Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-24
THURSDAY, n Il NOVEMBER "a, 1864.
THE FUTURE.

THURSDAY, NOVEMbEh "a, 1909.
5g- t7. THE FUTURE
Ia referring, on the Sd Of March last, to the Sc
yeral candidates who had then been named for the
Presidency Of the United States in the preliminary
disoussons that had already taken place under this
head, in advance Of the assembling Of the National
Convention Of any party, we undertook to show
how far the identity Of views which Gen. Mo- oCLEL-
Lam and, President LINCOLN held in common
should teach the adherents Of each to ,prac-
tise moderation in discussing the points OF differ.
snee between them. At the same time We added
that so thought we should be able to state the
ground. on which this duty might be commended to
men Of conservative opinions il President Lincoln
aaosia Be the candidate Of the Republican party.
itssemed to us then, as it seemed to US during
the late canvass, and seems to us none the less at
the present time, that if candor and moderation
are al all times virtues which should be cultivated
and practised in political discussions, they arespe-
cslly Incumbent on all good citizens in period OF
civil war and distraction. When the times arc out
of Joint ii should be the aim Of the Christian pa
trot to have his mind q move in Charity, rest in
Providence, and turn on tho poles of Truth. :"
Criinination and recrimination, unseemly at the
best, then become fraught with added dangers to-
the peace as we'll IS digoity of the State, because
they tend 10 fan the flames Of political phrenzy,
and thus TO destroy the conditions Of calm and So
Der Judgment on topics Of the first Importance
Imbued with these views Of public duty, we took
no part, as our readers ara aware in initiating or
in stimulating any movements of . political cha
racter in the interest Of one party or another As
chronielers of the times through which We were
passing we contented ourselves with merely re-
cording these political developments as they emerg
ed into public view, that our readers might be in
Q condition to know the tendencies Of opinion and
the elements Of difference that seemed destined to
give shape and color to the approaching Pfesiden.
tial canvass, Il sa.4 ny. - ..s., .et.. a,.s .
IL was not until the issues Of the contest were
clearly defined. in the persons Of the candidates
severalIy presented for the consideration of the
American people that we accepted the politicsi
discussions rendered necessary by the fact of the
impending election And, in our choice Of candi-
dates, we were guided, without any regard to past
political differences or Determinations, by the
simple consideration of the principles which, as
embodied in the men respectively named for the
Presidency, seemed to US most directly conducive
to the restoration OF the Union under the Constitu
tion But, in thus choosing what seemed to MS tho
better part for the country, we did not renounce
the hope we had previously expressed to the effect
that, If re- elected, President Lincoln might dsap
point our own apprehensions and those of his more
systematic opponents. The hopes We had ex-
pressed, in advance Of bis nomination, as fol-
lows; l7gI s,, .ar
nwe have said that the duty Of practising moderation
may be commended to Of conservative views In treat
ing the candidacy of either President Lincoln or Mr.
Chase and having already stated the grounds Of this obi
cation an incumbent upon the rends Of all candidates in
the treatment Of political competitors we proceed to show
the rrounds on which this duty may be enforced the
opponents of eithsr tie President or his Secretary
We may say then that should Presd 4nt Lincoln be re-
elected we have right to presume that be would be
much more conservative in his second term than he has
proved to be in that which 10 expiring The whole
country knows that the political instincts aud predictions
of Mr. Lincoln all incline him to CoRssrpatism This
proved By the policy which he fet adopted when left free
To initiate without ertraneous pressure dis
turb his original convictions Of duty, and IL equally
proved By the perstoncy and violence Of the pressure
which il required shake him from the fixed resolve
with which he entered the war In his second term
be voud be more exempt from such pressure, and from
the etsmptAten of yielding to It, ~ =. 81 55s 3
It mas be naked that hopes could Of eonserva
tive idess found on Mr. Chase elevation TO the Presden
cy We answer the hopes that may be always founded
on that modification Of theoretical opinions which il sure
to ensue in the practical administration Of the Government
In the hands Of statesman. Those who dissent most
widely from Of the abstract opinions Of Mr. Chase
will not deny TO him the possession OF rare Administrative
capacies and these cannot exist without practical dis
erection Id the application OF abstract principles 10 con
crete problems OF State His administration, we doubt
not would be ess radical ia fact than the appreheo
pions Of bis opponents would make IT, and far 90 II
might be radical at ALL would at least be consistent In
tefevut and sincere ints radicslsm We need not say
that we this term simply descriptive of cersin we'll
known opinions, and at Al term Of political
prdsc and ust little need say that on Theoretical
erondp We dscnt from what uadesand 10 be the Pc
cust policy advocated Of the friends the dstin
sursnr Secresry the Treasury bat should be sofry
to Differences d opinion this scere 10 dimnish
our Sedbiky % his taients respect anoerty
with which he holds hfs principles or our confidence Ia
tn wipdom with which be would know how "a. apply
them IL he ia the statesman take him to be. eT@
And in view o These consider atfons think we have
,taed oood prondS on which conservative opinions
nav In any event. hope for better administration Of the
Government during he merit four yeers than we have had
since tho accession of Mr. Lncon to the Presidential
eha sDd this whether be shall be reeected or whether
he shsn Be succeeded bys rival euiAnatng from his own
party Or by one ehsnstng from dlferent poltca or
Twill thus be seen that, without foregoing any
Of the opinions we had deliberately formed with
regard to the principles and tendencies which