The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-08-12
Andrew Johnson.

throughout the breadth OF tlllS lalld.
No more remarkable figure has ever
appeared upon the stage of American
politics. He sprang from the mudsills
and yet walked through all the paths OF
life with power and dignity, that king>
born in the purple might have envicd
class of people, no wing Of partisans that
have not denounced him. No man has
been moro buitetted about by waves Of
hate and passion; no man more petted
and beloved. No party ever held him
long. There was in him stern and
abiding confidence in self, that led him
to regard parties as accidents, concurring
to-day and tomorrow, disagrceing with
views that he felt bound to enforce, and
principles that he had determined to de-
fcnd. He cared literally nothing for the
prestige or power of partisan organiza-
ton, but gave his own opinion supremacy
with himself, and made his own inclina-
tons impcrious in his own breast. There
is no man of the thousands who are at
this hour writing sketches Of his lille,
no matter what his politics may be, who
will not find many chapters in Johnson's
life to approve and others to condemn.
He has been the hero and the contempt,
in turn, of every section of this Repub-
lie. The writer Of this introduced him
to an audience Of people. at the Universi-
ty of Virginia when he was leaving the
Presidential mansion after Grants lnau-
guration. A moro enthusiastic ovation
was never rendered to any man than he
received at Charlottesville that day.
Just a few years before that occasion, he
was passing through Charlottesville, and
a mob of the same people rushed into
his car and severely maltreatcd him, the
leader deliberately and conspicuous!y
slapping him on the face. Through just
such stormy scenes was the life that has
Just ended passed. And yet through
them all, equally, the old man carried 4
strength and majesty Of demeanor that
was grand and Socratic.
Andrew johnson was born in Raleigh,
n. c., December 80, 1908. When he
was four years old he lost his father, who
died from over-cxertion in an effort to
save friend from drowning. At the
age of ten he was apprcnticed to tailor,
with whom he served seven years. His
mother being very poor, he never attcn-
tlcd school a day in his life. While
learning his trade, he resolved to make
an effort to educate himself. His ankle
ty to be able to read was excited by an
incident worthy of mention. A gentle
man of Raleigh was in the habit Of visit
ing the shop and reading while the jour
neymcn were at work. His f;lyoritc book
was volume of the speeches of British
statesmen. johnson was deeply intercs-
ted, and he determined to master that
book, which the owner, hearing OF his
ambition, had presented to him. His
apprenticeship being out in the fall of
1921, he removed to Laurens G. H., 5.
c., where he worked two years at his
trade. Here he became engaged to be
married, but the match WAS prevented by
the relatives of the young lady. He
then went bacI, to Raleigh, and remained
there Il few months, when he wandered
out to the West, locating at Grccnville,
in East Tennessee. Here he married.
From his wife he continued to learn the
rudimcnts of an English education. lie
was elected alderman in 1928, 1929 and
1880, then chosen Mayor, and served
three years. In 1895 he was elected to
the Legislature, and took decided stand
against i scheme for internal improve
mcnts. This defeated him in 1887. In
1880. his views having been vindicatcd
by time, he was overwhelmingly elected
in 1910. lie served rs Presidential cleo
tor in 1911. He was elected State scna,,
tor in 1913, then to Congress, and served
until 1858, when he was elected Governor
of Tennessee, in IN exciting CANVASS,
which he was opposed by Gustavus \.
Henry. Reelected 1855, beating Mcri-
dith P. Gentry. At the expiration OF
his second term, he was elected United
States Senator for full term, ending
March 8, 1868.
When the war broke out he cspoused
the cause of the Union, and became the
Military Governor of Tennessee, when
his administration was very severe against
Southern men. He was elected i'll lSi'f
the Vice President Of the United States,
and became President by the death Of
Mr.. Lincoln.
During his Presidency, he was inn
reached because of his fearless defense
of the South and of Southern men, and
escaped dethroncment by - small vote.
After his rctiracy from the White House,
he returned to his home in Tennessee,
where, after remaining quiet for about
two years, he re-entcred politics, and
after a series of stormy contests he was
elected to the United States Senate. His
return TO the Senate was 'hcralded
throughout the Union as an event of
National import, and the Democrats were
much elated at the probable results of
his service. His name was prominently
mentioned in connection with the Prcsi-
dental nomination, and had lie lived he
would doubtless have gone before the
National Convention. He made only
one speech during the one session he
served in the Senate prior to his death.
This ono contained u terrible and master
" arraignmcnt Of Grantism, and pro-
duced powerful effect.
The most wonderful phase of john
sons career WAS his power with the
masses. He was the idol of the lower
classes. They believed in him with an
absolutism that nothing could modify.
Even during his last race for the Senate,
after he had been in active politics for
nearly forty years, and had occupied cv-
crv Office from Alderman to President.
he was elected by the clamorous demand
that came from all quarters, "to give the
people IL chance against the politicians" !"
lie loved the people, and they loved him,
The writer while sitting in the Ovcrton
House, Memphis, during the Mardi Grls