New-York tribune., 1868-04-09
WH4T HE HAD BETTER 20.


Wedo not much relish the hints and the threats
which are every now and then thrown out OF
what the President will do should the Senate
find bim guilty. Wea anxious that he should
have the faircst possible of trials; but why
should he attempt TO intimidate his judges by
ntimationS of an extra judicial appeal Thus, a
ruInor reaches us that after conviction and eylc-
ton, Mr.. Johnson in the character OF martyr, VIII
make pilgrimage through the lengthand breadth
of the land, detailing his distresSes and setting
forth his sorrows, vindicating his administra-
ton and pleading his generally IN the
forum of the people. Unless il be that one
hates to see the dignity of human nature thus
scandalously lowered, we do not know that
there would he any objection 10 this course.
Even the objects of bempen expation are permit
ted and indeed, encouraged to make speeches
We know very well that there is always a pop
ular desire TO see these offenders. in the cell
or upon the scafold: and we suppose that the
number of amateurs in physiOgnOmy who
would like to stare at Mr. johnson is consid-
erable Upon the other hand. after his reduc
ton to the ranks, should such a change occur,
he would as private citizen be obliged to pay
his own bills; for, although he would now and
something of that kind, by way of advertise
ment, the bulk of the disbursements would fall
upon his personal shoulders. We think it
would be more economical if His Excellency
should start al once upon this projected pill
grimage; for now he is still nOmnally Presi-
dent, and the dstillerS, and postmasters, and
collectors would surely come ont to meet him
at the gates Of their respective places of abode
He might then freshly comment in New-York,
or Boston. or Chicago upon the deliberations
of the Senate In Washington, and rehearse TO
sympathetic crowds the latest mOurnful intel
lgence forwarded to him by telegraph. In this
way, he might be his own Marc Antony; dis
play his own wounds. and exhibit his own
bloody garments; and while with passionate
vehemence he denounced the c0nspiratOrs, he
could hardly fail to incite certain degree of
compassion. This would be far more saga
cious than 10 go before the people in the charac-
ter of an official ghost and far more effective
than tattling his defense in driblets TO news
paper correspondents.
To the objection that such a course would
not be a digniied one, we reply that the Pres
ident has dispensed with dignity upon many
previous occasions, and that drowning men
may be pardoncd if they do not catch at their
straws gracefully. If the rejected of the Demo
cratic party still. with more than Christian
magnanimity, desires to advance its fortunes 10y
damaging those of the Republicans, what
noble held Of exertion and of elOcutoDary en-
terpIiSe is at this moment presented IN Con
necticut. They talk of sending several of the
old platform hacks of the party to stump that
State but the dismal experiences of those mis-
siouaries in New Hampshire would seem to indi-
cate that, il the Connecticut COpperheads are
to be aroused to successful valor and victOri-
Gus exertion, il must be by speeches still more
extraordinary than those OF {. {, Bun OF II,
{. Dean. The sweet and whining elOquence OF
the President, his delicious manner and his
weighty matter, his pODderous augmentation
and lis poetic 4gsts, his powers of retort and
his dexicTofis employment of the personal pro-
noun, might verify persuade great many Peo-
ole to believe in The whiteness of black, and in
the identity 6f chalk and cheese Should a
Democratic victory follow his exertiOns the
successful side would in common gratitude, be
Obliged To do something for him. What could
it do? it may be asked. We really do not
know. The solution OF that problem Is no
husiueAS of OurS