Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-02-21
Ex-PREsIDENT JOHNSON.

IN
Faint, gusty stories every now
and awhile come to us from East
Tennessee telling of the wherea-
bouts of this Rob-Roy of the noun
tains. Some of these say that he ia
still defer of tie political authori-
ties of the State, while others give
us reason to believe that he learned
a lesson in 1872 that will not be for
gotten very soon. We have heard
it suggested that he would be n can
dIdate for Congress in the LIST dis
trict-Roderick Random Butler's--
and again he is spoken of as can
didate for the United States Senate,
and no longer than few days ago
we were informed by gentleman
who claims 10 know something Of
his purposes, that he will stump the
State in the coming canvass in order
to secure the election ola legislature
that will favor his election TO the
Senate. In addition there are those
who believe that he may be Il can
didatc for Governor.
So far as the Senatorial and Gu
bernatOrial :lates are concerned we
think Mr.. Johnson's name may as
well be rubbed out. a dumb man,
with nothing but the nomination of
his party, and name above re-
proach to back him, received $4,000
votes for the place of Congressman
for the State at large in 1872, while
the cx-Presidcnt received only
$1,000. Although Mr.. Jonnson's vote
was remarkable, and while 40 other
man could, under the same circum-
stances, have received One-fourth
part Of it, it must be manifest 10
him that the Democratic party OF
Tennessee carnot be driven and
coerccd by him, and that although
emay be able to divide it he cannot
destroy it. He must also perceive
that the work OF division which he
may be able to accomplish will not
in the end benefit himself He elect
cd Maynard to Congress, and he
will not repeat the experiment in
order to make him Governor or
United States Senator.
What, then will this uuquestion-
ably and restless man do in the
. coming summer? Wedo not know,
but we know what he ought to do.
If he could make a successful race
for Congress in the 1st district, act
ing in harmony with the opponents
of the Radical party, he might again
become a power in the State, but
otherwise we do not see how this is
possible. His prestige has been
broken to a great degree aud he
must restore it by victory in his old
home and among his old friends. In
q disorganizing race, run for mis-
chief more than for anything else,
he can never again gather to his call
the 81, 900 Democrats who respond
cd TO it in ~. Nearly all of his sup
portcrs then were true men and
earnest men. They knew that Mr..
Johnson was able, and they had
long been taught to believe him in
vincible before the people. Mr..
johnson himself was hoodwinked
and betrayed by the Radicals in
that race. Going up to Nashville
to open the canvass, he found him
self surrounded by yelling, roar
ing army of "one-gallowsed" Radi-
Gals, all of whom had been drilled
for the work, and wise as the eX-
President was, he was deceived, and
thought that he could sweep the
State like q whirlwind. This game
was played upon him everywhere,
but when the ballots were counted
Mr.. johnson found that Mr.. May
nard had not lost single vote. We
do not think that the ex-President
will go wooing in that direction
again. His Radical love betrayed
him, and left him rs Vivian left old
Merlin in the woods of Drocehande
after she had bereft him of his
charm, and the wizard of the people
was left like his classic predecessor
to curse his stupidity, while the
mocking laugh of his vanishing mis-
tress was ringing in his cars. Mr..
johnson will not trust the Radical
party in Tennessee again. On the
other hand we think that he would
prefer to unite with his old friends.
There is no reason why his ability
and experience should be lost to the
State. His path is plain. If he
chooses to act with the Democratic
party in Tennessee he can be emil
nently useful. If he should fail to
do this, his life's decline will be
without honor and without innu-
cnce.