The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1868-12-18
Mr., Johnson's Message.


message deiveredt to Congress on Wednes-
day, without thanking God that it is to be
his last. As his quarrel with the republican
party soured his temper, so the failure of the
democracy to make him their candidate, still
further embittered his disposition, and he
turns his assault upon the nation as a whole
to punish the lack Of appreciation by both
parties of his peculiar merits. He is soon
to leave the White House, but he discharges
this Parthian arrow behind him, to wound,
if possible the Republic in every feature of
its character. Reeking with malice towards
all who are not his supporters; denouncing
all action not advised by him, and seeking
to befoul the nest into which he has been
foistcd, he decries the national credit, he be-
smears the national escutcheon, he denounces
Republican institutions as here cXem"lifed
and embodied. The spirit which prompts
this assault upon the honor and credit OF the
Republic, is disgraceful, wicked, utterly bad
and devilsh.
Passing by his dark picture of the pro-
mate the harm done by the poisonous and
elaborate assault made upon the national
credit 1t contains just enough truth TO be
dangerous, and coming from the President
of the United States, will do us much mis-
chief, such as no enemy could wrcak. Mr..
Johnson talks now Of the expenses Of years
of peace; as if he were ignorant that we are
now paying the cost Of the war, as S43, 49,
4i2 for bountes, and $40, 600, eco for inter
est lie belittes our resources and eXag-
gcrates our burdens. His insnuations of
bankruptcy, are criminal and so is his taunt
that "it will be our shame that forty mil
lions of people, by their own liberation of
usurpation and prohigacy have suffered
themselves to become enslaved, and merely
exchanged shareholders for new task-masters
in the shape of bondholtlers and taXgather-
ers." The whole treatment of the financial
question, is unfriendly to the Government -
Were hired advocate employed to deprec-
ate our securities in the market. he could
not pursue a course better adapted to the
end, than is here adopted. In the Chief
Magistrate of the Republic, such course
calls for the severest censure, and the
laws ought to visit it with condign punish
ment
Mr.. johnson exemplifcs his extreme admi-
ration for his own productions by quoting
nearly column from previous message of
his own. AS if it ought not to be sufficient
for the country to endure once for all the af-
Fiction of his lucubrations! Hardly is he
able to copy the customary abstracts Of de-
partment reports without interlading them
with epithets or slurs upon the policy ap-
proved by the popular verdict in Congress
and at the polls.
The discussion of our foreign relations
opens with the formal statement that emo
important question has occurred during the
last year in our cordial and friendly inter
course with"-MuscGt, Siberia, Bornco, and
Madagascar, among other powers! And
these are classcd with France and Austria.
When Siberia became separated from Russia,
he does not youchafe to indicate. The
classification would suggest that the writer
now first becomes familiar with geography,
and in the zeal of new discovery sets down
whatever names he finds upon the map The
Alabama claims against Great Britain, re-
ccive a simple mention, with the expression
of hope of adjustment of "mutual claims
arising since the year 1853 of the citizens
and subjects of the two countries for iniur-
les and depredatons committed under the
authority of their respective governments. -
Tins would seem to imply the placing of the
damages resulting from the privateer, upon
the same footing with those of British citi.
zens who demand reparation for injuries re
ceived p the South at the outbreak of tie
war, 1t is very likely fortunate for our
country that the failure of the Dsraeli
ministry, will compel deliberaton, and re-
view of the settlement of which Mr.. Reyer-
dy Johnson has been boasting at his frequent
banquets.
Very bad indeed is our condition, for the
President AYERS that our government at
will consigus TO military domination States
that are integral parts of our Federal Union,
and assumes to establish over large portion
of its people, a rule more absolute, harsh and
tyranIca than any known to civilized DOW
crs." Yet, Mr. johnson wants to extend
that government over all adjacent territory.
lie is picking quarrel with Hayti, and
thinks we ought to have all the island of ST.
Domingo. AS near bankruptcy as he repre-
sented us, he presses his bargainfor the pur-
chase of ST. Thomas and st. John from Den
mark. And his eyes lust also for Cuba :
For a Republic so clearly in the jaws
of ruin, as Mr.. johnson insists, this is
on the whole broad and aggressive pro
gramme. s ar.a saU
With the renewal of his plans for amend
ing the Constitution, and an appeal for
peace which he has done his best to post