Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-13
PUBLIC LEDGER.
hNDREw JOHNSON.

dousto the village of Greenville, where
# is7fair to. presume he will spend the
grsater remnant of his days, we have a
feR-words to say of him and his late
onpearance as an aspirant for office.
Wewouid willingly regard the man in
tbessbsract merely as politician, but
he is so essentially ain individual OF pc
euliar traits, which appear in all his acts,
thstit is difficult to separate the public
man; from the idea of personal Andrew
Johnson. If he had less Of selfasser-
ton, and that assurance which always
satisfies the owner that he is right and
great, regardless Of what others may
think, we could almost sympathize with
him in his successive rsverses, each one
more sweeping than any before. That
he is bold, courageous and combative is
admitted on all hands; but these quail.
ties do not make the statesman in times
of peace, but rather fit the possessor for
the stormy periods of a revolution when
leader is required to assure the timid
and encourage the strong Mr.. johnson
has been a power in the land, though,
as we think, often overestimated. His
speeches are neither models of strong
English nor of originality. Nothing he
has ever written win be preserved in our
literature for its beauty of thought OF
faultless construction. His strength
was not in these or any Of the classic
graees, but rather in his appeals to the
masses, and subtle understanding of the
prejudices and weak points Of mankind.
He generally made war on the rich. who
are always small minority, and stood
forth in all his holiness of manner and
speech as the professed champion Of the
dear people. His study has always been
political creeds, rather than the funda-
mental principles, and he has turned his
talents and peculiar forces to the very
best advantage. But as the press id
vanced and telegraph wires carried his
choice efforts on the stump to the daily
papers, and the marked similarity Of
each speech TO all the rest was observed,
he began to vane, and the sameness in
all he said fell like monotonous elods Of
prose on the ears Of the public. he
would have been a very king in Tennes-
nessee to-day if never a telegram or rail-
road line had been built. The progress
OF the times was too much for him
Stump. speaking mas lost It's charm, and
the old mans voice much Of its potency
for good or for evil. Still We are in a
sense proud CT him; he has overcome
terrible odds in the battle Of life, aud is
even yet giant in his way. Every Ten
nesseean is more or less interested in his
fame, and We would not willingly see
one Of his hard earned laurels dashed
to the ground. His aspirations TO the
United States Senate could De over
looked. That was a position, II gained,
to which as much honor attached as
any be had he'd; but this last effort,
running for Congress, stumping the
State, and fighting over his own battles,
and defending wha. be did when Presi-
dent, was undignifed and unbecoming
in a man who desires to be kRown
in history as a statesman, and the great
defender. Of the constitution; and the
oft-repeated assertion he made that the
people had called him forth, and that he
was their candidate wag not sustained
by the returns of the election. He must
feel humiliated, # capable Of such feel
ing, at being left third in the race. We
pity rather than rejoice at the great mis-
he made, for until now his words
were still needed by many Of the Aneri- |
can people, let us remember, before |
condtnning him too severely, the habits
Of his life; his early struggles, which en-
FILTERED his soul; his aggressive nature,
and the manner Of political war in which
he has always been engaged. The quiet |
village affords no excitement for him,
no field foT the fierce stump-speaker. |
Doubtless defeat is more welcome with
strife than the aonotony Of secluded
town. Many people suppose he has re-
celved bis quietus. Not yet; not while
life and health last. He may take trip
to Europe or remain passive awhile,
but he will come again and still come
whenever the political contest RACES hot
test. 1t is as impossible for him TO keep
away as for the eagle TO foFsake the
mountain crag or the tiger the jungle.
Thoggh defeated and deeply wounded,
he only retires to recuperate and
lay new plans to make his power felt
In the late contest he took the leader
ship Of certain factions in need Of =
leader, and brought to their aid many
Democrats who had nothought of break
ing up the Conservative party Of the
State. His and their utmost strength
was developed under highly favorable
circumstances. The Republicans Of
the State could nos under any state Of
affairs be brought 10 support Johnson,
they would sooner vote for Chatham
The revolution he led was feeble
IRON the inception, and lost ground for
month previous to the election. lie
demanded that the war should be forgot
ten yet ran on his Union record oil lsoV'
which opened the entire question. de
deRed tie press. which, with the exceP-
ton Of three influential dailies, was
aga'us, him. The press crushed him.
and he must Sec how he miscalculaied
his strength. Hepolled a heavy vote in
Shelby Davidson and Knox counties,
where our foreign-horu fellow-citizens
stood by him as an &C, Of gratitude for
the service he did them years ago, and
for this they are worthy Of the highest
commentator, in these times when
favors and friendships are often TOO
soon forgotten. But take his yo,. 80