The Irish standard., 1907-11-30

peen experienced up to a very high in
dividuality as we'll as concert of action,
and was equal to Mr.. Lincoln and the
executive branch. Gen. Butler says in
his book that "the government: was
rarely ever aided by the decisions of
the supreme court, but usually was inn
peded and disturbed by thenl." I'utler
was Andrew Johnsons threats in ac-
tion and they extended themselves as
extremes till they met in the circle
after Butler had prosecuted johnson at
the head of the impeachment.
The supreme court, after Chase went
to the head of it. became a presidential
intrigue, and by 1876 at least three of
it's number were presidential aspirants.
Yet, Chase looked almost like a God
at the head of the senate when saving
Johnson. He was a man so capable in
all the highest positions that he was
miserable in a passive place. Much
inferior to Marshall, because ennuied
Of the law, he has had no important
successor, and none of his predee eessors
fretted with ambition like him. Yet
the retrospect is not agreeable.
I finally went to Washington city to
take up politics and'th state, in 1868,
just as the Impeachment trial was re-
taken to see President Johnson at the
White House, nobody else there but
the introducer, a newspaper officehold-
er preying on Johnson. What I have
to say of Johnson's appearance as
president is nearly the same as re-
lated to President Roosevelt nearly 40
years afterward.
Mr.. Johnson, in the environment
! looked the office we'll, large man,
! clothed in fine black, with a standing
collar and stock or bow tie Of that
day, his position erect, his shoulders
set, his limbs strong, his feet firm.
| He wore black watchguard. Some
thing Of his features suggested I half
breed Indian. I liken him little to
Frederick Douglass, the mulatto, who
was settled, serious man of pose and
dignity.
! do not now remember a word that
was said, except that he said "that
pint" for point. He was wary, some-
! what afraid, and "up against" noun
tain of contingencies. He had seen .he
northern character fully and had no
misconceptions Of it's strength, in war.
legislation or solid impact. Thaddeus
Stevens, not unlike himself, more real,
less vain with irony and contempt was
the dictator in congress. did not see
my way clear to embrace Mr.. Johnson's s
cause, and when, subsequently, my
friend Stillson did, he incurred Gen.
Grants wrath, so that when the Her
aid sent Stillson to Mexico, Grant
would not assist or even tolerate hi n.
About this time interviewing was
invented by ]. B. Mccullough and had
a bolt-like effect from it's audacity and
first person vernacular. My ex-asso-
ciate, Charles G. Halpine, like many
Irish soldiers, rushed to Johnson's sup
port in print and injured him. Hal
pine, as a poet, elaborated his subjects
with himself. His jeff Davis book,
alleged to be by DR.. Craven, was pad
ded out.
T. 10 To1, To 11y Yo11h
debt, and it's interest, calling the debt
holders the new slave power. He,
perhaps, wrote the favorite Democratic
view that the property class could be
bulldozed in his favor, which is con-
Trajectory in terms.
johnson and Grant.
Grant moved in on great wave.
Notwithstanding Johnson's attempts to
use him, then to abuse him, and after
Johnson got back to the senate, where
he soon died, he attacked Grant with
out caliber, and his successor was the
well-meaning David M. Key, from
whom the rascals stole the postofiice.
Unwittingly, yet perhaps with some
context, served johnson a strong turn
in the impeachment trial. His destined
successor, Benjamin Wade, president
Of the senate, was much like john
son, hated Chase, whom he opposed fol
president in 1860, and spared no terms
to damn Chase in my hearing. Chase
had whitelaw Reid for his newspaper
man, who wanted to quote Wade
against the newspaper I wrote for ir
Cleveland. "the meanest paper in Ohio
a damned Chase paper" When the re.
mark went around, Wade's parasite
friends undertook to sacrifice me. who
then had good large hearing, which
mysteriously increased after our re.
contre, seeming to show that mutin,
was afoot against Wade, and wei.