The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-10-07
The Great nestiBe at Nashville.

| vi last OdluTudJ mSoIiuR WAS DelO al
Nashville, Tennessee, in honor OF the OBJ
sequies of Andrew Johnson. 1t was a re-
msrksbe meeting and deserves more than
a passing notice.
The name of Andrew Johnson is familiar
one to the American of to-day and will be
| likewise familiar to the American who lives
century hence. In some respects he had
no parallel in the history of Ameri-
can statesmen. Born OF poor parents,
his youth was struggle for
bread. Before he reached manhood's estate
he gave evidence of those characteristics
that stood out so boldly in after wears. He
married and assumed the cares of family
at an age when most young men cling TO the
apron strings OF their mothers. His career,
from the time he entered public life as an al
dermsn of his town to the day be became
president of the United States, is familiar to
all intelligent Americans, and need
not be related here. 1t is of him as
the executive OF a nation that we propose to
speak.
He succeeded to the presidency at crit
ical period of our history. Mr.. Lincoln had
.
and the people were wrought up to the
highest pitch of frenzy. It was believed by
many that the new president would visit his
wrath upon the people so lately in rebellion,
and many priests, more political than re-
ligious, saw in the taking OFF, of the dead
president, the hand of God, inssmuch as it
assured the punishment and humiliation
OF the Southern psople. For while the
actions of the new president stimulated
these hopes of the ultra men who sur.
rounded him, but soon he broke loose from
the cords with which they tried to letter him
and struck out for himself. Those who
knew him well, predicted the break between
him and congress. They knew him to
be brave man, loving the Union with the
passion of lover for his afiianced, but
withal, patriot without vindictiveness Of
spirit. He had suffered more at the hands
of the men who had attempted to
dissolve the Union than had
suy of those who were about
him, for by them he had been driven from
his home and his family forcsd into exile.
Yet, with a statesman's ken, he saw that. to
cement the country together and restore the
authority OF the government throughout it's
breadth, personal animosities must be
buried and patriotism become the motive of
action. With him, to determine a policy
was to act upon it, and he at once threw in
to this plan of reconstruction all
the power of his impetuous nature. Atonce
violent and vindictive men who controlled
the Republican party. All armed opposi-
ton TO the authority OF the government had
ceased, but these men were not willing that
the war should end. They had become rich
from contracts and steslings growing out OF
the war, and they wanted to coin more
money out Of the sufferings OF the Southern
people. Sc they rejected the humane plan
of the president and substituted one in
accordance with their reyeDgeful princi
pies. Between these plans there
was an irrepressible conflict" and
the president, being without sufficient
support in either house OF congress, was de-
feated and the policy OF the malignant lead
ers prevailed. They, however, were not
satisfied with killing his measures, but, by
unusual and arbitrary legislation, so effectu-
ally tied his hands that he was but little
more than nominally president. They fur
ther sought to destroy him by impeachment,
and succeeding in arraigning him at the bar
of the Senate for trial. He was charged with
high "crimes and misdemesnors," but his
crimes consisted in patriotic efforts
to stem the tide of political fanati-
cism and bring back an era of
good feeling to the country. AL
though unsuccessful in removing him from
Office, they succeeded in so ,intensifying the
feelings of their partisan friends throughout
the country that he was insulted and ira
duced whenever he appeared in public.
During all this time ne never despaired OF
the country, nor doubted that, ultimately,
Justice would be done him. He lived to see
the mad passions of the people subside. He
lived to see those who were most clamorous
for his impeachment admit the injustice of
their course. And ne lived to sea the
American people, almost without exception,
rejoice when the people OF his adopted state
sent him back to the body that once tried
him for his political life. The people were
glad OF his return TO the public service, for
they know that he was both honest and
brave, and such men are needed in the
councils of the nation when corruption
stalks forth so boldly as it does at the capt.
tai. He lived but short time to enjoy the
returning confidence Of his countrymsn,
but it ia a comfort and consolation
to his family to know that when he
died the nation greved. The pa
geant at Nashville, last Saturday,
was worthy tribute to the
memory of an honest and brave man. 1t
was the largest turnout ever witnessed in
,, tie capital oi Tennessee. Il vas composed