Ix.
The death of
Lincoln carried
Andrew Johnson to the
Presidential office.
The result proved how foolish, if not how fatal, is the policy of political parties who are guided more by present availability than by profound sagacity, or high principle, in the choice of candidates.
This had proved true on two former occasions with the Whig party.
In 1840 they had nominated for the Presidency a most respectable, pure, and patriotic man, who was so far in the decline of life and vigor, that his little remaining strength soon gave way to the worry and pressure of the occasion; and for the Vice-Presidency, a man who was conspicuously destitute of every qualification necessary for the station he was called upon to fill.
His administration ended in lamentable failure for himself, and in humiliation to his party.
The same policy prevailed in the nomination of
Gen. Taylor, who, as a blunt and patriotic old soldier, had done his duty well, but who had not one conceivable quality to insure a successful administration.
The party were no more successful, although the country was more fortunate, in having its affairs fall into the hands of a providential successor.
Mr. Fillmore had the integrity and sense to keep faith with his party, and surround himself by able and illustrious advisers.
But his ambition, as well
[
495]
as their own, rose no higher than stemming, as well as they could, the rising tide which was to sweep the past away, banishing the supremacy of the slave-power from the control of national affairs, and introducing a new period of national activity for the more liberal spirit of the advancing age.
