Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-07

newly authorised bureau OF statistics, COM
merce and navigation, since amplificd into
the Department of Commerce and Labor.
After 1 had got matter in my department
working smoothly. / was summoned by the
president in 1866 to assist him In the prep
aration OF certain public papers. For this
purpose I attended the president in the
library OF the White House, an apartment
adjoining the presidents office. the door
between them being always open. which
left me seeing but unseen: the silent witt
ness of the episodes which ] entered in my
dairy. or which I can recall from memory.
There were many other which It would be
imprudent and perhaps mischievous to pub
hsh. Let the dead bury the dead.
In order to judge OF the extent to which
President Johnson would have carried on
the reconstruction policies Of President
Lincoln has he been suffered to do so
uninterrupted. it is necessary to speak by
the card.
Had Lincoln Lived.
1t is commonly believed that had Mr..
Lincoln lived his superior tact, great pres
tige, and the hold he had upon the affec-
tons OF the people would have enabled him
to carry out these measures OF reconstruct
ton which caused Mr.. Johnson so much
difficulty. There is no doubt that Mr.. Lin
coin would have succeeded because, had
he lived. no French imperial instigator nor
British naughty financial press would have
ventured to attack him; there would have
been no American cabal to take advantage
of such attack, organized a dynastic revo-
luton, or prefer articles of impeachment
against him. Under the resolute and pop
ular sway OF Abraham Lincoln the recon-
struction OF the southern states would have
proceeded far moro rapidly, more equit-
ably, and more happily for all concerned.
But had he been exposed to the same
alien hostility that assailed Mr.. johnson
or bereft like him Of any adequate means
OF defense; had he been treacherously de-
serted by those whose sworn duty it was
to support him. badgered by the metro
politan press and left to be made the mark
or every intriguant and plotter in the
countryside fate that was reserved for
MS heroic and sorely tried successor
there Is grave reason to believe that he.
too. might have met with difficulty. There
was no weakness about President johnson.
Even Boutwell, gave him credit for both
intellectual ability and courage; vet 1
have seen him in deep distress. When a
president of the United States begins to
wipe the moisture off his spectacles there
must be something wrong In the state Of
public affairs.
johnson Ignorant Of Finance.
In alluding to certain defects Of character
In Governor Boutwell, which had a bearing
upon his public life and his attitude toward
Mr.. Lincoln's successor in office, candor
impels me to say that Mr.. Johnson. at least
in one respect. shared them with him. He.
too, was backward in finance and ignorant
of the tricks of financiers. He appeared to
me. as indeed did another president. some
years later. when l reported to him the
evidence 1 had taken on behalf of the
monetary commission. to have no head
for figures" a popularity which is not con-
fined to presidents of the United States:
for ! have found the same defect in per-
sons occupying almost equally exalted posi-
tons. both in this country and England.
For example, Mr.. Johnson was imposed
upon, deceived, and cheated, in respect OF
the wool bill of March 2. 1867, a bill which
he had intended TO veto-such veto having
been carefully considered drawn up. and
signed: yet at the last moment he was in
duoed to destroy the veto and approve the
bill. / nave retained a copy Of this Veto
One OF the men who overreached him was
an internal revenue officer; the other was
an ex-governor. Both OF them. as after
ward appeared. were actuated by gross
mercenary motives. and one Of them made
a large fortune out of it.
In JOhnsOn's state. \
Weighed in the imperial scales Of history
the country has no reason 10 be ashamed
OF its t~wenty-third president he was
stamped n that same severe but kindly
mold from which have emerged the entire
series OF American executives. Whatever
heated partisans or petty critics may say
to the contrary, an American president mas
to pass through so many scorching fires be-
fore he can reach the White House that
when he gets there he is thrice purified;
he is iron and steel and adamant-
Last year QSOO, a few days after the
anniversary of Lincoln's birth, in the legis-
lature Of Tennessee. and upon a motion to
appropriate $50. OOO for the federal cemetery
at Greenville, where repose the remains OF
the reconstruction president and his two
sons, MI. Brownlow. a republican from one
OF the eastern districts, won the applause
and vote OF the house with a ringing speech
in behalf OF the appropriation said he:
Andrew Johnson's district furnished more
soldiers TO the union service during the
dark days OF the rebellion than any con-
Gressional district in the United States. and
yet we were 100 miles inside the confederate
lines.
''Oh, Mr.. Chairman. when these soldiers
left east Tennessee they were followed by
bloodhounds; they bid their wives. daugh-
tiers and sweethearts goodbye by moon
light at the old home spring and went
across the mountains into Kentucky and
Joined the union army. perhaps never to see
those they loved again
President johnson was q union demo-
crat. He was a member OF the United
States senate from Tennessee and was the
only senator OF his party, north or south.
that stood by Abraham Lincoln In favor
OF the old flag and a united country. He
was Surrounded by the secessionistS OF the
south, yet he enlisted In the cause OF the
union, stood by the government. stood by
Abraham Lincoln. and, as l have asserted
heretofore and now again assert. that. tax
ing his surroundings into consideration and
the brave course he pursued. / believe that,
next to Lincoln himself. he was the great
est patriot OF the eiv1l war;"