The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-08-05

commission, and be buried under its own
dishonored and falsified professions-and
that, too, thank God. is near at hand
Andrew johnson.
The last sad act has closed in the event
full life of one of the most remarkable men
that this country has produced. The En-
President, whose unexpected death oc-
cured on Saturday, was born in 1903, in
Raleigh, n. G. His only inheritance was
poverty. and a continual struggle for the
means of existence. But he was rich IN
natural ability, and a mind capable Of
expansion. After serving apprenticeship
to tailor, he began life so poorly edu
Gated that he could not read or write, and
in those elements his wife was his tutor
From that time his ability asserted itself
and attracted attention. From village
alderman he became in turn member of
the Legislature, State Senator, Congress-
man, Governor of the State Of Tennessee,
and United States Senator.
The course of Mr.. johnson in the dark
and dangerous days which Immediately
preceded the war are matters OF history.
He denied the right of a state to secede,
and on the floor of the Senate vigorously
defended the unity of the nation. On the
second election of Lincoln. Mr.. johnson
was chosen NicePresident. In the ter
rlbe days that followed the assassination
of the President, he was the same calm,
selt-poised and determined man that he
had always been, and assumed the office
Of President with full sense of its great
responsibilities.
When the war was ended, President
johnson most ardently desired the speedy
and entire reconciliation of the whole
country. The result was that he broke
from the party that had elected him, and
engaged in probably the most bitter pollt-
zeal quarrel of which this country has
any record. lie was hampered in the
control of the offices of the country by
tIlC lCHulC VI OiISS l.tN, l'tooSN W. .ii''.
purpose. And as the quarrel grew hotter,
the attempt at impeachment followed
an attempt now generally acknowledged
to have been not in the interest OF the
country or OF good government, but Of
a political party for party ends The I'M
daunted spirit of the man rose with the
requirements Of the occa5 sion, and he faced
his enemies with fearless courage. The
two months trial will be we'll remem-
| bered, when some Of the ablest men Of
the Republican party stood by the accused
| President, against the efforts OF men like
| when the Senate voted on the question
In total vote Of 81, but 10 voted guilty.
The change Of a single vote would have
made the necessary tWo-thlrds to convict.
At the close of his term in 1869, Presi-
dent johnson retired to Tennessee. lie
again mingled in politics, and last winter
was reelected to the L. S. Senate lie
had only been sworn and sat il. The exec
utive session following the adjournment
of Congress. His election to the Senate
was regarded with dismay by those who
had been especially hostile in impeach-
ment days, and not u few will feel much
relieved by the event Of his death.
Mr.. johnson was thoroughly honest
man. His bitterest enemies never qnes-
toned his sterling integrity In the dis
charge of duty he was inaccessible alike
to brides and tiattery The sincerest
mourners OF his death will he those who
knew him best.
The kennebec journal we observe COM
pares Democrats to Falstat1's ragged regi-
ment. 1t is not inapt. Jack was in the
proper credit busness-a hard drinking,
blasphemous old wretch, who cheated the
government and for cash in hand let off
men who should have served in the war,
In the insolence of his power, Falstatt
abused the men who had no cash with
which to buy themselves off, and robbed
them of their clothes. OF course they
were ragged. Jack was intensely loyal :;
cried out for war, but kept out of danger
and stole. The Journal doesn't often make
a better comparison.
Our friend Gushing of the steamer
City of Richmond, relishes good Joke rs
well as any man that lives Last week he
saw in the Journal an account Of the nut
meg geranum. He knew some ladies who
had invested in those wonderful seeds,
planted them in trusting faith, and were
awaiting the fragrant harvest. He called
with copy of the paper, and read the ac-
count to the assembled household Some
how nobody could recollect just who had
bought the seeds, but in a short time the
contents of the flower pots were dumped
in the hack yard and now they don't even
put nutmeg in their apple pies
The speech OF Hon. George Ill. Pendle-
ton, which we publish to-day, should have
careful reading. 1t will give the cor
rect idea of the political situation in Ohio
in respect to the currency question. The
Democracy of the country at large have
not been united upon this matter. but it
must be allowed that our brethren in
Ohio reason well and strongly in support
of their 1OStiOn The Democratic Ma
tional Convention Of next year will put
forth an authoritative declaration on this
point, which will meet with general APP
probation and support. Meanwhile let
us look for Democratic victory in the
Buckeye state.
The Maine Centennial Board met at
Portland last Friday. One of the ques-
tons submitted was whether Maine should
undertake distinctive exhibition of her
l.