Year: 1868

From the New York Herald, March 2ith.


Regarded in its historical as well as 10
its political significance, the trial of the
| President of the United States is as i'm
portant as was the trial of Charles the
First. BY the execution Of the King the
party that carried that measure cast away
the pretense that its purpose was the reform
and publication Of power, and showed that
ii was struggling only to secure the sn-
| premaey in the State Of certain sgitators.
IL had authority TO correct abuses, and it
/ proceeded TO reconstruct the government
in its own interest, thus plnnging headlong
into the disoTganization of revolutionary
] tumnlt by way of remedying ancient evils.
/ All before that had been the strife between
I the departments Of government strife
! growing constantly more bitter and raging
in battle, but still a strife between ex-
treme interpretations of prerogative. But
that act was the assumption that the
triumphant faction was the nation; for
within a week after the Kings removal
the Commons voted the abolition of the
Office Of King and declared the other
House Of Parliament useless and danger
ous." The significance Of Mr.. Johnson's
trial now is this: 1t shows that we have
come TO the essential fact that we have
reached that point in our revolution where
the triumphant faction abOlishes the Ex-
ecutiye. Impatient at even the mere hint
of a restraint on its acts, il proceeds to par
alyze the arm that wields the sword Of the
nation, fearing for its ulterior purposes if
that depositary of power remain intact.
/; matters not that there is neither head
=. Al


This is the accident Of the century. We
live in an age when only the barbarous and
unenlightened Mexicans dare venture that
sort of murder. But the political result is
the same, and the removal of an Execu-
tive because he dissents from The opinions
Of the ruling faction az distinctly ixesthe
stage of revolutionary progress.


Since the initiation of this step, what
have we seen There has been a great
hubbub great excitement and noise among
the Radical leaders. Every day gives us
the picture of turmoil at the national capi-
tai, and the only sounds that come thence
are those Of intlammatory harangues and
threats. Strangely enough, these Radical
leaders have the monopoly of all this.
Never did the people over the country seem
calmer than now in the face of this event,
Every great movement of the American
people has the same history. There is an
unlimited freedom given to resolve, de-
nounce and threaten. No discussion of
topics can exhaust the patience of this peo-
pie. il hears and determines, and because
il hears so patiently and calmly, it acts
with all the more terrific precision and en-
ereY when the decisive moment comes.


Ii will be the same in the case now be-
fore the country. Politicians of every pc
culiar stripe will be permitted to write their
own sentences in the course they take in
this movement for the abolition of the ma
tional Executive. People will look on pa
tiently to see both houses neglect their duty;
for all feel that the fewer laws made the
better. Men can even content themselves
10 see the national finances in a ruinOus
condition; for no one could expect safe
remedy from any man now in place. But
let no man suppose that all this record
is not every day weighed and tried
in the brain of that great, quiet man of
the people who is beyond the reach
of the demagogue and the promiser
of offices. The people are quiet
enough now; bnt suddenly, some day,
over the whole North and West they will
rise with the same energy and discriminate
purpose in the determination Of great ques-
tions they have hitherto shown, and will
sweep away like whirlwind all the cor
rupt, selfish, dangerous men who now be-
lieve they are so near TO absolute, supreme
power. So have the American people al
ways made themselves felt. They are pa
tient, because they would not wrong no
one, would never judge one party by the
dennnciation of another; but they who
aim at the vital principles of government
must secure for themselves the fate of pub
lie enemies. Let no one, therefore, misin-
terpret the patience of the masses or despair
for the country because the people take
thinps 40 calmly