The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-30
The COntinu Hostility of the Rebel
Leaders.

ALL thoughtful persons foresaw, long ago,
that the greatest dangers consequent upon
the Rebellion would have to be met after the
war was over, and in connection with the
question of reconstruction. so long as the
spirit of disloyaty manifested itself in pbysi-
cal warfare, the conflict OF armed hosts,
there was really but little danger 10 be appre-
hended Iom 1t. The very boldness Of its dis
play disarmed it, by showing the nation its
true character. But when the Rebellion had
been crushed, as to its open and outward
manifestations, and the spirit OF treason con-
cealed itself under the guise of a claim for
constitutional rights, and thought to gain by
political chicanery, and through the esta-
blished forms of the Government, those ends
which it bad failed TO achieve by armed rebel
lion, then our really greatest danger began
to manifest itself The peril now is in putting
political power into the hands of men who
are at heart just as hostile to our Govern
ment, and just as truly bent upon its over
throw, as they were when they had arms in
their hands, and stood in battle array against
the forces Of the Union. This danger is all
the more serious because tits less obvious
Through it disloyalty does not 90 directly
and openly to its end, as it did in rebellion
but approaches it circuitously and by indi-
rection.
The real point is Just here - that the
masses Of the Southern whites are as truly
the enemies Of our Government now as they
ever were! Does anybody suppose that they
have changed their sentiments, and that they
now love the Government they so recently
hated? Does Southern independence look
any the less attractive to them, now that it
is surrounded with the halo of the "lost
cause?"
Now, in one sense, we do not find fault
with these people for their sentiments of de-
votion to the cause of Southern indepen-
dence. 1t is quite natural that they should
continue to love and hallow cause in whose
defense they risked and suffered so much. II
would be very unnatural should they sud
denly become the enthusiastic friends of that
Union which they recently hated so bitterly.
In this view Of the case, we see nothing un-
natural in the public adornment of Rebel
graves, or in the cherishing Of the memory of
Rebel heroes, or in the selection of prominent
Rebels for all important offices at the South.
1t is just what we might expect. But we do
insist that it is the height of folly and pre-
sumption on the part of the people who do
love the Union, and who mean to maintain il.
to put power into the hands of those so mimi
cal to us. 1t is voluntarily incurring a risk
such as no other nation on earth would think
of incurring. 1t is putting power into the
hands of those who beforehand declare their
enmity towards us, and their desire for the
overthrow of all that we hold most dear. We
make it possible for these men to inf1ct upon
us the very calamity which we have just ex-
pended 100000 lives and $3O00,0O00OO to
avoid How often during the war. had the
Rebels had repres entation in Congress
The Democrats now maintain that they were
entitled to have-could they, by union with
The Copperhead element of the North, have
the legislation OF the country, cut
of supplies from the army, and secured the
success of the Rebellion!
1t is against the leaders in the Rebellion,
-he pejured leaders, that the particular
clause of the Constitutional amendment so
obnoxious to the South is aimed. These men,
Oy every consideration of Justice and pru-
lence, are not entitled to be intrusted with
power On every possible occasion they in
'ist upon eulogizing the ''lost cause" of the
it up to the sympathy and |
OF the world as just and rightful
struggle, and Installing into the minds of the |
rising generation of the South fierce and |
Eindictive hatred OF the Government of the
United States To entrust such men with
political power is the height of imprudence.
They have already abused The confidence and |
generosity of the nation, which might most
Justly have inflicted upon them the severest
punishment. They are contemporary spurn-
ng the offers OF reconciliation that we are |
holding out to them. They are every day
showing more and more clearly that they are
unfit to take part in the government of the
country.
GNr.-.1