The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-28
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER %, 1866.
The Democrats Forced to New Position

which liberal sentiments are making IN our
country is afforded by the ddUaRced position
which the conservative or reactionary ele-
ment among us is forced from time to time TO
take. AS the party OF progress moves on
from victory to victory, approaching ever
nearer to the glorious goal of pure repub-
licanism, our opponents are forced, lest they
be left completely behind, and so fall out OF
the race altogether, to move onward also.
Thus, three years ago, the Democratic party
throughout the nation stood upon an out-and-
out pro-slavery platform. In this State it
conducted the canvass on the distinct issue
of the moral righJuLness Of Slavery, as set
forth by divines of the Hopkins and Cham
bers school. To-day how changed! Who
now dares to peep or mutter in favor of
human bondage2 Slavery that once con-
trolled the power of this Government, that
sealed the lips of great religious organizations,
that numbered the whole Democratic party
among its servltors, is now fallen so low that
there is none so poor as to do it reverence.
Not only this, but we find the conservative
element avowing its willingness to grant full
personal rights, protection to person and pro-
perty, and equal civil rights before the law, to
the late slave population. This is a great ad-
vance from the very recent gperiod when a
cardinal doctrine of the sO-called Democracy
was that colored man had no rights that
white man was bound to respect.
There are other changes in the same direc-
ton worthy of note, that have occurred during
,,o1t oap1roinn Tho
Gratis started out upon the platform that the
Rebel States were in the Union, had never
been out of it, and were, therefore, entitled
to immediate and unconditional representa-
ton. They were soon forced by the stress OF
the political storm to abandon that position
and to assume a new one, to the effect that
conditions might be rightfully imposed upon
the late Rebel States, but that those already i'm
posed upon them by President johnson were
sufficient. We even find Mr.. Hoffman, the
Democratic nominee for Governor IN New
York, going into quite an elaborate iustiflca-
ton of two of these conditions, the ratlfica-
ton Of the anti-slavery amendment and the
Reputation of the Rebel debt in a recent
speech at Blmira, reported in the World.
He said: -
"When the abolition of slavery was required
az a condition, there 2oaS sense H1 Mdt because
all men, by virtue OF the force OF circumstances,
admitted that the institution of slavery, which
had been the disturbing cause of the war. aud
OF so many Trit1tions, was OF necessity wioed
out by the war; and, therefore, as q necessary
war measure for the suppression OF the cause OF
the war, there lCdS justice in eGdctilg II; and,
whether il was constitutional or not, the people
OF the South acQuiesced in it, Just so az regard
TO the Reputation Of The southern debit would
not do to let people pay debt contracted in
the service of the Rebellion; while every sense
of prudence demanded that the COuntrvS debt
should be paid, incurred in putting down that
rebellion. But when these subjects were out of
the way, there was nothing left necessary for
the peace and harmony OF the country"
This is tremendous backing down from
the curt and defiant proposition OF the utter
illegality and unconstitutionality Of any and
all conditions of restoration, with which the
Democracy started out upon the present can
vass. 1t simplifies the whole question vastly.
The con8titutionoIity of imposing conditions
of readmission is acknowledged. 1t is merely
a question as to whether the proposed condi-
tions are reasonable, just, and right. And
upon this query Mr.. Hoffman unconsciously
sheds some light. The argument by which
he iustifles the anti-slavery amendment ap
plies with full force to the equalization o
representation. The present unjust and un
equal plan was part and parcel OF the slav,
system, and must cease with it; while its recti
flcati, is only full and fair carrying out O
the anti-slavery amendment itself. So too O
the Rebel debt, the same argument applies
II was mart Of the Rebellion Some of tn
Southern States have refused to repudiate it
others maintain that the reputation of it wa
done under duress while in all OF them it
matter merely OF State action, and may
assumed at any moment. The only way
fix it surely is to put its reputation in til
Constitution OF the United States. Again, i
as a matter of policy, and of prudent protec
ton to the nation against future Tebellion'
we were justified in demanding of the Rebc
states the passage Of the Constitutions
amendment abolshing slavery. and the re
pudiation of the Rebel debt, how much NOR
are we justified in demanding the passage {
that clause of the proposed Amendment whic
nceyents the Rebel leaders-who committe
Deriury in joining the Rebellion from eve
holding office again, except by express leaV
of Congress! Surely the safety of the natio
car demand no less than that these guilt
men, who broke their solemn oaths in goin
into the Rebellion, shall not again be permitte
TO assume Office and power.
Thus the Democrats, in jlstifying the col
ditiops of restoration imposed by Presidei
IL u1pSti(