The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-15

Estimated simply in party sense, such a
course of procedure is suicidal Practical legis-
lation Is wanted, and we have had instead
dreary wilderness OF debate, Cancellation and
magnanlmity are indispensable, and In lieu OF
these we have had displays OF despotsm and
vengeance unworthy of q legislative body In any
circumstances, and especially unworthy IL the
full flush of the nations triumph. Within the
halls of Congress not single step has been vet
taken in the direction of reconstruction. Not
only has nothing been done to assure the South
Of its rights under the Constitution, but the
claims even OF tried Southern loyalists nave
been Systematically ignored. II were fatal
mistake TO suppose that these things have not
been closely scanned aud duly weighed oy the
great majority of those whom the Union men,
bers represent. And 1t we're equally an error to
believe that there is any general lnaDlnty to
comprehend the consequences OF persistence in
the course which has been until now pursued.
Among Union men the convection IS universal
that the party they have invested WIN CONTROL.
ing power in Congress Is now on its trial. Shall
the nations confidence be iustlhed or dishonored!
Shall grand opportunities for usefulness be
thrown away? Shall the work of disunion,
frustrated on the battlefield be consummated
by pretended Unionists in the Capitol; or shall
the victories OF our soldiers be perfected and
sealed by the moral victories OF our legislators
These inquiries, and such as these. are uppermost
in the minds OF the people. You may hear them
at every turn. In the city or country, in the
street, amid your neghbors, or in the hotel amid
strangers, in the East or the West, these are the
questions which challenge attention. 1t were
in every sense impohtic to leave them long un-
answered, lmpolitc IN party sense, because
they involve the capacity OF the party for the
labors of legislation and administration in the
existing crisis. lmpolitic In national sense,
because unwillingness or inability to heal the
wounds produced by war, and to restore TO cor
dial and happy relationship the North and South,
will in the end entail the weakness and antpa-
thles of a country but nomnally united.
The mingled contempt and disgust which the
Of bn Rad1ca1g in
have elected bring into bolder relief the saga
city and patriotism of President Johnson. For
all that has been done in the wav of reconstruc-
ton we are indebted to him. While the Stevens
faction has been trying to destroy the Union, he
has labored quietly but efficiently, theoretically
but consistently, TO restore to the Union ITS old
proportions. UndIsmayed by the bullying and
threatening of the Northern lactonists OF to-
day, as by the bullying and threatening OF
Southern traitors during ,he conflict he has
pushed forward the reconstruction OF the States
with an unwaverlng determination to recognize
no principles but those which are engratted 10
the Constitution, and TO acknowledge no dogma
not sanctioned by Constitutional authority.
Every fresh occasion that T. afforded him for the
expression OF his views and purposes, strengthens
his hold upon the public mind. For his views
are the views cherished by the Fathers OF the
Republic, and his purposes are the purposes
for which our soldiers fought, and which all
but the disuniOn factionists are resolved to
execute.
While the prestige OF the radicals in Congress
Is gone, and gone we hope forever, that OF the
President increases immensely The country Is
on his side, rs may be positively ascertained 1t
the disunionists insist upon trial OF popular
strength. We believe that but a word is neces-
sary to bring together proof that his opponents
and detractors, although pretending to occupy
Union seats. are al variance with the overwhelm-
ing sentiment of the Union Party. None know
this better than the President. And hence his
position, aiwavs strong is politically, as well as
morally and constitutionally, impregnable.