The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-06
The President and the Union Party.

The President and the Union Party.
From the Tribune. I--.
The New York Times, discussing the late
speech of Senator Sherman, SAYS
1.-THE most striking points of Mr.. Sherman's able
speech, ana which we desire 10 impress upon our
radical friends were as to Chdt to gain by
open with the President in the great cause
all have at hear. II u be the protection Of the negro
and freedom 90 labor when he VIII, his personal
safety his education and moral instruction, and his
power TO own land aud accumulate property, 1t Is
obvious that we risk all these priceless fruits OF
tory by driving the President over to the Demo-
cTacy of the North ana the South
''Will the rght-minded ano humane men through
out the nation who seek first of all for justice the
new career OF progress and freedom, risk all the
results gained by the war for a distant end, which
may not be practicable for many Sears-that Is, for
REMARKS BY THE TRIBUNE.
At our last Union State Convention the editor
OF the Times was placed at the head of the
Platform Committee, ard reported such resolves
as he saw fit. The candidates also we're mainly
the choice OF himself and those who, with him,
were accounted johnson men par excellence.
Though the Convention was radical in sentiment,
the conservatives had their way in 1t, because it
was deemed best to attach President johnson
more 6rmly to the Union party, and not "drive
him over to the Democracy"
So the canvass opened, and mass meeting in
support OF the Union ticket was to be held in
this city. 1t was deemed eXpedient and proper
tiously, avow his sympathy with the party which
elected him. Strenuous efforts we're made TO
that end. II we are not misintormed, the Editor
OF the Times made journey to Washington on
purpose to obtain such an avowal-but in vain.
No syllable was lisped by the President, during
the canvass, that evinced any desire or prefer
ence on his part that the Union ticket should
succeed. But Mr.. Montgomery Blair traversed
our State praisng the President, and urging his
hearers to support the Democratic ticket; and
we are well assured that he privately told the
Democratic leaders that, il they would carry the
state, the Custom House and other sspois of
victory" should be their exceeding great reward
They didn't win, and haven't yet clutched "the
spoIls!" But they had Democratic festival in
Tammany Hall on the 9Th of January, and han a
letter from the President such as we couldn't
have for our mass meeting.
For some time past the entire Copperhead and
Rebel press OF the country has been enraptured
with the President. The Rebels evidently expect
to regain through him all they lost by rebellion,
civil war, and discontinue. The Ornament OF
meek and quiet spirit" which they displayed
for some months is now entirely discarded.
They talk as in the bad old days when they sup
posed King Cotton autocrat of the universe
General Neal Dow lately had conversation with
two South Carolina aristocrats, who declared
that the South would insist on being paid two
billions OF dollars for her slaves and for the de-
vastation she had suffered during the war, and
her crippled soldiers and soldiers widows put
on the pension list the same as ours. We hear
from the West Indies, and from various other
qudIl6TS, IQab Ine eX-hPDelS CODSlQor themselves
masters of the situation, through the President,
and are acting and talking accordingly.
The assumption In the Veto Message that Con-
gress has no right to act on such questions as
are involved in the Freedmen's Bureau bill until
the States lately in revolt shall be represented,
goes to the root OF the matter. We know OF no
pretension ever set up on the part OF the Rebels
that goes beyond this. II it ls well grounded,
the representatives OF those States may fairly
and legally vote to repudate the national debt,
contracted while they were fighting 10 destroy
the Union.
From every. quarter, the Copperheads and i'm.
penitent Rebels hail the Veto Message and the
22d of February speech as their thunder. We
are not aware of dissenting voice among them.
Democratic fossils who have lain for years buried
under the weight of popular indignation at their
undisguised sympathy with the Rebels and pro-
claimed hostility to coercion }" are thawing out
like adders in May sunshine, and evincing an
almOsl juvenile Vivacity. Some who barely
escaped mob violence because of their disloyal
tendencies, are hurrying to Washington In vul-
ture-like focks, and profess to be there admitted
to the inner councils OF the White House. In
short, they seem to have ii all their own way.
Congress is daily bullied and threatened with
being "cleaned OUT by journals which, through
out our late civil war, never pretended to con-
Ceal their entile sympathy with the Rebel cause.
Even in the Senate, a Johnson Congress, to be
composed OF seceders from the present Houses
combined with the Rebel Generals and Colonels
elect from the revolted States, is plainly fore
sLadowed. In journals at least once suppressed
for dlsloyaltY, the President 1s openly urged to
disperse the present Congress with the bayonet,
and install ore OF the Johnson order instead.
And these reasonable inculcations incite no
rebuke from the White House.
These are few of the facts which seem to us
badly to Eeed explanation. If the President has
cast in his lot with the Copperheads, he ought to
say 80 frankly. He cannot at once win Their
confidence and retain that Of the party which
elected him, He must take his stand with one
or the other, helping to fight its battles anC
sharing its prosperous or adverse fortunes. /
his heart is with the Union party, he must stoI
ploughing with all manner of strange heifers
and act as he feels. If it is with the adversary
as now seems probable--he should, in common
fairness, announce the fact, and let the public
act as its judgment shall dictate. There is M
middle ground; and there should be an end 0
disguise an1 equivocation. We shall very gladl,
hear that the President purposes to act hence
forth with the Union party; but, If he has con
cluded TO act with its adversarleS, he owes it a
least prompt and frank ayowal OF the truth.
The Differences Between Congress and tn
PTesident-WhO is RespOnsibles