The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-09
HERMIT IS RIGHT.
Defense of Ex- Senator Edmund
g. Ross.
j. L. Brady Estimate OF Man
Who Saved Johnson.
CAMERON PILGRIMAGE.
May Help to Reinstate the
Former Senator.
His Act in e. s. Senate That
of Brave Man.
CAMERON PILGRIMAGE

The Lawrence Journal, edited by j.
L Brady, has the following editorial
comment on General Hugh Cameron
pilgrimage:
THE PILGRIMAGE IS RIGHT
The Journal has not usually been
fulsome in praise of the errauc &C
lions OF Gen. Hugh Cameron. 1t mas
believed that he was sensational 20
the point of absurdity. But Gen.
Cameron has nit upon something sane
and righteous in his pilgrimage 70
New Mexico, 20 carry the greetings OF
the people of Kansas to ex-senator
Fdmund q. Ross. Time has softened
a great many things, and 1t mas SORT
ened public feeling towards senator
Ross.
There is scarcely man living who
does nos feel a thankfulness that An
drew Johnson was not impeached- II
would have set a precedent that would
have caused trouble to the end OF the
government. Further, 1t is not now
peaching. Andrew johnson was
figure of the rough and ready he
was a man of strong likes and dis
likes. He was every inch patrlot:
This assertion has only been allowed
to be made Of recent years. but it is
true. We now know that no man
would have stood as he stood in Ten
nessee and been disloyal at heart. In
stead he was loyal to the core
Andrew johnson made mistakes,
no doubt but he was not given falr
treatment. The very men who had
bounded Lincoln all his life turned
upon Andrew johnson. The detrac-
tors of Lincoln became in turn the
detractors of Johnson.
Andrew johnson will not stand in
history as great man. Ihere was
nothing great about him. He was
stronE-minded illiterate, whose sense
re Ixr4x oN1 whose accom-
plishments lacked the finesse 10 such
a marked degree that he made enc
mics by the thousand This was more
the mans unfortunate temperament
than his desire. Andrew johnson did
not have a drop of disloyal blood in
his veins. He was, however, con-
structed on the cross-grained plan
which did not please people He was
not diplomatic, he was not adrott, he
was awkward as a statesman, I'M
couth in his administration and harsh
in dealing with the very men he would
have propitiated had he been made of
finer fibre.
So much for Andrew Johnson. Let
us now turn to our own Senator Ross.
Senator Lane had sided with johnson
and the people. of Kansas, with their
suicide. Ross was appointed to the
vacancy and accepted the heritage of
disgrace. He went to Washington and
became an administration man. Po-
llIlcalIX speaking ne InaQe a most ser
ious mistake. Public indignation was |
cantering around the president. The
fire-eaters, many of them men who
had not the courage to fight, became
baiters of the lukewarm or conserva- |
tive element The radicals held things
IN their power in the north as COM
pletely as the radicals did in the |
south. OF course the two radicals |
were extremes in difference but there !
was the same intolerant spirit in the |
. In
Johnson did not please the north. |
could not please the north No man /
born in the south could have done so.
and least of all a rough, awkward |
was a clamor for victim The popu-
lace, once ready to demand the cruel
fixion of Lincoln, now demanded =!
Johnson Instead of being generous.
a wild flame of intolerance abroad
which swept everything before it.
Ross was the victim. A man of fine
courage. he had to be. He did his
duty knowing that it meant his po-
litical death, knowing that it meant
his political extinction.
Afterwards a Democratic admins
tration made Ross governor of New
Mexico, but it was not a vindication.
The country never accepted 1t as such.
Ross has been unforgiven. He had
played an unpopular chord and was
1ot allowed to make good.
Inc story or pubic life IS the story
II this execration. Men have time
and time again been made the vic
Tins of the public. In some instances
public sentiment has changed and the
men have been allowed a show for
heir white alley. Other men have
been unforgiven.
In Kansas we have outlawed A. NJ.
ork. who denounced Senator Pome-
10Y. York was lauded for having
lone a patriotic thing but reviled and
sxecrated because he had violated the
political code. He was too dead the
1ext minute after the exposure for the
trumpet Of fame ever to reach him.
The Kansas people took the view
hat he had violated the rule of the
yame of politics and that finished
him. Likewise Ross had violated the
pirit and genius of the Kansas peo-
de and was a damned man. He
Gould not be forgiven.
But time is softening the people.
We are beginning to see that the
Judgment of the passions is not
air judgment. Andrew johnson has
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