The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-31
S. G..
Friday Morning, May 81, 1872.
No Policy, No Principle.

No Policy. No Principle.
Andrew johnson, while President of
the United States, was much denounced
and ridiculed by Radical partisans and
his interruptions impeaohers, for claim
ing to have e "polioy" of his own, as
well as certain unmovable fi1edness of
political and constitutional opinion.
He came safely through the storm OF
oensure and sarcasm, however, and to-
day stands higher in the estimation of
all virtuous and honorable men than his
successor. While his course had been
extreme in opposition to the action of
the Southern States in adopting the
ordinances Of secession, and although he
strenuously supported the war Of the
government against them, once that war
was over, he was wiling, like Horace
Greeley and Gsa.z Brown, to bury the
Ratchet, and look ahead to future of
good will, rather than back to the ami
mosities Of war, bloodshed and bitter
prejudice. he sought to heal the breach
which had 80 widely separated the Sec
tions, and by substantial acts, and not
by honeyed and deceptive words of
peace, when there was no peace, to effect
sincere and genuine reconciliation.
He had policy, both as respected home
and foreign affairs, and neither even
Brought humiliation on his country, or
chagrin on any respectable citizen OF it.
How different an impression from this
will retrospect of the last four years
give to any candid or impartial OBJ
serverl General Grant gave out during
the canvass preceding his election that he
had no settled opinion. no policy
wherewith to embarrass his supporters.
but would be guided by his party,
and by the voice Of the country.
This was just what the Radical leaders
wanted-perhaps had required. Their
candidate played nicely into their hands,
and becoming President, they, of course.
played his cards for him, and, at the
same time. the deuce with the interests
and honor of the country. The mode
in which he has enforced the reconstruc-
tion measures, the terrible Ku Klux per-
seoutions, with all their attendant hor-
rors and fendish atrocities, in South
Carolina, the widespread, deep and uni
versally admitted corruption of his ad-
ministration, the shortcomings and de-
feots in the civil service, the gross
abuses, if not collusion and personal
participation in the ill-gotten gains of
the New York Custom House manage
ment, and such like, show home record
in full keeping with the miserable San
Domingo scheme OF annexation, and the
impertinent and unnecessary intrusion
of the indirect claims into the American
case, to be followed at last, as they have
been, by their shameful withdrawal at
the instance of the Gladstone Ministry.
This is humiliation indeed. The mcst
radical of Grt nt's supporters feel it. and
even the wretched tools and organs
whose business it is to play and sing his
praises and excellence, at all times and
in oil circumstances, have perforce be-
come silent, and refuse to pipe. Salts,
ohe. jam salts.
TERRIBLE REBUKE TO THE ADMINIsTRA-
TIoN.-The Savannah Republican is of
the opinion that the vote in the House
on the infamous Administration mea-
sure to extend the law authorizing the
President to suspend the ha6eas corpus