The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-11
Fourth Annual Report of the Board of
DIreCtOTs of the Union LeagLle.

moral victory of those principles 70 which we
had faithfully held through long, bloody, costly
and at times, most disheartenng war There
was no face in cur assemblage OF last year that
was not beaming with the triumph of the pre-
sent and the hope OF the future. We regarded
the coming history OF our country as liked for
a term Of years that would extend far be-
yond the life of this generation. The mere facts
of our national position were too vast in their
actual results and certain consequences to need
one touch of fancy in order to increase their sub-
nifty. We saw our country in all the grandeur of
her former proportions, in all the vgor of her act
i've and liberal policy, advancing once more and
now securely, on that career of empire which had
mace our progress wonder 70 the natlons, ana
Already we felt that we were chief power upon
the earth, and what our destiny might be was a
question that bahied the calculations and excited
the dread OF our rivals. Freed from the odious
weakness of human slavery which had trammeed
the simplest knowledge and encouraged the
most british ignorance in both races which had
made us the scof and the by-word of modern
civilization, the evident contradiction at home of
the principles Of liberty that we sought to spread
abroad, which from the earliest day of our ma
tional existence had hung above our heads as
visible curse of Heaven, sure to fall at last which
had made us dumb and ashamed before the pititul
face OF christianity, and self-conv victed either by
the common law OF morals or the statutes of the
church: Freed from this stumbhng-block, when
we had heretofore felt at every step of our ad-
vancement, we were conscious of larger national
mind, more vigorous and wider range of action,
purer conscience, d sWeeter memory, brighter
hope, and beyond and above all, we could look
upon both the face OF Heaven and the face of man
withour blushDg at the arguments with which
we had endeavoTed to gloss over the guilt of that
obscene thing which we mildly called the "Do-
This was also the position of the mind of our
country year ago. The fierce struggle was ended
slavery was abolished, and peace was restored
throughout the land. Sanguinary, costly and ex-
hausting the struggle had indeed been; but the
great purpose of Providence had been accom-
plished, the blessing of universal freedom had
been bestowed upon u.s. and we did not grudge one
drop of blood, one farthng nor one failing effort,
which we had expended as tribute in securing that
priceless benefit. From this point forward all
would be well. Minor questions would settle
themselves under
in the changes of a few years they would cease to
be causes of conten ton; and to time, also, and the
reunion of the old links of social and of mercantile
intercourse, we hopefully looked for ce ssaton of
the north and the south. The south was in no
condition to resist our terms, or any terms that
deed, they were inclined to bear their situation
with the best grace, and to accept gratefully any
crumbs of mercy that might fall to their lot Who
can doubt that If the lamented Lincoln had lived,
the whole of the vast matter would not have been
quietly arranged terms in strict accordance
with the principles that had animated loyal men
throughout the rebelllonl
But in the lnscrutable wisdom of God, our ma
ton was doomed to suffer from another, and, If
possible more detestable treachery than that which
had inspired the recent rebellion. The man whom
our votes had elevated to the second place in the
gift of the nation and whom the hand of the
sin raised to the first, almost from the day that he
assumed supreme power, set himself about proving
that he was worthy of the manner of his success
sion. Not only did he betray every trust that we
had reposed in him. but he became false to his
own record his own pledges and protestations,
and to the very words which we had applauded in
his hr6t message TO congress. ThoSe fundamental
principles of the Union party, which we had fol-
lowed devotedly through the clouds of innumer-
able battles, and towards which we looked as our
guides in the settlement of the various questions
that might occur in the peace then happily sur
rounding us-principles TO which he had volunta-
rily sworn allegiance a thousand times and In q
thousand ways, with an excess OF frothy utterance
that went far beyond our EXTREMIST demand-these
principles he at first criticised, then suggested sub
stitutes for Them and at length openly repudiated
them both in word and in deed. That every voice
of the Union party was raised in Indignation and
condem nation, could have been no wonder to the
man himself That Congress taught him many
bitter lesson in the dark ways of his reachery by
overruling his veoes, rejecting his appointments
and frustrating his policy, was no more than
simple Justice to him; and whatever temper some
of our representatives may have shown in their
dealings with this false man was pardonable in
men who were not sitting judicially, but struggling
for the future welfare of their country, their
disbanded army had lately struggled, with all the
Their fervor was becoming to them, and we pity
the cold hearted selfshness that might not
warm with a kindred feeling. After this open
breach between Congress and the Executive, the
latter set himself deliberately to work to use the
power which we had lodged in his hands as a sa-
cred trust for the destruction of the party to whom
he owed the very means which he employed
againstit. How total was his failure, how evident
his folly and short sghtedness, are known to all;
and the recollection of his history must be the
most grievous burden upon his impatient spirit,
and upon the memory of that blind guide who is
now sitting amid the ruins of his cunning schemes
lamenting how by one act of treachery an illus
trious life may be consigned to historical infamy!
1t is not necessary retrace the steps by which
the destruction of the Union party was sought.
large portion of the miserable story, and of the OBJ
vious design there can be no question. The ridi-
culous vanity which made the man suppose that
traitor upon the stump is persuasive sight or
that he could utter persuasive sound, or that all
the official patronage and loose money of the
public treasury could corrupt the character of
the American citizen to his own and his coun-
try's undoing, were thoroughly Illustrated In the
indecent tour which preceded the late elections,
and which followed in the elections themselves
With the whole official power of the Union party
in the hands of traitor; with our late political
enemies and their rebellious southern brothers as
his allies; with many of our best canvassers still
in office, and her paralyZed by The fear OF
moval or cajoled by the promise OF reten tion with
our former admirable organization almost shat
tered by these causes with nothing, in short, but
wise principles and the individual votes of
fai ihful people, we entered upon the electoral
contest which has Just closed victory and
in the irremediabIe confusion of our adversaries.
Let no one underrate this momentous triumph, or,
while rejoicing in II, regret that IL was not more
complete and Overwhelming. The wonder is that,
under the numerous adverse circumstances,
were able to maintain our former position, and to
repulse the foe without the loss of a single repre-
sentative in Congress or single governor of
State. Think how sweeping might have been our
victory if the Administration had been on the side
TO which ii righttuly Belonged
The result of the late elections settles the future
of the Union party, and indicates in what hands
the government of the nation shall continue while
we remain true to ourselves. That the noble body
of men who represented the Union party in Con-
gTess during the trials and temptations of the last
session will lead wisely and we'll during the
doubt Now that the popular verdict has been ut
tered, and the lines of the future issues strongly
marked, no member OF Congress can hesitate as TO
the duties OF his posluon or as 70 what policy will
should be the duty of the League, and of all who
sympathze with our principles, TO stand firmly
beside the Congress which we have elected, and to
strengthen their hands and cheer their hearts
amidst the stormy session that may be approach
Ing by every form Of popular demonstration in