Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-05

thencefor ward bent all his vast store Of
energy in that direction. He loved
controversy especially political con-
troversy-better than existence, and
never was so happy as when engaged in
political combat with a vigorous foe
man like himself. He accordingly lost
no time in getting into political quar-
rel with Parson Brownlow-a man
much after his own style-which was
destined to last for nearly half a cen
fury, and which it is not quite certain
that even the death of one or both the
combatants can terminate. Fl
what Might have Been.
Atlanta Constitution.
1t is possible that Andrew johnson
mighthavesurviyed the serious aralytio
attack if medical aid had been imme-
diately available. He was at his
daughters house six miles from the
railroad. After he was raised from
the floor and placed on a bed, he for.
babe the sending for a physician, as he
believed he would soon recover. In
this way physicians were not called for
twenty -four hours, and when they did
come the great commoner was beyond
their skill.
A CrItIque From the Young Editor in
the Tall Tower.
New York Tribune.
It was not so much the close of a his
tory as the ending of romance. The
remarkable vicissitudes Of this mans
private life and public career, his won
derful successes, and the equally won.
derful turns and changes in his per-
sonal and political fortunes; the sud
denness ofhis rise to the highess posi-
ton of influence and power in the land,
and the abruptness with which he fell
from and lost it; his greatness
of c raracter 10 some emergencies;
and his marvellous. ittleness and
weakness in other and lesser trials; his
steadiness as contrasted with his giddi-
ness; the apparent eomprehensiveness
of his grasp Of some of the most serious
questions Of craftsmanship and political
philosophy, and the utter feebieness of
his conception Of some Of the simpler
problems of government; and not least
the strange way In which he demon
strated in his own history the tickle.
ness of popular favor, of which he was
at one time the idol and another the
football; all unite to make his story
the marvel OF cur times. That
he was great no one will deny;
his elevation to the Chief Magistracy
of thirty million people attests the ex-
istence Of certain elements of real great
ness In his character. That he was
also an exceptionally weak man In
many directions the history of his ad-
ministration and the record of his pub
lie utterances bear unmistakable testi-
mony. The striking feature in his
public career was his unexpectedness.
He rarely did what was most expected
of him; almost invariably In an emer-
gency lac astonished, and many times
be startled us. In moments when we
expected him to be strong he
US with the disclosure
of some shameful weakness; at other
times, when we were bowed down with
a painful consciousness of his unfit
ness, he surprised MS with his steadi-
ness and self-command, and a revela-
ton of reserved and unsupported
With tremendous resources
of stubbornness and pluck, with un-
wavering fidelity to his convictions and
untiring persistency in their advocacy,
with endurance that kne ' no fatigue
and obstinacy that never recognized de-
feat or entertained terms of compro-
mise, he was chiefly great in the heat of
political combat, and great beyond
measure when physical courage was
called into action and the odds were
against him. With none of the chances
N his favor, and always heavily handi- \
capped by his lack of training and his
Of temper, he made his way
to the front, reaching and
holding through a boisterous period,
and against the stOrmiest opposition
that ever beset a President, the first
place In the land. But it may be said
of him that though the whole world
could not keep him down, he
could not hold himself up. 1t is
easy to say that he might have been a
greater man and mOret successful had
heIenioyed the advantages of education
and training which was possessed by
others In his position. 1t would not
be true. The strength of Mr.. John
sons character was In his obstInacy.
Education would have softened his
harshness, and culture would have re-
fined the coarseness of his nature, but
they would have taken away also the
self assertion, the obstinacy, and the
rugged self-relianee which made the
man heroic.