National Republican., 1875-08-02
ANnRHv yOHNsoN.

ANDREW JOHNSON.
: The career Of one of the most remark
able products Of American citizenship was
brought to close by the death of Andrew
johnson last Saturday morning. Born
among surroundings of the most abject
poverty, at time when in that section Of
the country 10 be poor was to be disgraced,
and reared in ignorance, this tailor's ap-
preatce wandered away from North Caro-
lima, and by sheer force of will, and by un-
paraIleled industry, raised himself, almost
unsided, from the dregs of social infamy
to the foremost ranks of public considera-
ton. There are but few people in the
United States whe will fully appreciate
this almost miraculous accomplishment
That it was almost miraculous, however,
no one will dispute who knows anything
of the character Of the people from which
he sprang. Ignorant beyond the concep-
ton of public which measures its pro-
gress by the efficiency of its free-school
system, the "poor white trash" of North
Carolina, the ''piney-woods people" from
some of whose loins this remarkable man
came, are rarely endowed with a greater
ambition than to possess themselves with
the bareSt necessities of life, to be allowed
to Join their more fortunate neighbors in
the fox-chase, or to while away their time
between the cradle and the grave with de.
moralizing devotion to gaming and de-
bauchery. Generations of this kind of life,
the natural result of the domineering
power of slave aristocraoy, produced in
Mr.. Johnson's native section and State
division of caste, almost insurmountable
before the war, and not altogether sbol-
ished now. But he struggled against this
barrier OF caste when it was at the very
height, of its most arrogant power. Un-
lettered, wearing the badge of labor upon
his brow, and surrounded by discoursging
and unsympathizing influences, he fought
his way to power and asserted his man
hood in such manner that the self
selected arisLocrats who spurned him and
his mother as she gave birth to him in
the kitchen of public inn, fell upon their
knees before him in his later years 10 crave
the exertion of his authority to save their
lives and property. 1t is this brief outline
of his wonderful life that will attract the
greatest attention and comment. 1t has
no parallel in modern history. Mr.. Lin
cola was higher type of the same kind of
manhood but his success was won in a
ffeer and more liberal section, where social
distinctions and the odious caste of property
were unknown: That they should both
have come from the depths, so to speak,
and should have reached the crow1ing
glory of human ambition as the agents of
Providence in oonquering the rebellion of
the slaVe-aristocrsts, is a coincidence which
for years and generations will link their
names together as men who, in their event
full lives, encompassed all the vicissitudes,
aspirations, smbitions and possibilities of
true American citizenship.
To anAlyze the character of such man
as Mr.. johnson proved himself to be is not
3 difficult task, for his life was open to
public inspection at all times. With self.
satisfaction which was the natural result of
an experience such as his had been, it was
to be expected that his vanity and self-oon-
hdence would induce him TO assume that
his every act was immaculate, and to defy
public criticism of it. He therefore seldom
if ever descended TO what is ordinarily
known as intrigue, and was 30 blunt and
outspoken regarding his plans and ambi.
lions as to be responsible oftentimes for his
own defeat, A more unscrupulous man
would have been more successful, perhaps,
in some Of the minor attempts of his life
but he relied on the sheer force of public
conviction to sustain him in whatever he
undertook. ofthe people, his inspirations,
though crude at times, were generally of the
kind that appealed to the sympathies of the
masses. To this fact theoeuntry is indebted
for his services to the Union when the
leaders Of the South led their unthinking
followers into secession. Andrew John
sons voice was, then as ever, heard against
the tide Of misguided enthusiasm advising
the people to be true TO themselves and call
ing them back to the.psths of loyalty from
which they had strayed under influences in
which they could have no possible interest.
Thousands upon thousands heard his words
Of warning, and that they were needed by
some the record Of the loyal Tennessee
mountaineers during the war fully sttests,
while Others, who did not heed them at
once, responded to their influence at later
date when the experience of the war
proved tie utter selfshness of the Confed-
crate leaders. 1t must be admitted, how
ever, that in addition to this aptitude of |
which amounted almost to con.
trolling instinct, he was imbued with such
! thorough personal hatred of those leaders
.hat it would have been almost impossible
for him to have Joined their infamous con.
pincy. This fact does not detract from
bis love OF the Union, for it was the off.
1pring OF that love, and was based upon a
knowledge, ineulcated BY long contact with
Ihm, that such men as JEFF Davis, Robert
Toombs, and others Of their kidney, who
planned the rebellien, were the enemies of
he Union as they were also the, enemies of
he people. They hadtmade him feel dur.
ng his long term Of useful service as Gov
xnor Of Tennessee andiin the Senate, the
,itterness Of caste prejudice and had
ssnhed to treat him as an inferior on all |
ceasiens when he attempted o assert him
elf as the representative of the people at
srre. There was, consequently, nothing
-. ho,rzaan him and them and Il