The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-02
Ex-PREsIDENT JOHNSON.

Serenade Of tho Ex.Prcsident-A spsock of
Characteristic Spiciness-Congrcss, Grant
and the Radicals Raked-The sConstitution
ADMINISTRATIONS Of a Large Asscmblago.
WASHINGTON. July 1, 1909.
large crowd assembled before the MetrOpol itan
Hotel tonight on the occasion OF serenade to ex.
President Johnson. The oand having played tune
Mr.. Johnson appeared on the balcony and was re-
ceved with applause. Mr.. John f. Norris, OF
Washington, introduced him as having been known
for many years as the great champion OF democracy
OF the United States, and as having fought many
battles and won many victory In behalf OF c0nsti-
tutional freedom.
Ex-Presldent Johnson then climbed over q rail
and took his stand near the reporters table the
balcony. He was again greeted with applause.
ne SAID said IL Wss not his purpose to make speech
come on his return to Washington It was not
necessary Tor him this occasion to recapitulate
rehearse the arguments i,e had heretofore made in
principles which should be maintained and
preserved by those calling themselves free,
patriotic and Intelligent In taking the stand he did
he believed he was doing hts duty. (Applause.) He
mad tried TO act ON principle and In vndlcatlon Of
phspe e aaa collected aCs and
able ana Irresistible. They had been presented for
the consideration OF Congress and the country, but
IL appeared they did not avail much during the
time he had presented Them However In his poll
tics. as in his religion, when his facts gave out
his faith and his faith yet strong and unbroken.
The time would come and that ere long, when the
and high sense or preserving the great principles
which have been overslaughed and tramped under
foot so long He would say, Let us have faith. He
believed the CLEAN or the morning OF redemption
could now be seen He thought 1t was coming, when
the constitution Of our fathers would be restored.
1t was not necessary for him to call the
attention OF this intelligent audience to the strug-
giles and contest transporting within the last four
years IL was not necessary for HIM to point their
az "a row
ment to show that under the domination OF an
usurpins Congress that even the judiciary OF the
country was made 10 quail and shrink before It,
applause 1t was not necessary to turn attention to
the other end OF the avenue torres of "Hear hear-
tyrannlca body called Congress-" which attempted
to absorb every Single power OF the President. He
mad called them "yrants" standing with the mailed
heel OF power on all the necks of the freemen OF the
United States, endeavoring TO blot out the lines
which separated the States, to wipe out the other
two coordinate branches OF the government, and in
this Congress stood omnipOtent. l tell you here,
my cOuntrymen, he said. that II were compelled to
make choice (and thank God am not so compelled
as yeti would take one individual who was honest,
wise, patriotic and Just as my ruler or master
IN preference 70 Congress SO asurPag. capriclous
Let us talk about these things as they We even
find difference among them as TO whether they
Congress would impose OF an imperial government.
Such feelers have been sent out. They Wish to de-
in New IN YoSk Which
doubt. is the emanation and reflection OF Q
certain combination OF individuals, some or them
perhaps, residing In Washington, and when we turn
TO the title page what do we seer On one side "The
Empire is peace" and on the other side the quota
inv of this is "Let US have the empire, with Grant
at its head, aud we shall have peace" daughter
and appause.l But you find lurking behind this q
millions Of dollars The great fear is the people are
not to be trusted, and win not pay it; and hence
at our backs, and when the people become
FESTIVE as to the payment OF taxes they are TO be
compelled TO do so at the point OF the bayOnet. i
know what say, ana not to be egotlstical, ] know
what is being prepared for the American people. We
find the single Item of 900 to be collected for
payment Of interest on bonds and what Is itY In
terest to be paid In One-half years time. You run
your hands into your pockets and pull out something
so dim and worn that you cannot tell what 1t is. But
what it calls fer on its face. AS compared with the
currency Of the world as admitted by both Christian
who have so many millions In bOndss must here tell
little story It has been 80 long since any Of the
ten twenty dollar gold piece that made 1t spe
cal point to carry home few pieces with me in
remarked to somebody that "9p nation had
except by reputation" If I stated q fact
is there any harm in its Cries OF NO. NOM What
political economist dare deny the proposltonf
also state there Is not nation Oh earth that made
debt intermlnable or permanent that is free. Is
there any harm IN stating such facts and great
the matter standf Because have uttered truths
which cannot be controverted it is said favor repu
diation. But go to Congress. What has it dones
You Will find That in the inaugural address it is
stated that anybody is in favor OF reputation to
the extent OF single Farming he cannot
teri But when you go to this Congress, so
conscious were they Of the great fraud practiced
proposed TO repudiate One-Lhird Of the whole debt.
III IS nominated in the bond' to say six per cent,
proposed to fedace It to i've four and three per cent
But tins interest is TO be paid in gold and silver. Go
to the department. man comes I'm with coupons.
and at one counter gets gold and silver for them;
another man comes In and goes 10 another counter
with claims for some widow or orphans of him who
fell in the country's cause-who was buried with no
winding shee. around his body but the blanket
stained with his blOOd-and this man, acting for the
widow or orphans, Is handed deprecated paper while
the b0ndholder receives gold and silver. When the
rebellion commenced l was one OF those who op.
posed it. MY property was imperllled. | raised
thirty seven thousand men for the struggle l am
out Of Office now and ask for no place, therefore
can talk plain on the subject. The war commenced
ana was called on our part as was soiemnly declared
ana restoring the States to their proper relations.
The rebellion progressed, and what was the effect
was great prejudice. 1t was estimated when
IN s character iSrs and shape
dollars l was no advocate Of slavery. The
negro walked of, and just as this property disap.
peared in one section 1t appeared In the shape OF
the line instead OF existing in an institution which
was productive to the nation and TO the world.
vaults and see the great stacks Of govern.
Ho many ships does 1t Dullds How muc h
wealth does It add to the nation9 Can anybody tell
mea "a voice-"None.') 1t there remains c0rr0d
query comes up, Are the American people going
to tolerate these thingss Instead OF such vast
amount of credit and capital being locked
up In the strong boxes It should be forced
out OF the hands Of the bondholders and forced to
seek investments III such enterprises a. would add
to The wealth OF the country in the development
Of It's resources and In works Of public improve
ment. After further remarks on this and kindred
subjects he said we once had Washington in this
country, and thank God for It, (Applause.)
/ have heard 1t said we have q second WASH
should like to look at him. Applause and laugh.
teri should like to what kind OF an animal he
Is. suspect the second Washington is about as
You remember the old story Of the PRANK or satire
that Dlogenes practsed on Plato, who was very
learned, and who instructed the young men In the