The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-03-07
The JhOtire of Impeachment.

Several of the Radical journals com.
ment, half boastingly, but with sup
pressed wonder, on the the apparent
apathy of the people in regard
to the impeachment of their President
1t appears that they are somewhat dis.
appointed in not having a greater sen,
sation by their bold revolutionary
movement. Let them have patience !;
the popular sentiment will in due time
find its expression with sufficient vigor
and earnestness to satisfy the conspira-
tors in their utmost craving for excite
ment and convulsion. The fe rcest
storms have the gentlest prelude, and
the deepest and most powerful currents
flow with the least noise and calmest
surface. The present crisis is fraught
with so much importance to the general
welfare that the masses, realizing the
presence of a great danger, are concen-
trating their energies for action, not for
talk. Not that we believe that there is
any disposition on the part Of the peo-
pie to resort to violent measures in their
antagonism to the Radical programme
The popular intelligence too we'll appre.
ciates the situation, and too justly esti-
mates the resources that are available
against the purposes Of Congress to in.
woke a trial of physical strength in this
emergency. The strength of the Radi.
Gals lies N the opportunities afforded by
their Congressional majorities outside
of Congress they are weak-the senti>
ment of the people gives them no staff
to lean upon, and at the ultimate tribu'
nal, the ballot box, their defeat is but q
question OF time, and of time so close
upon the present that it is not worth
the while to seek sterner remedy in
the intervening space. Still the people
are fully conscious of the consequences
that will follow if the Radical plot
should be consummated. With the ev-
idence before US of the ruinous results
of Radical legislation, it is not difficult
TO foreSee the calamities that would be-
fall :he Republication no longer
Republic-if the President should be
deposed and the Executive authority,
as we'll as the legislotive, should be ex-
erciSed by faction without principle,
without hope of popular support, and
aiming simply at the perpetuation of
their party supremacy. With Ben.
Wade in the Executive chair, a Cabinet
composed Of mere tools selected for
their subserviency Of Radical interests, "a
Radical servant at the head of the army,
and Supreme Court rendered insiguifi.
cant by Radical legislation, there would
be, for time at least, such condition
of despotism and misrule as would rem
der our nationality the shame of Amer.
leans and the scoff of the world.
We must admit that the Radicals are
naneuvering with boldness, and in the
only direction that can possibly lead
them away from party anninilation.
We are upon the eve of Presidential
election. The evidences of Democratic
superiority at the polls are conclusive.
But Rad;calism is still supreme in Con.
gress, where the representatives of a
minority of minority Of the peopis have
full sway. The time is fast approaching
when, ander ordinary circumstance,
that Congressional supremacy must pass
to the Democracy. Why not then, BY
their legislative absolution, create ex.
traordinary circumstances The Exec.
utive patronage, especially in unscrupu,
lous hands, is powerful engine of sue.
ecss at the Presidential election. How
simple the process! Depose the Presi,
dent, assume the Executive authority,
admit the negro vote and exclude the
white mans vote in the Southern States,
defy the popular will, declare the Rad
ical candidate elected and, if resistance
be offered, transfer the issue to the field
of war, with their cause in the charge
of General whose first venture in the
political arena was marked by his be-
trayal Of a trust. How easy to read
the programme, and, let us hope, how
easy tor an intelligent aud determined
people to defeat it,