The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-14
PhiIadelnhia Convention.

about the Convention to convene to-
day worthy our attention.
1t is a national assemblage of poll
tieians called at the direct instigation
of the Chief Executive officer OF the
government. 1t is called for the
avowed purpose of organizing a new
party. The President having obtained
his present position, not by election,
but by ex-oficio succession to va
cancy occasioned by great public
calamity, has seen fit to cut loose from
the party which placed him in Office,
and through the Convention convened
to day he hopes to construct plat
form and party which will carry him
through the present term of Office,
and if possible again place him in
power. The year 1866 is enacting a
chapter in political history without
precedent in the past. The TYLER
disafection was quite different from
this, by no means as base in its ORR
gin and purposes, and could not have
been so disastrous to the best inter-
ests and peace of the country,
if successful. Besides, TYLER went
over to the opposition. JOHNSON
claims to bring to him the elements
of the opposition.
Another marked feature Of the
Convention is the position of the De-
mocracy. Beaten time and again
during the war, on account of their
reasonable opposition to the Govern
ment, 1T came out of the contest at
the overthrow of the rebellion, COM
pletely bankrupt in principle, Danish
ed from the offices, without the con-
fidence of the people, totally demon
..lized and dispirited 1t appeared so
dead that nothing could bring it to
life again. But the Presidents un-
expected course seemed to galvanize
it into life again. Being in such
straits that it could do nothing of it
self, it has gladly accepted the in
vitation extended it, and in every one
of the Northern States by official ac-
ton it sends delegates to Philadel-
phia. 1t appears before the country
to-day as having abandoned its party
name. For the first time in its his
tory of more than half century, it
confesses its weakness by such pub
lie acknowledgment. In the past it
has seen party organizations of many
names and principles break in pieces
before its irresistible power and pres
tige. But never till to-day has it
been driven to consort with
the fag-ends of all issues, par
ties and principles. 1t was al
ways powerful enough in the past to
rally around the boosted name of De-
mocracy the masses of the people, so
that it could bid defiance to sore
heads, and disorganizefs, and scorn
alliance with floating parties and
doubtful organizations. But six
years abstinence and defeat, has made
its leaders hungry for the loaves and
the fishes of Office, and they are ready
to give up party, principle, everything,
and follow the lead even of the man
whom they once despised and spit
upon as a renegade.
ITO such base uses have they come atlast.''
! The cause of it is that the leaders
abandoned the principles which gave
them success. They lost their hold
upon the people, who at heart were
loyal and true, by following off the
spirit of secession into treason against
the. government The party became a
party only in name, without the at
tachment of the people or possession
of principles, and it had little to give
up, when it resolved to go into the
| Philadelphia Convention. 1t remains
for US to see how successful the lead
ers will be in reconciling the conflict
/ ing elements-whether the President
will be able to gather about him such
sympathy as he may need to carry out
his projects of usurpation and treach-
/ ery-whether the Copperhead leaders
will be able to find sufficient consola-
ton and hope to compensate them for
the abandonment of the party name.
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