The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-15
BIZ JAMES MOI. CAV

dent to the last that he would b
called on, as president Of the SEN
ate, to take Johnson's place. His
inaugural is said to have been writ
ten and his cabinet selected, with
General Butler OF Massachusetts for
secretary of state. Mrs. Wade was
no less forehanded than her hus-
band. She was surrounded at her
hotel and in the senate gallery with
her women guests, who had come
on from Ohio to assist at her in
fstallation as mistress of the White
house, and they had provided them
selves with becoming gowns for
the great function.
As the roll of the senate was
called, amid hushed suspense, the
Republican senator's all voted for
conviction, until the chief justice
asked, Mr.. Senator Fessenden. how
say you? Is the respondent, An
drew Johnson. president OF the
United States, guilty or not guilty OF
a high misdemeanor as charged in
this article?"
Not guilty." answered the dis
tinguished senator from Maine, who
had been in Lincoln's cabinet. The
party alignment was broken and
it was again broken IN another mo-
ment by Senator Grimes of Iowa,
who had been stricken with paraly-
sis under the strain Of the trial, but
who managed to struggle to his feet
when his name was called. Trum-
bull of Illinois, an old friend of
Lincoln, was another man of ability
and distinction among the seven
Republican senators who broke
away and joined the Democrats.
Yet there were 30 votes for con-
viction against only 10 for acquit-
tai, Just one less than the two
thirds.
| BY a single vote the unique indie
! pendence of the American presi-
dency, which makes it the most
eminent and powerful political Of
fee in the world. was saved. Had
congress triumphed, the first long
step would have been taken toward
congressional government on the
pattern of the parliamentary gov
ernments Of Europe.
johnson himself had expected to
be convicted and was packed up in
readiness to leave the White house
But instead of meekly resigning
himself to such an unexampled hui
initiation, he was eager to battle
for his vindication at the hands OF
the people, an effort which was only
postponed the few months tina. re-
NAMED Of his term.
The bitterest foe of the president
was not more relieved to see him
leave the White house than the wife
who had taught him his lessons in
the little tailor shop in Tennessee.
She had almost never left her room
in the course of her four years in
the mansion; and her two married
daughters had acceptably filled her
) place at the public functions.
When less than seven years had
passed since he had been put on
trial in the senate chamber, ne
walked into that forum Of his en-
emies and took his seat as senator
from Tennessee. 1t must have been
to him a sweet triumph, but be bore
it becomingly.
In his only speech in the senate
he died in four months-he dld
not indulge his old passion for re-
elimination. On the contrary, ne
begged the senators, in courteous
but earnest terms, TO forget what
, had gone before and to lay aside
party feelings for the sake OF re-
: union.
This southern unionist only
sounded the keynote OF his whole
life when he pleaded, Let peace
and unison be restored to the land !;
May God bless this people and Goo
! save the constitution! That han
} been the true object of his nnfor-
tunate administration, and history
has rendered the verdict, which OIL
fers a useful lesson, that in trying
, to do the right thing Andrew John'
: son failed because he tried 70 do
! it the wrong way.
: published by special arrangement