Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-10-22
DAILY -INTELLIeEHcER
VIEW eHAprsR OF HISTORY.

rebellion is important. without y &c
clear understanding Of the relations o.
the prominent actors Of that eFisics
time could sver have been arrived al
II shows the American people ID
through the 1Tnpsss, patriotism ard
clear insight Of one man their country
escaped great danger, Of the szistsTies
Of which they have hitherto bad onl5
vague s1spieions. IL throws 3 nes
glory around the name II GRAFT ii
covers the name OF Andres Johnson
With infamy. Is casts light upon
some points Of oar political history
which have always been Obscure. il
clears away the mystery from motives
aEd actions Of men which ths mos;
acute have failed 20 understand. IL
shows With startling distinctness page
Of American history which before was
read only by dim light.
The character OF Andrew johnson Is
revealed as i. was never before reveal
ed. Born In poverty and inhsritinR the
instincts Of his people, be yet bad With
la him an ability which made hin the
superior Of those with whom he
came in contact, and an ambition
boundless as innnity. Ia the efforts
which be made to rise above his sur
roundings, be fel. his progress checked
By a bar across bis pathway. de sav
beyond him and above him men whom
be believed to BE- his intellectual inferi-
ora. With the firmnsss and determine
ton which characterized hin, be made
frantic Efforts 10 break this bar and
Join those whose apparent super orIty
to himself be could not comprehend
Each effort resulted in dismal failure.
He felt that be could no more break the
bar which caste had thrown across his
path than be could walk through a
stone wall. HIS desire 10 break through
was changed into an overm asterius
hatred OF those upon the other side.
With all the strength Of his intense
nature be hated those from whose
oompanionship he vas shut out.
Hatred hecame with him an at
sJrbing passion. lie parsued the
slavehoiding aristocracy TO Its ruin with
unparalleled vindictiveness and deser-
mination. When finally by a series Of
tremendous events he Unexpectedly
found his enemies la his power and
realized that be could glut his ven
esancs, he looked forward TO the feast
Of blood with the gloaling eyes OF d
Nero or a Caligula. He prepared 10
pour his wrath upon the leaders of the
aristocraoy which he hated. At this
point thess self same leaders came
and rendered 10 him an uBoondi-
tionai surreaner. They represented 80
him that by the sheer force of bis char
acter and his abilities he had broken
down the barriers VI caste, that he was
now ono Of them and was their natural
leader, and that upon him deyulved the
duty Of defending the institution which
he alone had been able to defy. The
President received their surrender anc
fell int their trap. In submitting e
him they made him their most effee
tive ally. The men whom be had hated
80 terribly became his friends and ad
viscrs. He took them at their word
and assumed the leadership of thu
Southern aristsoraey. From that timt
forth his life was dedicated TO the re-
building Of the institution which
be had done 50 much TO tear down. II,
became the champion OF what had bs, I
the slave holding oliearehy.
AT first thought it seems almos. il
cred,ble that so slight bauble shoult
have pleased So great man, that Ii,
lifs-passion Of such giant as Andrew
johnson should have reversed iisel
almost upon the instant. A momeni'
thoaeht, however, must convince ID,
most skeptical that Mr.. Depew's le,iel
contains the true explanation Of th.
sudden change in the policy Of Presi
dent johnson. That change has nevei
before been satisfactorily accounted for
The rejection of this explanation /.
more dittiault than It's acceptance. The
evidence which supports /, is too strong
10 be overthrewn. Ii must be askuow.
lodged that General Grant with an in.
sight into character keener than that
Of any Of bis contemporaries fathomed
the mind OF Andrew Johnson and cor.
rectly interpreted the motives Of his
actions. Never during his life did he
give bis conclusions 20 the world, and
he died With the consciousness that in
his mind he held the key Of the most
intricate puzzle OF American politics.
One other question which has excited
much discussion 10 settled now. Ii can
no longer be doubted that the impeach.
ment Of President johnson was Just and
proper and that be should have been
removed from Office. From the aay thai
be sold himself 10 the southern leaders
be vas guilty of reasonable plotting
against the government. Had his plans
succesded the fruits of The war would
have been lest. They might have been
lost forever aud they might have been
reeained after struggle a. desperate
a. the var which bad Just closed. An
archy stared the Nation in the face. and
the leading anarchist was President Of
the United States. While probably no
patrio, except General Gran, thorough
ly understood the Presidents attitude,
enough vas known 10 Justify the suspi-
eions which only new have been verified.
Mr.. Depe~ has made good bis asser-
ton that General Gran, perfosmed SER
vices 10 his country Which were unwris-
ten quite a. important 40 any sha, had
been recorded. The newly tarnsd page
Of history bears him out Grant stood
alcae besweea order and anarchy and
by his iaaomlsAhle wiIi and insorrupti.
bic patriotism guided the Nation safely