The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-10
The South and its Opportunity.


The Southern press is almost unanimous In Its
approval of the call for the Philadelphia Con
yention, And, as a rule the grounds upon
which approval is given are temperate and just.
There are some notable EXCEPTIONS whose
expressions of opinion augur not we'll for either
section. Such are they who urge the South to
refuse all concession, to assert its sovereign
rights in their entirety, and to submit 10 a con-
tinued exclusion IRON Congress rather than DO
aught which NAV look like humiliation The
utterances of these journals are coined in the
mint that furnished the ideas OF the speech
recently delivered by MIR. Alexander II. II.
Stuart i'm Virs mia and there can be no doubt
that they reflect the views oil considerable poT-
tion OF the Southern people. In other instances,
nov one are TerS SSonpseed TO accent tSc resUts
OF the war without equivocation or reservation;
to submit TO the necessities OF the situation
with good grace, It not with cheertulness; and
TO cooperate with the conservative men III the
North in organizing Union party upon a basis
that shall commend itself TO the calm judgment
OF the country North and South.
The Importance OF prudent action on the part
of the South in ITS present critical condition can
hardly be overstated. The approaching Con-
vention is the irst opportunity it has had since
the war OF placing itself right with the North,
and much, very much is dependent upon the
manner in which it shall avail itself of the
chances presented. The Southern people have
no need to be reminded Of the imputations pre-.
ferred against them, and of the purposes to
which these imputations are turned, as excuses
for the radical policy of exclusion and retrlbu-
tive punishment. They are charged with dis.
loyalty, and the elevation OF prominent Rebels
to posts OF honor and emolument is poiated at
as proof OF untnes5 for the full privileges of cti
Zenship. They are assaied as prosecutors OF Union
men, as animated by the old pro-slavery spirit
towards the negroes, as inimical to the princl
pie OF Federal supremacy established by the
war and as averse even to the most mo 1erate
conditions which the North may impose as
penalties of the Rebellion. Every one VINO has
watched the
champions of the extreme radical policy
knows the service which these allegations, and
Others ola like eimport have rendered in the dis
Cusslon OF the reconstruction question. And 1t
must be admitted that the speech OF Mr.. Stuart,
and the course OF a few influential Southern
newspapers invest them with certain degree
OF plauslblllty. We have never acquiesced in
the Justice of these lnputations as against the
great body OF the Southern people. Admitting,
as OF necessity we must, the occurrence OF many
things to be deplored and the error of judgment
which has prompted the selection of we-knOwn
Rebels as lncumbents ot office, we have contended
that these cases were but exceptional and that
the Southern people, as whole, are prepared in
good faith to abide by the issue of the con-
tict they evoked. The reports OF distinguished
Government officials and of our own correspon-
dents have seemed to US conclusive upon this
point. But the advocates of the subjugation
theory, and the opponents OF measures looking
to the restoration OF the South to its full const-
tutional privileges in the Union, have persisted
in the opposite Interpretation OF Southern feel
NA'N'S
the South to Congress because (they have sad)
the South IS too dsloyal to be admitted. They
have rejected measures OF Cancellation because
(according to them) the South is not prepared
to appreciate cOnciliatorY course. They have
insisted upon arbitrary conditions precedent
because, ia their judgment, the South may not
be trusted without some restraint upon its
action.
The South has, for the first time fair oppor
tunity of disposing OF these allegations and ol
the policy which rests upon them. It's course
Convention M
prove them. 1t has the power in its own hands
and the position it will hereafter occupy in re-
]atOn to the Union will be satistact lry or un
satistactory-harmonous or sectional-cordial
or MISUNDERSTANDING as 1t may nov reveal
the spirit by which 1t is animated, and the OBJ
jects at which it aims. If selects its delegates
to the Convention from the ranks of those who
have been known as fire.eaters, and with view
to the advocacy in behalf of the South of the eX
IRENE opinions with which that body of politi
clans has been Identified; If it reterate dogmas
which the war has exploded, and refuse tc
recognize, or recognize grudgingly, the conclu
sions logically resulting from the war; ii il
spurn the hotion OF concession, resent compro
mise as humiliation, and denounce the new
order of things, after the manner of Mr. Stuart
then, plainly, the utility OF the Convention will
be impaired, the tongues of conservative Repub
Icans Will be silenced, and the outside radicals
will eXult as over an important victory. Ano
victory 1t will be for ihem Their case will have
been proved out of the mouths of Southern
witnesses, and the radical policy will be more
aggressive more arbitrary, more intolerant thar
ever.
On the other hand, the choice of wise, mode
rate, conciliatory, and national men as dele
gates representing the South, will in every sens
be beneficial. The immediate effect upon th
Convention will of course be good. The con
servative men of the North will find themseve
worthily associated, and their hands propol
1ionately strengthened. The harmony of tn
gathering will be assured, and its proceeding:
howsoeVer they eventuate will put down cavi
and command the confidence OF the patriot
everywhere But apart from the Conventio
the South will gain greatly by the course W
recommend. 1t will crush out what we beliey
10 be the ISLANDERS from which it suffers. 1t wi
demonstrate the oneness of its purpose in con
mon with the North. and the readiness of il
people to cooperate cordially in the efforts fl
The restoration of the Union IN the spirit of i
fathers. 1t will show that there ls no necessi
for the rigorous discipline which the radica
have prescribed or for the restrictions vii
which it has been threatened. And iJs choit
of prudent and patriotic men delegates vi
be the best possible evidence of its fitness TO
entrusted with the privilege of representatic
in Congress.
Such an opportunity, once lost, may NJ
speedily recur. Let us hope that it Will not
neglected.
The Party Crisis in England-LOrd DerI
Charged with the Formation of Ne
Ministry.