The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-21
Supporting for Office Men who Have
Been DislOyal.

Supporting for Office Men who Have
Been DislOyal'
General Grant is reported by correspondent
of the Chicago Republican to have made, in
conversation with him, the following remarks:-
"He said that, without expressing any views
of his own for or against the johnson policy, he
yet telt it 10 be a misfortune for Mr.. Johnson
that the advocates of his policy in States
Illinois, and Indiana, had in some instances put
on their ticket men who in 1861 and 1862 had
been guilty of known disloyalty to the Govern.
ment; because land this was said in a very en-
sons had shed their blood for the Union to vote
for men who had been disloyal to it, was the
greatest insult that could be offered.
"Southern men he could make allowances for,
and he could ride through the South and get on
a platform ana shake hands in friendship with
such men as Lee johnson, or Forrest, because,
though they had been almost educated into
secession, they were now truly honest and loyal
in their adherence to the Union, and we're seek
ing to strengthen it. But he did not feel that
way towards Northern men who had once been
disloyal and neither desired to associate with
them nor have them for his friends. No such
men could have his support nor ought they to
be supported by Mr.. Johnson's friends through
out the Northern States. He particularly in
stanced, as a specimen of this Objectionable
class OF men, Hester Clymer, the Democratic
candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, saying
that to ask any soldier to vote for such a man,
of at one time known disloyal5y, against another
who had served four years in the Union army,
with credit to himself and benefit to his country,
was a gross insult. If men desired to support
Mr. Johnson's policy let them, but, at all events,
let them vote only for such men as were true to
their country in 1861"
Nothing could be more just or sensible.
Nothing has contributed more (and very many
things have contributed much), towards allie
60 and tba
and liberal policy of the President towards the
South, than the action of those who claim to
be his friends in this respect. 1t has proved,
indeed, as General Grant styles it, ga misfortune
for the President" and, we may add, for the
country also. In Pennsylvania the Admins
tratiou candidate for Governor is one who, in
his political action, resisted the Government
throughout the war; who made himself utterly
obnoxious to the loyal men who were struggling
to save the nation; and his election, by the de-
feat of gallant soldier who fought with hero
ism and honor for the overthrow of the Rebel
lion is held essential to the vindicatiOn of the
Presidents policy. The same thing is true, per-
haps in q less conspicuous degree, in nomina-
| tions tor members of Congress and for State
| officers of various grades throughout the
| country.
| The reason of it is clear. 1t has been done
| because the Democratic party has pushed itself
into the foreground OF the Presidents supporters,
| and has seized the occasion to reconstruct and
strengthen its own organization, rather than
| sustain the President upon the principles which
| he asserts, and in the mode which he himself
pointed out. President johnson never hesitated
| to declare his purpose to stand upon the princi-
pies OF the Union party, to act within its lines,
TO cooperate with those of its members who
| adhered to its platform, and to use the patron.
age at his disposal to nationallze and strengthen
its organization. He never concealed his con
| victiOn that the Democratic party, as an organi
zation, destroyed itself by its disloyal attitude
| during the war; that it had justly forfeited the
| confidence of the people; and that the party
which carried the nation through the war wat
| the party upon which he relied for cooperation
and support IN restoring the Union and securing
the blessings of peace.
seemed conscious that it had been betrayed b.
its leaders into false position, and they wert
| quite ready to accept the result, and act IL
f | good faith with the Union party in the restora
ton OF the Union, under the guidance of Presi
dent johnson. If, the Union party in Congress
had been less under the control of extrem
men; If national Union doctrines, as opposed t
5 the violent sectionalism Of ultraists and malig
nants, had found stronger utterance AM
, | greater favor with Congress and the country
and II the President and the Union party hat
I, been somewhat less dstrustful and more franz
! In their relations to each other, there woul
have been no difficulty in thus rallying to tn
Union platform and the Union party an over
whelming majority of the people, North an
e But that opportunity was thrown away, ant
a | both the President and Congress accented a,
Il attitude of mutual distrust and hostility with
r readiness which, in suspicious minds, begat tn
e belief that both had sought il.
: Naturally enough, under the circumstances
, the leaders OF the Democratic party took aC
q vantage Of this state of things and made Dol
q push to regain their power. Sheltering then
= | selves from the odium incurred during III
n war under the Presidents policy of restoration
G they put their own men in nomination fo
e | Office, set in motion their old machinery, an
n | men for the reinstatement of the Democrat
: | party in power.
d And when Union men, who never voted
Y | Democratic ticket In their lives, who alway
t | held and advocated the principles OF the Repul
o might the attempts OF the Democratic party
o thwart the Government in its efforts to que
'r the Rebellion, tall to respond to these demand
n they are very coolly accused of treachery to ii
Democratic party and to the President, for VINO
ID not single member OF that party gave a vot
e In all the States where Governors are to
ol chosen they have put prominent Democrat
N politicians-men identified thoroughly with Il
a, party organization throughout the war
~ nomination as candidates.; and in nearly all Il
lI Congressional districts, instead OF acceptil
~ conservative Union men, they have nominat
u candidates of their own-often from the Cope
- mead wing of the party. and always from mi
20 ldenuned' with its action in the public mind.
v we nave no hesitation whatever in saying tn
s- TINS policy Is fatal to the cause 1t processes
IN serve, and will end in its own defeat The DC
-.