The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-26
gFPORTED DEATH OF Ex PRESIDENT
JOHNSON

Tho reported death Of EXPresIdent John
san at his home in Greenyille, Tenn, yes
,tardav morning, has ere this reached every
corner of the civilized world, with when
there is telegraphic communication. The
announcement ia so unexpected, and IS so
Gu Of sadness that the admiring country
men of Mr.. johnson have been slow 10
credit it without authenticatingd details OF the
sad event To this writing no confirmation
of the report has been received here but we
fear that the great and devoted johnson Is
no more,
The lovers Of constitutional liberty
throughout the civilized world, to day moHh
the death Of its greatest defender loo'e
who in psrtizan rancOur assalIe', m''',F''
sap,ed. and misconstrued biH While awe,
will probably sculk to hs tomb, and win
sepdisb delight plost over bis removal from
Garth md branish the dagger Of impoient
MALICE and revenge over his dead body; but
,bsss will be few, and when they 90 theT will
~, be missed The great mass Of the
American people whom he has so conscien
tiously served in the highest position attain
able in their government, without regard to
party affiliations, will Tow their heads low
in grief, and shed tears of sorrow and OF
reverence at his grave.
No man ever occupied the position from
which he has stepped into the grave under
more embarrassing circumstances, and none
ever more honestly and couscentiously dis.
charged its duties A perfect sea Of angry
AM revolutionary elements have spent its
fury upon him, and though on two or three
occasions he appeared to be almost engulph.
ed, yet be remained firm and immovRble in
his devotion to the rights Of the people, and
TO the integrity OF the constitution he had
sworn to support, preferring rather to be.
come the victim Of its enemies and receive
10 his own person the shafts Of their malice,
than to consent TO the invasion Of the rights
Of the people, or the subversion Of their
government. That he has lived through
such violent storm, and been permitted to
return to his home and experience, even for
e day only, that quiet and contentmeut
which HE iaborous term Of public service
required aud his own conscience had in
store Cor him, Is source of sincere gratif.
cation TO Biz friends, who have watched with
so much so,ici,ude and pride his struggles
Will the Unprecedented difficulties Of his
position.
j IS not for us, in the limits Of brief
newspaper article, to even suggest suita.
be tribute to the memory Of one whose life
and public services form part Of the his.
tory Of the time in which he lived and Of the
country which he has 30 efficiently served
and SO eminently honored. Nor is it indeed
Tor The contemporaries Of such a man tc
award him the full measure of praise AM
gratitude due him, for some Of the yer
achievements which constitute his greatnes
are to-day stumbling blocks of offence I
part Of his own countrymen. When tn
passions of the hour shall have subside,
and our country shall, if ever, attain to TIM
degree OF peace, prosperity and secur.
which he so earnestly sought to achieve
1t, then will the whole nation, with one
cord, pronounce his name with venerati
and homage.
Wherever and whenever consttutio
government or human liberty shall be
spected and maintained, will the memor
Andrew Johnson be eushrined in the he
of its votaries.