Year: 1867

THE PRESIDENT AND TIE CVChbhi'


Certain newspapers differ with the course Of
The TRIBUNE in reference to the opinion of
Mr.. Stanbery, because we are too Radical"
We do not strive to please or displcasc what
is called the Radical sentiment We presume
we occasionally do both. We endeayor to do
what is best for truth and liberty, caring little
who are pleased Such differences generally
come right in the end. Nothing can wait so
long as Justice. We denoHnced MIR. Stanbery's
| opinion not because we desired to be Radical
but because we saw in il an evidence of bad
faith toward the country on the part OF the
! President.


Va think Congress viii meet in July.
| Leading Republican members have requested
full attendance. The country seems TO think
that Reconstruction should be settled at once.
| We trust il will not be an angry meeting Our
! friends will come full Of carnestness and pur-


pose. They viii feel. we fear "a mep who
have been deceived. In passing the bill, they
listened TO moderate cOunsels. We know what
a struggle it cost TO induce moderation. The
struggle viii be greater now. Mr.. Stevens and
his friends. who were defeated in the attempt
to place tho military power under the control
of Grant. will make bolder effort. We
bitdu nave COHuSCdblOHI ptiudpo dhu ihHu W
the negro pressed 10y small minority. We
do not think il viii be wise TO make new is
sues, and we counsel moderation with justice,
as we did during the last session. We dread
to reopen this question. because with it comes
uncertainty, and unrest, feyerishness, endless
! and angry discussions We find a sentiment
in the West that has expression in few mis-
/ erable jobbing newspapers-a kind OF The
nardier feeling. A number of ofiice-beg-
gars and politicians, calling themselves the
Grand Army of the Republic, and meeting
! in Out-Of-thc-way places with grips and
pass words. are passing resolutions de-
manding oOnfscatiOn and farms. This is
either lnavery or madness. People who want
farms work for them. The only class we know
that takes other peoples property because they
want it is largely represented in Sing Sing.
The people Of this country do not want Sing
Sing and Mexican banditti. principles intro
duced into their craftsmanship. We can never
reconstruct America by the gallOws, and the
Deputy Sheriff, and we trust that the spirit of
kindness will prevail-especially because this
contest is not made by the Southern people.
They accepted the Military bill manfully, and
have endeayored to act under its provisions.
Instead of apathy and wrath, and discomfort,
we have found them eager and painstaldng in
their effort to reorganize their political system
under the Military bill. If the work is arrested,
they aDe not to blame; and we have no right
TO increase the conditions imposed last March.
If anything, we should recognize the temper
of the South by limiting them. The only issue
is with the President Of the United States.


We can best understand the magnitude of
the Presidents wrong when we consider what
might have been in the South if RecOnstruc-
tiOn had progressed AS we have shown, the
passage of the Military bill was q measure of
peace. The country became instantly calm.
All old issues seemed to die. The spirit of
agitation was bushed, and We walked amid the
ruins anxious to build up and adOn. In the
South the people addressed themselves to
farming and education. In the North We dis
missed Reconstruction and discussed our
finances, and tariffs, our relations with foreign
nations, and the resumption of specie payments.
The Administration travelled to the North
Pole for the glory Of annexation. Trade
began to revive, and we looked eagerly for the
coming harvests TO flood the country with
money. We seemed to be a peaceful people.
We believed in the triumph of Reconstruction
in the South. The negro accepted his new
condition with equanimity and patience,
anxious to educate himself for his high duty.
We saw achieved all that the most enthusiastic
patriot eyer hoped " see. Successful in wal,