THE TRAGIC ERA The Revolution after Lincoln ANDKW JOONHON PREFACE
IF Hilaire Belloc is right IB his opinion that readable history is
melodrama the true story of the twelve tragic years that fol lowed
the death of Lincoln should be entertaining. They were years of
revolutionary turmoil, with the elemental passions pre dominant,
and with broken bones and bloody noses among the fighting
factionalists. The prevailing note was one of tragedy, though, as
we shall see, there was an abundance of comedy, and not a little of
farce. Never have American public men in responsi ble positions,
directing the destiny of the Nation, been so brutal, hypocritical,
and corrupt The Constitution was treated as a door mat OB which
politicians and army officers wiped their feet after wading in the
muck. Never has the Supreme Court been treated with such ineffable
contempt, and never has that tribunal so often cringed before the
clamor of the mob. So appalling is the picture of these
revolutionary years that even historians have preferred to overlook
many essential things. Thus, Andrew Johnson who fought the bravest
battle for constitutional liberty and for the preservation of our
institutions ever waged by an Executive., until recently was left
in the pillory to which un scrupulous gamblers for power consigned
him, because the un varnished truth that vindicates Mm makes so
many statues in public squares and parks seem a bit grotesque. That
Johnson was maligned by his enemies because he was seeking honestly
to carry out the conciliatory and wise policy of Lincoln is now
generally understood, but even now few realise how intensely
Lincoln was Kated by the Radicals at the time of his death A
completeunderstanding of this period calls for a reappraisal of
many public men. Some statesmen we have been taught to rever ence
will appear in these pages in sorry rdles. Others, who played
conspicuous parts, but have been denied the historical recognition
due them, are introduced and shown in action. Thus the able lead
ers of the minority in Congress are given fuller treatment than has
been fashionable, since they represented more Americans, North VI
and South, than the leaders of the Radical majority, and were
nearer right on the issues of reconstruction-Thus, too, the
brilliant and colorful leaders and spokesmen of the South are given
their proper place in the dramatic struggle for the preservation of
Southern civilisation and the redemption of their people, I have
sought to re-create the black and bloody drama of these years, to
show the leaders of the fighting factions at close range, to
picture the moving masses, both whites and blacks, in North and
South, surging crawly under the influence of the poisonous
propaganda on which they were fed. That the Southern people
literally were put to the torture is vaguely understood, but even
historians have shrunk from the un happy task of showing us the
torture chambers. It is impossible to grasp the real significance
of the revolutionary proceedings of the rugged conspirators working
out the policies of Thaddeiift Stevens without making many journeys
among the Southern people, and seeing with our own eyes the
indignities to which, they were sub jected. Through many
unpublished contemporary family letters and diaries, I iave tried
to show the psychological effect upon them of the despotic policies
of which they were the victims. Brutal men, inspired by personal
ambition or party motives as sumed the pose of philanthropists and
patriots and thus deceived and misguided vast numbers of
well-meaning people in the North. lot the effort to re-create the
atmosphere mid temper of the times I have made free use of the
newspapers of those times In valuable for this purpose has been my
access to the unpublished diary of George W. Julian which covers
the entire period. Through him we are able to sit in at important
conferences that hitherto have been closed to the historians...
General
Imprint: |
Read Books
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
March 2007 |
First published: |
March 2007 |
Authors: |
Claude G. Bowers
|
Dimensions: |
216 x 140 x 34mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Trade
|
Pages: |
604 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4067-7364-4 |
Categories: |
Books >
Humanities >
History >
General
Books >
History >
General
|
LSN: |
1-4067-7364-6 |
Barcode: |
9781406773644 |
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