Year: 1866

"A CIV SuSSSSEEOHS tO Z


From the Chicago Times.


In reading the fierce and persistent at
tacks of radical newspapers upon President
johnson, one might be led to conclude
that he is supreme in the accomplishment
Of policies having an unlimited influence
upon the destiny Of the country. The
same is true with reference to Congress =
A foreigner would infer from perusal OF
many of the denunciations of that body,
that it is they who are prominent and po>
tential in the disposition of the vital in
terests of the republic.


From the same sources it would be easy
to conclude that some high official occupies
a position which play be made of great
Getriment to our institutions The same
may be inferred of the newspaper press.
1t is oftentimes arrogant not unfrequent-
ly dictatOrial, and at no time lacking


in qualities which permit the conclusion
that it can make or mar the moral vital
character of our government.


1t is true that President, Congress,
prominent officials, the newspaper press,
and, here and there, other isolated insti-
tutions and individuals, are influential
within certain limit. They can do
much j; but there is something more po-
tential, moro wide reaching than they all
are. This something is the people.


Radicalism may denounce the President
aud his policy to the full extent of lan>
guage, and yet both can effect little unless
indorsed by the people. 1t is 20 with Con-
greSs, with Cabinet officials, with political
leaders and with the newspaper press. III
Of these, by themselves, are power. What
their own strength can effect is nothing.
Each Of them, without the people, is as
motioness as the machinery of clock
divorced from its weights.


As the people are the grand, final arbi>
tcrs in all cases affecting the vitality of
our Institutions, it is well for them to pre-
pare themselves, by a course % intelligent
exemption Of the political situation. for u
thorough performance Of the duties Of their
position. In doing this they should not
fail to reflect that the sui ject now in dis
pute i one of principles and not OF men
Thus. radicalism is unceasing in its attacks
upon the President It ridicules his bear
ing, bNrlesques his rhetoric, and lalnpoons
his reiterations. None Of these points, nor
President Johnson himself, is the real
issue. What the peop'e have to consider
is not how the President says certain
thing, or how many times lie says it, but
the principles underlying his statements
Iu fine 1t is rot President Johnson and his
oratory which are on trial before the peo-
pie We therefore desire to caution the
masses against the radical effort to substi-
tute an incident for the principal, shad>
ow for the substance, the garments for the
man himself The people must resoluicly
endeayor to do their own thinking and
reach their own conclusions. The issues
in the present contest are 10th few and
simple. They are merely whether loyal
members elected from the southern States
shall take their seats in Congress, or shat!
bc excluded until the south has consented
t. rive suffrage to negroes. Il his is all that
the people are TO decide on; and in reach
ing conclusion, they should not be misled
by a clamor which is being raised express
" 20 divert their attention from these sins
pie points When asked to look at the
number of times that the President re-
peats the word a. they should know
that this is done simply to prevent their
examination OF the real points involved in
the contest,


We appeal to the people to take the
issues into their own hands, and to con-
slider them with the care demanded by
their Importance. Let them be diverted
by nothing from giving the principles at
stake thorough, dispassonate -amna-
ton. It is case IN which there is no
demand for any quality save pure reason.
They are not called upon to jude the I res
dent. II is not Andrew Johnson who is
on trial. There are involved 20 PERSONAL
ties no individual; nothing which re-
quires animosity, hatred or passion


If the people, putting aside all attempts
to divert their attention from the true issue
and all efforts to arouse their dislike to
individuals in place of principles. will can
diily and dispa-sionately approach the
labor before them. the result cannot but
he rioht and beneficial.