The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-16

finished the task imposed upon It by the
Rebellion, as to be able to dispense with the
harmonious and cordial support of all those
who are genuinely and sincerely loyal to It.
The present Administration, indeed, has
quite as arduous and important a work to
perform In restoring the late rebellious States
and their people to their appropriate relations
to the Union, as the previous Administration
had in overcoming the insurgents in the field.
And, therefore, President JOHNSON, in bis
efforts to accomplish wise and sound policy
OF reconstruction, is just as much in need Of
and Just as much entitled to, the confidence,
sympathy, and cooperation of every loyal
citizen In the whole country, as was Mr..
LINCOLN during the progress Of the war.
Factious opposition to the Government now,
in Congress or out of 1t, is hardly, if at all.
less injudicious, less unwarranted, or less re-
prehensble than IT was when the armies of
the South were facing the soldiers OF the
Union in the field, and advancing even to the
very gates of the national capital. President
JOHNSON feels This truth, no doubt, more pro-
foundly and painfully than any other man in
grati6ed on Wednesday last; when large
number of the leading citizens of Montana
Territory waited on him at the White House,
and pledged to him their earnest approval OF
his policy, and their purpose to sustain him in
it to the end. Their spokesman, Mr.. B. M.
PINNEY in the course of his address on that
occasion said:-
Va ttsin0 i,,,o rAa
when we assure you that we take the greatest
possible pleasure in saying that we recognize IN
you, as the Chief Magistrate of this great
nation, q person who possesses that sound mind,
devotion to the ruling interest and welfare of
the whole country, which are so necessary to
carry 1t safely over the ocean of political specu-
lauon an d debate. We attach no great import
ance to this a9severatiou OF our feelings in rela-
ton to yourself, but we should be doing injustice
| to ourselves and injustice to the people of the
Territory OF Montano, and should merit their
severest censuTe II we did not say that we drmly
| believe that 1t you meet with a cordial and
| generous support on every hand, this nation
will come forth from this present political crisis
a stronger and better naCion, prepared to take a
higher stand, and do nobler work on the plat
| form of history than has ever yet been allotted
| to any nation OF the EARTH"
Words like these can come only from the
| lips of men whose hearts are right. They
are the inspiration of the highest and
purest patriotism, unalloyed by any spirit OF
conceited egotism, or any bias of personal in
terest or prejudice. They are the utterances
of patriots, who not only have no party pre-
dilections or party aims to crafty, but who
clearly perceive that the only legitimate OBJ
| ject OF the war waged against the Rebellion
will remain unattained until the Union is
entirely restored; and thai, unless the Presi-
| dent is properly supported now in his efforts
| to that end, it must either be defeated alto
| gether or postponed through an indefinite
period of bitter and injurious political con-
tention in every part OF the land.
1t is true, moreover, that if the Union is
once re established on just basis, on the
Constitutional principles on which it was
originally founded, its power and prosperity
will be far grander in the future than it has
ever been in the past, or could ever have beer
but for the terrible struggle that has tried its
strength, and confirmed it beyond all hope OF
overthrow by domestic treason or foreign hos
tility. All truly loyal citizens everywhere
should realize this fact Those especially
who stood by the Government during the late
| civil war should not desert it now. Opposi
ton from them to the Administration is more
dangerous now than from those who opposed
the Government while the Rebellion lasted
Besides, there can hencetorth be but ont
strong and decidedly dominant party in thi
country, and that party must be found Away
and entirely faithful to the Constitution and
the Union, and conservative of both as ont
and indivisible. President JOHNSON ha
plainly and squarely planted himself on tina
platform, and the great mass of the people will
undoubtedly be with him. Those, therefore
who shall attempt to fight him and them, from
this time forward, on that high and firm
ground, will rapidly dwindle to miserable
minority, who will not only be vanquished il
every encounter, but incur an odium but little
less than that which attaches to those wht
opposed the Government during the war.