The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-12

party, and the opposition party OF the coming
Presidential contest, remain still 10 be orga-
niZed President johnson, wisely cooperating
with the conservative Republicans of Congress,
in this view OF the situation, may still WELD a
controlling influence in establishing the party
OF the succession.
The Democratic Party and the Elections.
From the Times.
We trust the Democratic party is satisfied
with the success OF its '1itte game" in the late
elections II it is, everybody else can well
afford TO be content The extreme radicals, as
usual, owe their power to the selfish and unscru-
pulous partisanshlp OF the Democrats; and the
Union men can console themselves for what
ever good results they have failed to secure, by
the fact that the ascendancy Of the Democratic
party has at all events been averted. 1t was
that ascendancy which the Democrats sought
and which the people feared more than any,
thing else. The Democratic leaders IN all the
States, and most notably In Pennsylvania and
New 1ork-made the restoration OF their party
to power the main aim of all their efforts.
They held everything everywhere subordinate
to this one object. They supported President
johnson, partly perhaps because they agreed
with him, but mainly 10 control the patronage
and the power at his command tor the attain
ment OF this one end. They endorsed the Phlla-
delphia Convention-pa partly because its positions
aLd principles detied their assaults-but mainly
because they hoped to make 1.-THE stepping stone
to party control in State and national affairs.
They used both the President and the Conven-
non, remorselessly and recklessly, for their own
advantage, and they have been utterly and
thoroughly overwhelmed with defeat.
The reason of this result Is pGlpabe The
people istrust the patriotism and loyalty of the
Democratic party, and will not trust the restora-
ton OF the Union and the reformation of our
civil and political institutions to Its hands.
They see now more clearly than they could see
before the war; that the inherent spirit ana
- al,nN nI
the best interests OF the nation. The party, as
SUCH always allied Itself with the worst elements
and most perous influences OF the national life.
1t was the ally OF slaVery-not simply tolerant
of its existence, but the active defender of its
worst enormities and the open advocate of its
ambition. Out of Its devotion to slavery and its
craving for the power which slavery carried
with it, it led the South into the Rebellion, and
lacked nothing but the courage to follow it
thither. Throughout the war, its sympathies,
as party, were with the Rebellion.
1t reioiced In its successes-lt magnihed its
merits and power, it mourned its defeats, il pre-
dicted its triumph-lt crippled and hampered
tue Government in its struggle against 1t, II
threw out of the party as false and treacherous
those men who sought TO give vlgor and success
to the nations arms, and IL eVlnced iu every
way and by every means which can indicate
the spirit aud purpose OF party action, the most
determined and ngrained sympathy With the
Rebel movement. Such action in such crisis
makes an abiding impression on the public
mlnd Neither in the case OF individuals nor
OF party is it soon forgotten. The people
long for peace, tor the restoration OF the Union,
for the RESUMPTION of national prosperity and
power; but they want all this on the basis OF
the Union principles yindicateo and established
by The war;
Whatever differences of opinion have existed
in the Union party should have been settled
within that party and by its members. Pres-
dent Johnson always declared that he so in
tended; that he sought only to save the party
which carried the country through the war from
falling into the hands OF eStreme men; and tnat
he had no thought or purpose of throwing the
power of the Government into the hands OF the
| party which had opposed the war, and which
was now ready to sacrifice its results TO securing
Its own ascendancY. II the President mad ad-
| hered TO this purpose he could very easily have
| secured the result at which he aimed But he
| allowed the Democrats to over"ule or oVerDear
him. Instead of aiding and strengthening the
national sentiment in the Union ranks and thus
checking and thWarting the Disunion element
which sought to control it, he invoked the De-
| mocrauc party TO the rescue. He recognized
the nominations of that party everywhere as
| those Tor which he sought support-as those
| which represented his policy and his Admin
| stIation-as those whose success was demanded
| by the principles he deemed essential TO the
| public good.
And even after the Philadelphia Convention
| had laid down platform thoroughly national
| in its principles, and upon which the Union
could be restored In strict harmony with the
results OF the war and the principles on which
the war has been carried to its triumphapt
close, he still permitted the Democratic party
| to seize upon IT for its own advautage-to
| climb into power by its aid, to use il Tor the
| promotion OF its own ends, and the re-estab.
| lishment in the national councils of ITS own
| supremacy. The Democrats in the Albany Con
| yeniion cared nothing for the Philadelphia
| Convention nothing lOr President Johnson,
| moth ne for the restoration of thel UniOr-no-
thing for the patfiotic men who were struggling
for IT, except II could use them all TO bring the
/ old Democratic party, as IL had been organized
and controlled for the past five years, again
| INTO power. That was the object and aim Of
| az tneiT efforts, Everything else was OF not
| the slightest consequence except as II could be
mace 70. aid inits attainment. Their action
was NEidlY and HigOrQlsi parLiaan thr0nPh out.