The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-11

precisely the same; but it would have lacked It's
power to command, nay compel, the attention
of those who most need its teachings. The eX-
treme radicals, being unable to confute its rea-
soning, attempted breaking it's force by accusing
Mr. Beecher OF having enlisted under the banner
of President Johnson, and virtually gone over
to the Democrats. This was adrOit, but 1t was
II was calculated to prevent candid estimate
of the force of Mr.. Beecher's arguments, by
making the millions of his Republican admirers
believe that his arguments proceeded from
standpoint hostile to all their most cherished
principles. The second letter says that the
edge Of the first cannot be blunted, nor its effect
on Republicans be destroyed, by such unscrupu-
lous representatons. Mr. Beecher demon
strates IN this second letter, that his desire for
the prompt restoration of the Union is consist
ent with the steadiest adherence to the political
doctrines with which lie has so long been iden-
titled. He thereby removes the most formidable
obstruction to the spread OF his views in the
Republican party.
tional amendment to be intrinsically Just and
reasonable but he maintains that to postpone
the restoration of the Southern States for its
ratification would be virtual decision to post
rome reconstruction for years, and incur all the
hazard of mischief which would thence result.
"Either,n he says, 1.-THE advantages of the Union
are iallacious, or the continuous exclusion OF
the South from IL will breed disorder, make the
future reunion more difficult, and, especially,
subject the freedmen to the very worst condI-
tion of society which can we'll exist.r Mr..
Beecher desires the election of representatives
TO Congress- this fall, who favor the early admis-
sion OF the recusant States. "In this spirit" he
says, "and for this end, drew up my Cleveland
letter. | deem its views sound; | am not sorry
that wrote it,
Mr.. Beecher dissects the character and criti-
ciZes the conduct of President Johnson; but he
animadverts, with almost equal disapproval, on
the course which has been pursued towards the
President by the majority OF the Republican
party. As Mr.. Beecher represents it, the lead
ing Republicans have shown a foolish and
lamentabe want of tact in their treatment OF
the President. They tried TO influence a proud,
sensitive, pugnaCious, dogmatic man by brow
beating; and they have reaped what they sowed.
With the strong and passionate qualities which
Mr.. Beecher ascrbes 10 the President, he gives
him credit Tor much natural kindness, and says
that the South, by approaching him with per-
feet submission and appealing TO his generosity,
have completely Outman@uvred the Repub-
licans, and won the President by the superiority
of their tactics
Had the Republicans shown more wisdom and
a better appreciation of Mr.. Johnson's charac-
ter. there might have been perfect concert OF
action between him and Congress, and objects
could easily have been accomplished which
have now become impossible. The President
being a SOutherner, brought into temporary
sympathy with the Republicans by the war, was
in constant danger of relapse, unless treated
with great consideration; and when they were
foolish enough to provoke a contest of stub
bornness and dogmatlsm, they ought to have
known tnat in these qualities they would find al
least their match, and that, in the heat and
alienation of such contest, they would probably
drive him back into his old detestatlon of orth
ern fanaticsm. This criticism of Mr. Beecher's sc
far as 1t is well founded. goes to show that the
Republicans have thrown away their only op
portunity to Garry their policy by the method
they propose: and that nothing now remains fol
them but 10 restore the Southern States. and fal
back upon their old resources OF argument anc
agitation.