The sun., 1907-08-04
Nv.

In the same third chapter our author
points out that at the very date Of Johnson's
Official announcement that peace and tran
quillity had been restored the whole country.
North and South. was in fact convulssd
with political conflict only less demoraliz-
ing than the conflict Of arms which it fol-
lowed. The causes Of this situation are
traceable to the currents OF public and party
feeling which we're set in motion by the prog
ress Of the administration OF public policy
in the South The fact is here recalled that
President johnson on his accession to power
manifested at first no little sympathy with
some beliefs which were characteristic OF
the Radical wing Of the Union party. As
his policy, however. was developed by the
appointment Of provisional Governors and
by the proceedings under them, his lean
ings toward the Radicals became con-
tinually less conspicuous. till by the mid
summer Of 1885 those Northern politicians
who had cherished the brightest hopes were
in despair Of any settlement that would
realize their chief aims. These aims in
cluded the prescription of the Confederate
leaders, extensive confscation OF planta-
tions in the South. the enfranchisement OF
the freedmen and the postponement Of
political reorganization in the Southern
States till the continued ascendency Of the
Union party therein could be insured. As
the Administrations policy was unfolded
it was seen to be obviously incompatible
with every item OF the Radical programme.
Even what hope Of prescription had been
held out by the numerous exceptions from
the privilege OF amnesty granted by the
proclamation Of May 20. 1885, had subse-
quently been extinguished by the liberal
Issue OF special pardons to individuals who
applied therefor. Confscation had been
stopped short by the United States Attor-
ney-General's opinion that property which
had been seized by the Federal authorities
under the confiscation acts must be restored
to the former owners when these were par
doned. Manifestly negro suffrage had
been doomed by the franchise provisions Of
Johnson's proclamations. and the haste
with which reor organization had been pressed
to completion in State after State filed the
Northern Radicals with gloomy forebodings
OF a reunited Democracy sweeping the
Union mon out Of their control OF the ma
tional Government.
There is no doubt that President John
son. when once his original purpose Of
making examples Of certain leaders like
jefferson Davis had been forced by the
pressure Of events into the background,
pushed energetically the policy OF mercy.
cancellation and an immediate restoration
OF the old Union and the old constitutional
relations. Involved in the policy was a
clear and promising scheme OF party re-
adjustment from which the Democracy
IA A. A. l.
Of the Union party johnson had no hope OF
pleasing. or. for that matter. any desire to
please. Such supporters he thought he
could dispense with. On the other hand.
the great mass Of conservative men In the
Union party johnson and his advisers
believed they could hold by the policy
they had adopted; and the loss Of support
from the radicals could. they assumed.
be compensated by the adhesion OF North
ern Democrats. who very early in John
sons administration began to manifest
approval OF his views. In the South. Of
COURSE when party life should have been
renewed IL could be anticipated with con-
fldenoe that gratitude would bring a large
following to uphold the Presidents hands.
Thus, In the opinion OF our author. there
was in 1885 fair promise OF an Administra-
tion party which. strong in both sections
OF the reunited nation, would be opposed
only by impotent sectional factions-the
radicals and the remnants OF the Copper
head Democracy in the North. and in
the South tho fragments Of irrcooncilable
secessionism.
That temporarily there was good ground
for President Johnson's hope In this matter
seems 70 Prof. Dunning demonstrated
by the approving interest with which the
progress OF reorganization in the South
was followed for a while in the North.
Nevertheless. when it became evident that
some Of the restored States would be ready
for admission to the national councils az
soon az Congress should assemble In Deoem-
Der. 1885. the bearing Of the prospective sit
uation on party politics stimulated the most
anxious scrutiny Of the conditions in the
South.
v.
Nov there ID no doubt that the men whom