Year: 1866




Now, and Then.


1t would doubtless afford some Of our Demo-
cratic contemporaries some surprise, If not in-
structou were they to turn to their files OF about
one year ago. Then they were hurling at the
present head of the nation all the abuse their
well practiced brains had the power to produce.
The slanders Of the campaign had mainly been
directed against President Lincoln, but they saw
he was invulnerable to even their ercest assaults
Twice had the loyal men Of the nation triumph
antly. chosen him as their ruler, and the slander
Of one who held SO high place in the peoples
affections only recoiled on those who were wicked
enough TO invent it. There must be some one,
however, upon whom their abuse could be Law
ished unspariugly. They had denounced the
Union party INCREASINGLY they had slandered its
chief without any cessation-but this was not
enough. The Yice-President elect, Andrew
Johnson had once been of their number. but was
driven from them by the treason that everywhere
infested the Democratic party. Because he had
enough of honesty Of purpose to speak boldly
and fearessly of treason, he was an object Of ha-
tired and dread to the Democratic leaders,
From his Inauguration as Vice-President to the
time of Mr.. Lincolns death, they ceased not to
pour upon him ISLANDERS and abuse such as no
other public man has ever endured. We regret
that we have not access to all our exchanges of
about a year ago. We could easily fill page
with specimens of abuse that were about as i'll
considered as their present fulsome fattery.-
The following extract from the New York World
of March 7th, 1865, was copied approvingly by
almost every Democratic journal in the country.
What beautiful specimen it is:


g The drunken and beastly Caligula, the most
profigate of the Roman Emperors raised his
horse to the dignity of consul, an office that in
former times had been filled by the greatest war
riors and statesmen of the Republic, the Scipios
and Catos, and by the mighty Julius himself.--
The consulship was scarcely more disgraced ny
that scandalous transaction than is our Vice
Presidency by the late election of Andrew John
son. That Office had been adorned in better
DAYS by the talents and accomplishments OF
Adams and Jefferson, Clinton and Gerry, CAL
houn and Van Buren and now TO see 1t filled
by this insolent, drunken, brute, in comparison
with whom even Caligula's horse was respecta-
ble for the poor animal did not abuse his own
nature and to think that only one frail life
stands between this insoent clownish drunkard
and the Presidency, may God bless and spare
Abraham Lincoln"


As we have just said, this elegant compliment
to " our noble, wise and patriotic chief Magis-
trate,u was copied extensively by Democratic
newspapers. A few contented themselves with
merely re-printing, but many of them made com
ments on the Vice President which threw the
metropolitan blackguard entirely into the shade.
That Andrew johnson had been drunk on the
day of his Inauguration was charged, repeated
and reiterated in every possible style of state
ment There was no palliation for this-no ex-
tenuation-no regarding it as misfortune. We
were told that it was but the exhibition of his
own natural propensity. The new vice-Presi-
dent was held up to the world as an insolent
clownsh drunkard, and because of his utter un-
fitness for his position, it was said that the Sen
ate should not allow him to preside over it.


But what wonderful changes in sentiment the
events of one short year works Abraham Lin
coin was stricken down by the hand of an assas-
sin, and This insoLent clos0nish brute IN compdr-
isOh With Whom Cdlisula's horse ,cas respectable"





leaders of the expiring Democratic party faint
glimmer of hope. Mr. johnson had once de-
nounced Massachusetts and South Carolina in
the same breath, and it was thought that by ju-
dicious managementhe might be brought back to
the Democratic fold. Immediately the most ster-
ling qualities and profound craftsmanship in our
new ruler began TO manfets themselves to the
eyes of Copperheads. Those who prayed that
" God might bless and spare Abraham Lincoln /"
in order that our country might not be disgraced
by ruler worse than CaliguIa's horse, soon be-
gan to bless the g Providence" that had removed
Mr.. Lincoln from life. Correspondents of Dem
ocratic newspapers We'd with each other in pras
ing the " courtesy, y the g noble dignity" the
plain simplicity and the uuspotted moral
ity" of the new President. In firmness deci-
sion, energy and honesty, be was at least equal
to Andrew Jackson in all other respects he was
infinitely better than all former rulers of the re-
public. To what extent this silly laudation will
yet be carried, we know not !; but we feel assur-
ed that the President can end it whenever he finds
it burdensome. Let him once give utterance to
the sentiments that elevated him to his present
position-let him denounce traitors and insist on
their punishment-let him agaiu threaten the
suppression of dsloyal newspapers, and those
who are now loudest in their praises will hunt
up a meaner horse than that of the Roman EN-
peror with whom they will compare the Presi-
dent in terms which will be fattering to the
horse, at least.


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