A hundred years ago
From the 'Spectator, 14 March 1868—The public in this country seems still unable to understand the impeachment of President Johnson. The event has startled it into a closer attention to American politics, but it is still under one apparently in- curable delusion . . . that the impeachment is the work of a 'party', a 'faction', a few violent or fanatical men, who overbear the majority of their colleagues, and drag a reluctant nation along the path which ends in Revolution. . . . The whip which drives reluctant Republican members is the fear of the constituencies to which within six months they must appeal, the knowledge that the great body of freeholders which elects them is decidedly hostile to the President. Thaddeus Stevens has been ready to impeach any time this twelvemonth, and has, we believe, made three distinct efforts to secure the necessary vote; but the freeholders were not satisfied that the Presi- dent had broken any law. They disliked him strongly, and his policy; but they thought it better to bear with him than to run the risk of a revolu- tion. His useless vetoes, his misjudged appoint- ments, were all legal; his astounding speeches were personal not official blunders, and his com- bativeness helped to make politics amusing. Americans have a decided penchant for marked individualities. It was not till the President openly and wilfully broke a law, or rather proclaimed himself above all laws, that they could reconcile themselves to a measure which, as they instinctively feel, will shake the Presidency; but the moment he dismissed Mr Stanton, hesitation disappeared.
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