Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-07

VI Nv BLUSH pCOpACp ONN - W NAo
residence and influence OF the instigators.
Troubles Begin Early.
Mr.. johnson repeatedly echoed the decla-
ration Of his lamented predecessor that
the government of the United States was
erected as a perpetuity; that the constltu-
ton provided for the admission OF states.
but not for their secession or destruction.
Said he: "a rebellious state when 1t comes
out of rebellion Is still a state;" II hold
1t a high duty to protect and to secure to
those states a republican form of govern
ment;'' but such a state must be restored
by its friends, not smothered by its enc
miles, II was opposed to dissolution and
an equally opposed to consolidation" He
agreed with Abraham Lincoln and disa-
greed with the radicals under Charles Sum
ner; he refused to recognize Vance as gov
ernor of North Carolina and would not
consent to withdraw the federal troops
until the loyal citizens Of that state had
organized their own government. In reply
to a delegation of negro clergy he said:
THE negroes had the same right as the
whites to be free; but as to citizenship
they needed to be trained, and they must
not expect to live in idleness or to be sup
ported by the government" At a cabinet
meeting he pushed aside a suggestion to
declare the negroes of the south entitled
to suffrage, saying that 1t was a question
for each individual state. This Is precisely
the same doctrine that has recently been
enunciated by our president-elect, William
IL. Taft. All Of these and views
of Mr.. Johnson were repeated by the press
throughout the country with almost unani-
nous approval. Said the New York Herald,
a faithful mirror of popular opinion MAY
3, 1855: "Mr. Johnson's policy of recon
struclon has given universal satisfaction
throughout the union"
Issues Two ProcIamations.
On May ~, lS65. the PRESIDENT issued two
important proclamations. The first ex-
tended amnesty to the entire south. except
ing fourteen classes Of PERSONS, chiefly the
leaders of the Iebellion; the second related
to the reconstruction of the state govern
ment of North Carolina upon a loyal FOOT
ing. This document was the result OF a
careful and protracted consideration OF the
subject by the cabinet chosen by Mr. Ian
coin and presided over by MI. LAncoih .
coadjutor and successor, and II must
therefore, be regarded as In every sense
rejecting Mr.. Lincoln's policy OF recon
struction. No other view of it IL admlssi-
BILE, for even IL Mr.. johnson had the DESIRE
which in view of his past career and reeeh'
public assurances is nconceivable, Mr'
Johnson could not have induced his CAD
met to agree upon any measure on tnls
subject in opposition to Mr.. Lincoln's views
and their own judgment. Both the presi-
dent and every member Of the cabinet mao
their ears to the ground, and 1t was not
only ~imprudent. it was perilous to remove
them. The reconstruction policy embodied
l. - Ay.uNA arAlln nrnNlanapfiOn was IN
perfect accord with the wishes of the peo-
pie of the United States.
Yet SO unsettled was the general condition
of affairs, so sensitive was the metropolitan
press to foreign criticism or else so amen
able to foreign persuasion that all OF a sud
den, over night as It were, the press, which
the day before unreservedly approved. now
wholly condemned the policy OF reconstruc-
ton sanctioned by the sainted memory OF
Lincoln and endorsed by his colleagues and
his cabinet. AS stated before. the attack
came from England. The London Daily
News called Mr.. Johnson "a drunken me-
chanic'; the Times said 1t was evident that
Mr.. johnson cannot execute the task.
and advised him to resign: while the sinai
fry OF the. London press followed their
leaders.
FamIIiar with Work.
My father had been a treasury officer for
many years. and as a boy l was much in
his office and SO became quite familiar with
treasury affairs. This now proved useful
The commission had to report to congress
in January; so / helped to straighten things
out. Hayes was engrossed In q report or
the public debt; Colwell did practically
nothing. and the entire work fell on Welles
and Elliott, and. to some small extent. NV
self. I collected material. Elliott formulated