The Portland daily press., 1869-03-03
The Last Day of andrew johnson

A Chicago paper about month ago hit up
on a plan for giving expression to the peo-
pies feeling of uneasiness on account OF the
dreadful reluctance OF old Time TO wind up
the affairs Of Andrew johnson as President
Every morning at the head of its item column
has appeared this memorandum: "Oniy Gays
more of Andrew johnson" the DianK peins
filled with the number of days petween the
date of the issue and the 4th OF March. ms
morning no doubt the line reads thus: only
ONE more day of Andrew johnson. And at
last the day that, like the boys vacation, has
exasperated the loyal citizens of the United
States for three years or m)re by postponing
itself in an unreasonable and unaccountable
manner, has come. To-day is the last which
is wholly the Tennesseean's to veto. to appoipt
and to pardon. Whatever more of mischief
he mas it ih his heart to do must be done speed
lily. Whatever more OF wrath he has to pour
out ON an offending people for refusing to fol-
low him in giving up the "Moses business" he
must utter rapidly. 1t is too late now for an
impeachment, (though Phillips doesn't think
SOY and too late for coup detat. The last day
is likely to be an uneventful one, spent in the
hum-drum business of considering and signing
or vetoing bills-much less dramatic than
Johnson's entrance to the high offices which
he has filled for the last four years. 1t is not
too late, however, for Mr.. Johuson to get into
state of partial inebriation so as to make his
exit correspond properly with his advent. But
all the world hopes he will not mar the solem-
mites of Grants Inauguration in that way
What an insignificant parsonage an express
ident is, to be sure. Perhaps there was a
in oIn,s 10
signed to obyiate the necessity of the associa-
ton of that great and good mans name, even
for few years. with those of Pierce and Fill
more. Pierce Fillmore and johnson will be
worthy triumvirate. The addition of Lincoln's
name would not have comported with "the
eternal fitness of things" Mr.. johnson goes
out of Office with perhaps smaller remnant
OF that favorable estimation which old public
servants desire than any one of his predeces-
sors. Buchanan comes next on the black list,
but people found excuses even for him. "He
is DID," they said-"his best days are past"
But for johnson no one can find extenuating
circumstances. He has been the great dis
turber of the peace of his country since the
close of the civil war, and will ever be execra-
ted for his obstinacy and violence
What Johnson's motives have been, and
whether he has been sincere in his mad cru
sade against "the body hanging on the verge of
the government" and whether his circle
speeches were inspired by whiskey or mista-
ken patriotism, history alone can determine
The most probable solution of the intricate
problem OF Andrew Johnson's conduct is that
his early Southern prejudices, which had given
Place to a healthful spiri. of patriotism during
the last days of his Senatorial career, were ta-
ken advantage of by crafty and insidious ad-
visers upon his accession to the Presidency.
The fatal Silver Springs influence malign
suggestions of the ever mischievous Blairs-
obtained q complete ascendancy over him. SO
that before he was warm in his seat he was the
center of combinations against those who had
elevated him to power. Then followed in rap
id succession GOODNESS between the Executive
and Legislative branches of the government,
the Philadelphia Convention, the ill-starred
Western tour, open war with Congress, the
quarrel with Grant and impeachment.
johnson will leave us something to remem-
Der him by. He is the first President that was
ever impeached, thus furnishing seemingly the
last severe test that our institutions can under
go. He issued more vetoes than any other
President, and has left some proverbial slang
phrases behind him. Let us hope, also, that
he is the President from the close of whose ad-
ministration the beginning of the "era of good
feeling" will be reckoned