The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-25
Retirement Of President johnson.

IL it be seemly to pay a parting tribute to
Mr.. Johnson on his descent to private life,
this is perhaps as suitable time as could be
selected. The preparations for the inaugura-
tion OF his locessor and the formation of the
new Cabinet will presently absorb the public
interest; aud by the time that adulatory
tumult is over it will be difficult to fix atten-
tion upon the plain Tennessee citizen. His
admin istration will have passed from the
domain OF journalism to that of history.
The horror and funereal pageantry which
attended Mr.. J ohnsOn's sudden accession
cast forward a dark and blighting shadow
upon his whole administration. In lts earliest
and most critical months he had no more
liberty of action than in its closing period.
During those first months, the real President
lay in Mr.. Lipcoln's coffin. His tragic end
had given him the rank OF a martyr, and a
martyrs empire over the smitten affections
and sympathies of the Republican party.
Lincoln was more powerful dead than Johnson
living. The state of public feeling forbade
President Johnson even to choose his own
Cabinet. Mr.. Seward lay disabled by wounds
from an assassin's knife; Mr.. Stanton had put
himself impetuously forward as the avenger
of innocent blood; and the new President was
borne helplessly along on great tide of
emotion which would have overwhelmed as
treason any seeming want OF reverence Tor
the freshly canonized martyr.
No combination of circumstances could have
been more unfavorable to the free exerton OF
Mr.. Johnson's faculties. He was from the first
hour a President only In name. The badges
of public mourning, displayed on every dwell
| ing in the land, were as potent an interdict OF
| administrative changes as the Tenure-of-Ofiic
| act became afterwards-an interdict against
| which the President had not even the poor
| privilege OF protesting. He was as powerles5
as a bubble tossed upon the heaving waves Of
the sea. He was destitute of every source OF
IA. L. L,1z nsk 10 L.
or to party chief. He had never been Re-
publican; up to the beginning of the war he
had fought that party with characteristic
vigor and virulence; he had never afterwards
professed to be anything but a Democrat
he was selected for Vice-President merely
as a lure to catch Democratic votes;
SO that when he was unexpectedly
lifted to the Presidency, he had no natural
hold upon the confidence OF the Republican
party. The party did not feel that 1t had
requited an obligation in electing him, but
that 1t had gratuitously cont erred one. Mr..
Johnson therefore came to his new Office with
out any of the influence OF party leader;
and so sensible was he of this as soon as the
first flutter of his sudden and dizzy elevation
had passed away, that he bent his thoughts
furtively, at first, and without avowing ito
the formation OF new party In which his
former Democratic associations would stand
him in some stead. His official influence was
almost as slender as his personal Every
officer in the public service had been appointed
by the canOnzed martyr; most OF these would
have been retained II the martyr had lived;
every one OF them was a Republican; and Mr..
Johnson would have gained little by
merely substituting one member for
another of o party with which
he had never been identified. That party had
not elected him to distribute the patronage;
IL had elected Mr. Lincoln for that among
other purposes; and the Offices were general y
in the same hands in which Mr.. Lincoln
would have continued them. Mr.. Johnson
J burst not aflront the memory OF his predeces-
cor. lie durBt not presume to overrue a
party to which he owed obligations, but on
which he had no claims. lie dur5t not throw
himself upon the support pi the Democratic
party, first, because II WAS minority, and
then because, even il IL had been ma ority
two years and half must elapee before new
Congress would assemble In regular session
, Mr.. Johnson WAS thus bound hand and foot
He could neither lead the Republican party
, nor safely break with II, nor act independently
OF 1t. An administration beginning with auci
> | omens was foredoOmed to failure unless 4
succumbed to the Republican party, or coul'
4 divide it.
The policy which Mr.. Johnson actually
, adopted was his own, only by his approval
IL descended to him from Mr. Lincoln, liis
, his Cabinet. II Mr.. Lincoln had lived, I
is doubtful whether even he could have oar
rled that policy in opposition TO CongrsaH
Q but he would doubtless have made tho at
tempt. He would have brought into th
u struggle the confidence of the party, lraahl,
o testified by his reelection; oonsummato poll
tioal ounningi and patient, forbearing apiri
! which would have Stunned an open rupture
I lie had hosts Of Republican friends. Ii