserva-
| tive voting with Summer in favor of any
proposition whatever submitted by the man
| ayers? In this matter the Democratic Sen
ators have not even come up to that stand
ard of integrity, popularity surprised not to be
too nice, which measures the standing Of
lawyers. H1 as ,-
A third point deserves attention as both
exasperating and amusing. On the day
when Mr.. Fessenden and other Republican
Senators are reputed to have expressed an
opinion favorable to acluittal, they are eu-
logized in the most tulsome manner. All
their past sins are instantly forgiven and
they are credited with the inspiration o.
motives that entitle them to honor and pre-
ferment while they live and impershable
renown through all coming years. They
are statesmen who disregard the promptings
of partisan feeling when acting as judge;
under oath. On that day the papers aban
don their usual contemptuous abreviatior
of the names of such Senators and we heal
for the first time in their columns of William
Pitt Fessenden in all the splendor of small
capitals. But the next day comes change
with the changing rumors. Mr.. Fessender
and all his Republican associates are sure fol
conviction. Then we have the old story
They have preiudged the case. The trial i
farce. Johnsons deposition was deter
mined upon from the first Infamy is thu
portion of all but twelve members of the
United States Senate.
With its "war record" with its "Pendle'
tonianism,' with Its corrupt legislation al
State capitals during the past winter. with
its obscene and reckless newspaper organs,
and its prompt reputation of ali the liberal
and progressive ideas of the age, and with
the depth of its infamy increased hundred
fold both by its defence and its desertion o
Andrew johnson, how can the Democratic
party ever again ask with confidence thu
suftages of the American people?