The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-26
The Political Canvass THE Drift of Pub
lie Sentiment.

The Political Canvass The Drift of Pub
lie Sentiment.
From, the Times.
1t is very evident that the public mind breads
the renewed ascendancy of the Democratic
party more than it does the continued exclusion
Of the Southern States. While it regards the
latter as temporary inconvenience, involving
no important or lasting consequences, it looks
upon the former as full of permanent peril to
the country. Perhaps, too, a sentiment of jus
tiCe has quite as much to do with this feeling as
any distinct oreDodtng of specific evils. What
the Democratic party would do if fully rein
stated in power-by what definite action it would
damage the future of the natiOn-those who
dread 1t most might not be able to say. But
there is no difficulty whatever in feeling that
The party which opposed the Government during
the war ought not to assume control of IT when
the war is over. The instinct Of the country is
that those who stood by it during its time of
peril should have charge of its fortunes when
the danger has passed.
This sentiment underlies the resolute resist
ance Of the people to the struggle OF the Demo
cratic party for renewal of power All other
issues are overlooked Nobody stops to discuss
questions of constitutional law or to canvass
the chances OF another war. The right of repre-
sentaton-the scope of the power conferred
upon Conoress- the effect of hostile legislation
upon public sentiment IN the Southern States,
these and other topics OF grave importance are
dismissed, as having nothing to do with the
Immediate issues to be hrst decided They are
POSTPONED 10 some more convenient season.
The North feels conscious OF its power to crush
opposition, and TO insist upon such measures as
ii deems essential to the public good.
The DemocrauC party has clearly overIeached
itself IN its contest for renewed 2scendancy.
Throughout the war it gave the Government no
support AS an organization it resisted its efforts
to suppress the Rebellion. 1t denounced its
policy, condemned as usurpatiOn the measures
by which it thwarted Northern sympathy with
secession, and did everything in its power TO
overthrow the Administration by which the
contest was carried on. That it dld not succeed
was owing to the TACT that the people cared
more for the country than they did for the
Democratic party. And II will owe its failure
to the same cause now. While we believe the
great body of che people desire the speedy
restoration of peace and harmony To the
Union, they are not inclined to purchase
this at the cost Of restoring the Demo
cratic party 10 power. They Will trust
the work of restoration TO the Union
party, ana TO none other. They find it much
easier to check the eXcesses, ami reOuke
the ianarical passions oil its extreme and reck-
less men, than TO intuse into the Democratic
ORGANIZATION the spirit of progress, OF reform,
and OF political liberty which the emergencies
OF the time demand. They lind that party still
filled with all the narrow and ilhberal preju-
diCes which marked its action before the war.
The same hatred OF the COIore1 race-the same
unwillingness 10 extend and broaden the basis
OF our free lnstitutions-the same attachment
! uibulion of political power-the same clamoT
for the largest license to vice and immortality,
! and the same lack of sympathy with all efforts
! 10 elevate the degraded and TO improve the con-
diton of the ignorant and down-trodden mem
bers of our republican society mark its action
now as before the great tempest which, III
sweeping away human slavery, has destroyed
the great bulwarR OF all the injustice and all the
inequality by which our free institutions were
delormed and Rarred. The people will not
trust that party with the reorganization OF ouI
political society. They dread its influence on
national affairs. They dread especially the ALI
! apce 1t Will form with whatever remains OF the
influences of slavery in the Southern States
And they mean to avert this danger by eXclu
| ding the Democratic party from power
| When this shall have been accomplished, we
| doubt not the people win give attention to the
| speclic work of restoration. We do not believe
| public opinion will surrender itself to the wlL
| schemes with which extremists and fanatics
| now alternately amuse and alarm the public
| mind What The people now seek, with sucf
| passionate purpose and such resolute determi
| nation ia not nCgTO-suilrage, nor contscation
| nor the degradation ol the Southern States, no.
the eXtcrmination by fire, famine, and slaughte
| of the population o. the Southern States. ThesC
pleasing projects are left to please the cOngenia
| iancies OF paraon Brownlow, or to serve a
| stalking horses upon which Colonel Forney ma
delude himself with grateful dreams Of his owl
IMPORTANCE The people seek nothing of tn
| kind nor when they become OF practical con
sequence, will they tolerate them Tor moment