The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-04

second tbouptt OF The people. For Sky yeat.
moth ng gTea or durable vas accomplshe1 T..
our Coy eminent when not under the control of
the Democratic party. II opponents have louuo
{ necessary to take on all sorts Of aliases: bu
the Democratic party has stood its ground,
maintained ITS name, and never blushed for its
record.
There Is nothing os which the Democratic
party has greater reason to be proud than it.
course during the late war. II courageously
braved power, and perverted public opinion,
IN defense OF civil liberty. The chief odium il
incurred during he war vas by Its bold and
manly resistance to arbitrary arrests, ILLEGAL
imprisonments, and desOotic interference with
the reeOom OF speech and the press. Had 1t
not been ior this stout and re-Oute defense OF
imperlled rights, the great principles of clvil
liberty would have been eradica,ed from the
public mind The Democratic party feels
manly pride that il raised It's voice in defense OF
liberty, and caused 1t to be heard above theidin
of battle and the clash of arms.
Nobody, in looking back upon the late con-
test, can point 70 a single despouc interference
with the liberty of citizens, aud say thaC it has
tened by single day the triumph of our cause.
To hat length those abuses might have been
carried If the Dem OUratic party had not sounded
The alarm and sent It far and wide, nobody can
tell. Democrats have the satisfaction to re-
feet that they perilled their safety and good
name by boldly confronting laHless power in
defense OF civil liberty. They are slow to be
instructed by political shutlecocks, like the
ItnleS, that this is record TO be ashamed Of.
cratic party consented 10 incur odiuiu, was when
Mr.. Lincoln issued his emancipation proclama-
ton As a war measure IL was prepOsterous;
first, because IL protested to confer freedom on
slaves which were entirely beyond our reach;
and secondly, because 1t si1eued the South to
tight for ;hree or four billions of property
thereby put at stake. 1t probably lengthened
the var two wears. 1t caused ine South to make
q resistance so strenuous and desperate, that, al
the time OF their collapse, their Dro>t alton was
cor plete and their county reduced to waste.
But the Democratic party opposed the procama-
lion chiefly because IL was unconstitutional--an
objection the force of which has since been con-
Iessed by the Republicans themselves, bv amend
ing the Constitution to make emancipation valid.
Now, whether the Democratic party was wrong
or light on the mere question OF policy, to it
belongs the merit OF keeping the Government
anchored to the Constitution, and preserving
the idea that measures which do not con lorm TO
the Constitution are void. If the Democratic
party had acquleSced in the repeated violations
of the Constitution during the war, the idea Of
constitutional government would have been
practically OblIferated from the public mind
Though we were defeated on particular points,
we were victorious in our main effort. We sue
cePded in keeping alive the principle of cOnst-
tutional government. 1t is owing to the Demo
cratic party that the emancipation amendment
is a part of the Constitution.
1t vas solely IN consequence of our disputng
the Constitutionality Of the proclamation, and
the republican fears that, on our regainng
power, we would repudiate it, that it was made
IL part OI Ine ana put beyond Glp
danger OF future disturbance. By thus COM
pellmg the republicans to seek the protection of
the Constitution Tor their iavorite measure, we
brought them to sense of the security of COZ
stltutional safeguards. We renvigorated the
decayine principle of constitutional govern
ment. The strenuous battle which we fought
| for the Constitution has so alarmed the Repub-
lcan party thar they feel no security for any OF
| the fruits o the war without the guarantee OF
| Constitutional amendments. The Democratic
party may therefore fairly claim the merit OF
Iedeeming constitutional government from the
danger OF extinction. 1t IS o wing to our coura-
geous eXertlOn6 that the vessel, shattered during
| the war, was not shpwrecked. We have com
| PEELED even our political opponents TO swim to-
| wards II, and try to regain It's deck, as the ark
| Of their safety.
| Whenever the Union is restored II Will also
J be due 10 Democratic courage. The intrepid
| vigOr with which we demand restoration makes
| the Republicans uneasy and ills them with ap'
| pIebensioDs. They know that the Southern
whites ard the Northern democrats form ma
jority of the white population of the country,
| and have pref onderance Of Its physical
strength; and 1t is because they appreciate ouI
| vigor and dare not push us to eXtremItes, that
| they make so many awkward attempts to hide
their cloven foot. Were iG not for the elastic
and iDdomitable spirit of the Democratic party
the Republicans would treat the Southern
States as conquered provinces. II is our reso
Lutte attitude that keeps the idea OF reunion up
permost in the public mind, and cOmpels the
Republicans to affect desire tor early restora
tion.
Glorious as is the history of the Democratic
party throughout It's long career, it has neve
acted a part so greatly useful as during the late
war. BY the fears It's vigor has inspired in the
dominant party, it has saved constitutions
government in this country, and is destined t.
save the Union. The Constitution and th'
Onion have been its only battle-cries during th
dangerous period through which we bav
passed; and though neither is yet fully restored
II is entirely due 10 the Democratic party tina
they receive the universal homage OF lip-ser
vice, which will n ore and more strike its root
into the public heart.