The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-02
The Philadelphia Convention.
From the Dailg Neaos.

HTOH ute DCttV 4NetOS
The Southern people, disappointed and de.
ceived in their reliance upon the magnanimity,
or at least the justice OF their conquerors, are
in no condition to build exaggerated hopes upon
the basis of any prospective political movement
STILL we find them accepting very cheerfully
and hopefully the foreshadoWed action OF the
Philadelphia Convention. And they do this not
with the desperation of drowning men clutching
at a straw, but with confidence of swimmers
in a rough sea VINO at least feel the firm ground
beneath their feet. The earnestness with which
such men as Alexander H. Stephens enter into
the movement is, in itself, an assurance that
the Convention will not be prostituted to the
uses of demaRogues, but that u broad national
spirit will govern its proceedings. ...
Still we find, here and there, but very rarely,
some signs OF mistrust in the expressions of the
Southern press Although the journals that are
representative of Southern feeling are enlisted
warmly in the interests OF the conservative en-
terprise, one or two of them or position and i'll
huence still seem TO harbor lingering doubt of
the probability OF fair play TOR the South in the
action OF the Convention. This i5 not to be Won
dered at in view ofthe endeavors OF certain North
ern journals to secure Tor an insignificant faction
a monopoly Ofthe onservative movement, in the
same way that the radicals usurped monoOoly
of central legislation A few narroW-minded
politicians, hanging on to the shirts of radical
ism but ready to drop into any new organiza-
ton that they hope to control, have labored to
convey the impression that the principle of the
I CONGRESSIONAL test oath will be applied to
Southern delegates TO the Convention, and that
positive "Union" antecedents VIII be demanded
as credentials TO insure admission. 1t is time
for our Southern contemporaries, ii there be
any OF them who are still deceived by these
misrepreSentations, to study the situation more
closely, and to understand the true nature of
conservative rally that is about to be made.
The radicals constitute the numerical strength
of the Black Republican party. They possess
likewise all the elements of power that are due
TO thorough organization under the strict disci-
plne of the ackno Tledged leaders OF the tac-
tiOn. The Republicans who call themselves
conservative have, as party, no force, no Vi
talty whatever, and, as individuals, no more
influence than such as they may exercise by the
expression of popular doctrines, or by assisting
in forwarding popular movement. They were
not able TO make a respectable show OF resist.
ance, in Congress, to the dlctation of the Radi-
cal leaders, If they choose to hoat upon the
conservative current, they can do so; but rs TO
guiding it, they have even less capacity than
they had 10 control the radical programme.
Let them come, and welcome. to swell the tide
| that flows spontaneously from That great source
of political supremacy, the heart of the people;
but they come as tributaries, and whether they
come or not the stream will roll on in its legiti-
mate channel.
With the evidence of the weakness oLsthe con-
| seryatiye Republicans upon the Congressional
record and being outside of the Congressional
| arena, all organization in embryo, untried, un-
disciplined, that has never testeu lUs slrengtn az
the ballot-box, it is simply impossible tor them
/ to control a great popular uprising. What
would the Convention amount 10 IN their hands
Its voice would be, in the poll .ical battle, as
feeble as a schoolboy's squib amid the roar of
| artillery. The strength OF the conservative
| movement lies in it's promise OF cleansing the
| political atmosphere Of the tant of civil strife
| that still fingers in it. Its purpose is the reha-
bilitation OF the South, and we surely shall not
| BEGIN the work by osracizlng the representa-
| tive men OF the South. II we look forward to
national union, we shall not commence by APP
| pealing to the biCter memories OF domestic con-
! hict. The South may rest assured that the
Democracy Of the North will not consent TO the
| proscriptIon of any accredited delegate, North
ern or Southern, who is ready to accept the
| principles enuncated in the call tor the Con-
| vention. The endorsement OF those principles
| is the only test that will be required, and If
| factioUs minority should attempt to impose any
other, they will simply make an exhibition OF
| their own weakness.