The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-14

honestly shrank from entrusttng
the liberty and welfare of the NIL
lions of freed slaves to the rule Of
their old masters. There also were
calculating politicians who were
troubled only by the thought tina.
il the southern states should have
white governments. the votes Of
those states in congress and the
electoral college would imperil the
Republican party,
The conflict between Lincoln and
congress was forced to an issue on
the last day of the session in 1864,
when congress adopted a recon-
struction plan OF its own, under
which it was to be the final judge
OF the state governments in the
south. But the president defeated
the bill by a pocket veto;" that is
to say, he took no action on it be-
fore adjournment, which left It
lifeless.
With the ending Of the war, Lin
coin was hoping to complete the
work of reconstruction before con-
gress met again and could renew
its interference with him. Instead
the assassin interviewed, and when
Johnson attempted TO carry out the
same policy, with the approval Of
Lincolns cabinet. congress broke
into open revolt. He appealed to
the people to stand by him, but bis
swing around the circle" as he
described his tour of the east and
middle west in 1865. destroyed the
last shred of his influence in the
north.
Face to face with hostile, ieer-
ing crowds, johnson cast aside
presidential dignity and let loose
| the fiery passions Of the Tennessee
mountaineer. General Grant, who
unwillingiy accompanied him. had
to step forth to quiet riotous
crowd in Lincoln's own town Of
Springfield The general recalled
the disturbers to a sense OF pro-
priety simply by waving his hand
toward the target Of their hootings
and saying, The president Of the
| United States" In the presence Of
a still wilder mob at Indianapolis,
Grant felt it prudent TO order the
president to retreat. For he had
been greeted by storm Of bullets
but which were probably fred IN
the air.
Apart from the Republican poll
ticians and a mere faction oil eA.
| tremists. the north was in favor Oh
Lincoln's moderate policies. bu'
when it became a question between
Johnson and the radicals. the RAD
icals won Overwhelmingly IN inc
| congressional election al 1856,
With a two-tnirds majority IN
the new house and senate, the ne
! pubIicans OVERRIDE the president
vetoes, and congress took COM
'mand Of the government. The re-
constructed states were outlaWea.
The south was divided into military
provinces. The ballot was tbrus1
into the unskillful hand OF tno
freedmen, notwithstanding 1t was
still denied the negro in all but siA
states Of the north. At the same
time a large class of southern
whites was disqualified for dlsio!
atty in the war. which left seVela.
states to pass under the coFrup.
government OF northern "cafpe.
baggers" and southern "scaldWass,
who gained power by manipu!auass
the ignorant black vote anu WV
held it by force Of federal Das''
nets.
| AS northern fire eaters press,
| ed to the front, on one size OF u.
Mason and Dixon line, soutHsl
fire eaters" took the lead on .as
! other side. By night the M hius
Khan rode their sable horses ~ ~
campaign of terrorism 10 iriehss.
| the blacks from using the paw
! and from presuming TO sci uae .s,
selves above "Old Massa. ana u,
"hloodv shirt" began TO wave iioA
| the political stump in the nor.n
f, Party and sectional poH.,.s
! north and south, still was the ma. ~.
| plot of the union. AS it had ioS !,
tered disunion before the wal
| was doing its worst TO proven. ~
union. now that the war WIS WV
!. published by special arransein'
ewspeper Syndicate.