The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-25

insist on guarantees and conditions of reetor- /
alton, 1t expressly hands over one-half the
convention to those who opposed the union
party In the election of l864-giving thsm, in |
fact, the preponderance, inasmuch as in III
states the union party had at that time no |
existence, and can now, therefore have no
representation. And they are still further
repealed by the eager alacrity with which |
the recent ebels of the south and the in |
tense eopperheads of the north. like Fernando
Wood and Valiandgham, accept the invita-
ton and prepare to take part in its proceed
ings. The rspugnance which they feel to
political association with man whose record
lie SO utterly obnoxious to public reprobation,
is by no nsans unnatural or unjust. and con
tributes largely IT, prejudice the public mind
against the convention and all connected
with it, 1t gives color to aud confirms the
charge that its object 10 to reinstate in office
and in power men who have been Justly ex-
PEELED by the people for their crimes against
the country, and to exclude those to whom
the country 10 indebted for its salvation.
The union party must not forget, however,
that the Philadelphia convention Ia due en-
tirely to its own failure to comprehend and
meet the necessities of the hour. When the
war was over and the rebellion suppressed,
powerful public sentiment, pervading all par
ties, demanded the prompt restoration OF ma
tional action under the constitution, aud In
accordance with the fundamental principles
of the government.
IL the union party had responded to that
sentiment, which was very powerful In Its
own ranks If it had co-operated with the
president. who did comprehend aud sympa-
thize with it--and had made the restoration
of union, peace and concord the first objects
of its endeavors, it would have broadensd its
own foundations and left neither motive nor
excuse for Rnv such movement rs that which
is now on foot Ii congress had, two months
ago, admitted to their seats loyal members
from southern states, who could take the oath
prescribed 6y law n other words, if they
had admit d the members from Tennessee
| and Arkansas the only states which have sent
such men. tho PhiIadelphia convention would
| never have been heard of. Unfortunately,
| the union party, contrary TO the judgement
OF very many of lts own members, surren-
| dered itself TO the guidance of men with
| whom other things were more i'm portant than
| the peace aud harmony OF the country. 1t
| followed the lead of men who insisted upon
| demonstrating" toe government from its
| foundations instead OF restoring the Union
which the rebellion hal for the tine destroy
| ed aud repairing the breaches which the war
| had made. Ii listened to the tales of the PROV
| inces itshad conquered, the new rights ~ had
acquired, the absolute, unchecked power it
now ejoyed; and while it was indulgiDg it's
dreams of subjugation, of confscstion, of uni
versal suffrage. aud the elevation of the ne
| gro race. the enemy quietly stepped in and
took possession of the stronghold of the un-
| ION and constitution, where all its victories
have been Won, but which for the moment it
seems to have deserted.
| Taese defaults of it, own have given the
| Philadelphia convention degree OF strength
| which is not wise for the leaders of the I'm
| ion party to ignore or underrate. By judIc-
ious coupsels ut the outset they might have
prevented it at a later Stage they might have
| controlled it; il is not yet too late to save
| themselves from being ruined by il. But
| they will make a fatal mistake If they con.
tent themselves with ignoring or denouncing
it. If it should happen to be under the gui-
| dance of wise and patriotic counsels-it the
southern delegates who may participate in its
deliberations should proffer, in their words
| and their action, un,nistakahle evidence of the
sincerity with which they accept the adverse
result Of the war they wsged, and of their
readiness TO adapt their laws. their habits
and their whole political action 10 the neces-
| stiles which that result has created-if the
northern democrats, who share it's action,
should cut loose from the men and the meas.
ures which made them so Justly obnoxious to
public censure during the war. and shopld
| pledge themselves TO the honor OF the nation
and TO q liberal policy worthy alike of its
history and destny-if the platfoam of prin-
ciples which the convention may adopt, and
! the action 1t nsy recommend, shall prove thus
responsive to the enlarged and lofty aspira.
tions of the national heart, it may be found
tina, 10 party organization, however coz pact
1 II may seem u be, and however strongly for
tilted by the memory of past services. can
| withstand Its influence upon the sentiments
and the action of ths great body of the Amer
| lean people. Ii is q mistake tt deem party
| organization solid and unasssilable merely
| because it looks so. political party, like
the ice of a frozen lake, melts away from be-
meath, and while a. evening its surface may
seem to be perfectly solid and untouched by
rift or seam, the breeze Of a single night may
perfect the work which weeks Of silent. uu-
seen oecsy have been preparing. Doubt IS
to the continued necessity or use. lness of
a party never begin with its leaders or sctive
| workers, hut always with the silent masses
| who merely watch and think, while others
| act, and whose ac.lons,in a season of com q o.
| ton can never be predicted two weeks ahead.
Nor must 1t be forgotten that the position of
| the union party to-day is one which 1t has ev-
| er held before. The issues to which it will
| stand committed are nsw to its organiza alton
and to the public MUD. The people have
never vet been called to vote upon them, and
| while they may seem to their Jealous advo
Gates and authors TO be very strong, other.
may prove to be still stronger than they
The Italian army suffered sad reverse
the other day because. trusting in the good.
ness of its cause 1T marched boldly upon fort
resses whose st -epgth it desnised. The union
party will consult it, own safety and the good
of the country by not throwing itself against
the Philadelphia convention until il knows a
! little more of the nature and strength of its
| armament. r.
Extensive swindting Operations.