National Republican., 1875-08-02

heart, and those who anticipated vengeful
policy during his administration we've dis
appointed. That he pursued an entirely
different course, and that it has resulted in
delaying solid reconstruction, are facts
which no one can deny; but that he was
impelled by generous, honest and patriotic
motives is also beyond contradiction. 1t
would be unjust to say that he was induced
to this by desire to curry favor with his
former opponents, or an ambition to be
received on equal terms by the aristocratic
enemies of his former years. His course
since then has proved that no such in.
auences had lodgment in his mind, for
when he severed his connection with the
Democratic party as the party of secession
and treason he left its ranks forever. His
subsequent political contest, resulting in
his election to the Senate, was simply
another illustration Of his enmity to that
party, and his determination never to be-
come, however remotely, supporter of its
principles or plans. At the same time he
placed himself in sntagonism to the bulk of
the Republican party, the party of the
Union, to which he owed his greatest sue
cess. This was the occ Ision of much bit.
terness of feeling against him, as well as of
charges that he had transferred his allie.
glance to the Opposition but ii is prob
able that the student of American politics
will, in the future, accord to him the pos
session of desire to harmonic conflicting
elements, and to re-establish the fraternity of
the Union by extending truly reciprocal
COMPROMISED In the whole course of his
eventful career this one feature presents
the nearest approach to Inconsistency.
He never ventured a definite ex.
PLANTATION of it except to declare that
in his belief the conflicting parties might
find in the Constitution sufficient justifea-
ton for their respective opinions. Although
he never openly announced it, there is
reason to think that he sought the organ
ization of q Third Party on this somewhat
Il-defned basis, and that he entertained
an ambition to become known as its
founder.
But the commanding trait of his charac-
ter, and the one to which he owed the
success of his greatest efforts, was his per-
sonal magnetism. II was of the physical
kind which overpowered the subtleties of
calm reason and destroyed the power of
deliberate argument. This it was that
made him strong with the people. What
ever of lack Of polish, of lack of deep
thought, and of absence of preparation in
his public addresses and State papers may
have been apparent, there was in them an
indefnable something that preserved the
personal influence of their author. This
quality is observed in mauE public men,
but, considering all the circumstances, Mr..
johnson was probably entitled to recogni-
ton as possessing more of it than any one
of his day. When Governor Seward, q
polished, highly educated and successful
man Of the world, one of the foremost states-
men of our country, and man accustomed
TO receive the obedience of Others, came
into immediate contact with him, there
were strong reasons why they should be
fast friends. Both had been the victims of
intended assassination, and both were
looked upon to play prominent part in
the programme of restoration. Their ante,
cedents were altogether dissimilar, as were
their habits Of life, and the manner of peo-
pie with whom they had been accustomed
to associate. The one had been despised,
scorned and abused by his sectional co.
temporaries, the other praised, petted and
exalted. The one had passed through a
TRANCE experience of privation and social
ostracism, with its consequent embittering
influences, the other had enjoyed wealth,
enyiable social position. and the luxuries of
q more fully developed civilization. Yet
when this man of the people, this progeny
Of the piney woods and degraded illiteracy,
in short this product of ignoble loins,
brought his power to bear upon his
Secretary Of State, an oyershadowing per.
sonality was asserted, and Mr.. Seward was
swallowed up in Andrew johnson. 1t is
true that the diplomat may have been too
much absorbed with the consideration of
international affairs to have. paid great at
tention to home politics.; but, be this as it
may, history will fail to find in Mr.. John
sons Administration the work of any other |
individuality than his own. No traces of |
the s'irrepressible confict, the enunciation
of which gave worldwide fame to Mr..
Seward, viii be found in it except in ths
form Of rude, misshsped aspirations to be- |
come the leader Of q newly -enfranchised |
class, to whom Mr.. johnson offered himself |
with more egotism than rhetoric, as sec.
ond Moses. fsras .sssaas sa5ss -lsl5
While Mr.. johnson was not always a
steadfast friend. for he oftentimes ignored
the demands Of political supporters for the
purpose of conciliating political enemies
he was what is popularity known as first
class hater. Rash at times in reaching his
conclusions, and impetuous in declaring
them, It was natural that he sheuld make
mistakes, and the great trouble with him
seemed to be an aversion to correct those
mistakes when almost positive proof Of lis
error was presented. This peculiarity had
the effect 10 discount his natural strength
Is leader. because it alienated from b m
many of his immediate friends. The OH.
cials of his political household were well
aware Of this fact, and were sometimes the
gictims of caprises which established it as