Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-01

H0kSf adding two WaVererS
to the little band of
MYZ0A Republicans who had
AAk4NAA4s2 resolved to answer the
Chief Justice with
Not gulty!'
When the counsel had finished their arguments,
they could predict with reasonable certainty the
vote of every Senator save one The twelve Demo-
cratic Senators would each vote mol" and these
Democrats would be joined, according to all ap
pearances, by six of their Republican colleagues,
men of such high character and steadfast will that
attempts at coercion would be only ridiculous.
There were thus left thirty-six Senators to vote
GUILTY." and every one of the thirty-six must SO
vote if the impeachment was to be successful.
Thirty five of this number were absolutely certain;
but the politicians who expected new President
within a few days suddenly realized with shock
that the remaining Senator of the indispensable
thirtysix, young Ross of Kansas had not expressed
opinion since the trial began.
To the indignation and horror Of the Republican
leaders, Senator Ross presumed to consider himself
sitting judge, and declined to disclose his
judicial decision to the party managers. Forthwith
the energy of mighty national machine was focused
on his one head The most enticing promises and
the direst threats fell ceaselessly the young
kansan. Venerable fathers of the Senate hooked
their arms within his and pledged any number of
reflections and all manner of important chairman
ships if for this he would agree; immense
crowds in Kansas cities burned him in etfigy
foretaste of what would happen their forebodings
should turn true. The great party newspapers of
thirty States rumpeted ike sky reaching elephants
and the DISTINGUISHED Confederate, occupied
solely with repairing his farm buildings and securing
SEED
Washington the conquering Yankees" in
tensely worried about man named Ross But to
neither Establishments nor menaces did the Senator
from Kansas return a sign, and the Union awakened
the decisive morning not knowing who that night
it would look up to as its head.
The Senate has such a concourse
gathered within its chamber that day. The
diplomats of Europe would not miss the possible
opportunity of beholding chief of state peaceably
removed and in the surrounding galleries tier after
tier up to the thronged doorways, stretched all the
fashion of the Capital and almost all the political
influence of all the States On the floor in close
pressed files stood the greater magnates The House
of Representatives there, crushed tight against
the walls, and the Cabinet of the President, and
Federal Judges, and the victorious leaders in the
recent war. The wide semicircle of senatorial
chairs completely filled. Not single absence
broke the full roll of the Senate when resonant
marshal heraded to the dais the silk gowned Chief
Justice and the concluding session of the court of
impeachment began
"Mr. Senator Anthony said the Chief Justice,
rising, " do you find Andrew Johnson President of
the United States, guilty or not guilty of high
crimes and misdemeanors? How say you, Mr..
Senator Anthony"
The immense audience hushed itself into the
silence that accompanies historic event, and
every neck strained toward the left side of the
Senate, Anthony with dignity and in a clear
voice announced the Judgment that all men knew
beforehand would be his.
Slowly and with the same formula the head of
the Supreme Court passed alphabetically down the
list of the Senate, and surprise broke the prophe
sled schedule of the senatorial decisions On the
Republican and the Democratic sides Senators
and solemnly declared what had been expected
with an extra tension in the stiffness the white
haired urs faced to the left to address the revolving
conscience Republicans Their consciences did
not fail them in the supreme moment; with dis
tinct emphasis each of the little group answered
Not guilty." Men who had charged across battle
fields began to breathe nervously The Chief Justice
in the Ms He questioning the Senators
whose names began with P. He was getting through