The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-29
The Struggle in COnnecticut-T Lesson
of the Day.

OA TIT lyaAe
From the Times
Whatever be the result of the contest IN Con-
necticut, the provoking spectacle witnessed
there will not be without its use, if it lead the
Union party to study the consequences which
the action of the radicals in Congress must in
evitably produce. A State which, throughout
the war, has on every occasion stood by Union
candidates and contributed its fall share to the
triumphs of the Union party, is to-day in
jeopardy. And it is so because the radicals
have insisted upon fighting out the fight on the
line OF their choosing, and because the candl-
date whom they have made their Standard
bearer does his utmost to disgust and ALLEVIATE
conservative men by introducing into the can
vass the views and tactics of the radicals at
Washington.
The mistake which the assailants of the Presi.
dent commit, lies primarily IN amisconception OF
the temper and aims of the American people,
Themselves elected amid the excitement incident
to the Rebellion, they forget that peace has
moderated public feeling, and turned the current
of popular thought into other directions than
those of martial victory While the national
existence was at stake but one thought and one
resolve controlled everything. ALI considera-
tions were made subordinate to the preservation
of the Union. Radicals and conservatives were
alike earnest in their endeavors to secure that
end. Being at length secured, the question next
became, "How most speedily and efectually to
realize the benefits of the struggle, not by con-
quest, not by subjugation, notify vengeance, but
by obliterating traces of hostility, and bringing
North and South into relations more cordial than
those that preceded the war ~
At this point the blunder of the radicals
begins. They imagine that they were elected
as apostles OF negro suffrage, and even, in some
respects, of negro supremacy, when for the most
part they were elected simply as Union men,
without any preference to the disorganiZing theo-
ries now pushed with unseemly Bersistency.
They forget that the war was Tor the Union, not
for the negro; that it was a patriotic struggle,
not an abolition struggle and that the abolition
of slavery was an incident of the war, produced
by It's necessities instead Of its distinct and un-
derstood purpose. They overlook the tact that
neither before the war; during the war, nor now
the war is over, would it be possible for any
considerable number of radicals to be elected
on the issues they have raised in Congress.
They fail to remember that Notwithstanding
their democratic institutions, the people of the
United States are essentially a conservative peo-
pie; that the Republican party owes its successes
to its conservatism; that the majority of the
Republican members of Congress were elected
on conservative platforms; and that every
attempt to force upon the party extreme mea-
sures will assuredly lessen its usefulness, and
weaken its hold upon the respect and confidence
of the country.
Simply as q question of humanity and Justice
to the negro, we hold that the course of the
radicals is impolitic. Despite the pleasure and
eXultation with which the great fact of emanci-
patton is regarded, there is an unmistakable
aversion to the projects of the negro.phobists,
so far as they imply special favorltism. AS to
the civil status OF the negro, we believe that
throughout the North but one opinion prevails.
1t is, that before the law, black and white shall
stand on an equality. 1t is, that whatever is
necessary shall be done to insure to the black
man every right that belongs to the white man,
In respect of labor, property, and all that per-
tains to the civil aspect of citizenship. For
more than these things, even the North is not
prepared. And to endeavor by legislation to
thrust more upon either section Is to keep
intn nCitU 10 faal m I'm
dice if you will-which too generally prevails
against color. Allow the natural results o
emancipation to develop themselves, and all
in due time will be well. Allow the freedman
to demonstrate his capacity as seltsustainne
laborer, and his fitness for the civil privileges
Of the citizen, and the prejudice against his race
will gradually disappear. The franchise may
then be granted with comparatively little oppo
sition. Meanwhile, however, the lot of the
freedman is made worse, and the prejudice
against him infinitely Increased, by such mea
sures as the Freedmen's Bureau bill aud the
Civil Rights bill--one organizing vast system
of pauperism, the other conferring upon the
black man degree of consideration never
thought of for the white man; both measures
violating principles and provisions of the Con
stituton, and undermining the ground on which
our national liberties have hitherto rested.
From another point of view, the radica
policy is fatal to the permanent strength anC
influence Of the Republican party. The exclu
sion in an unconstitutional manner of thu
Southern Senators and Representatives viii
operate disastrously upon Southern opinion
1t is policy of alienation, of aggravation
OF insult and of wrong, and as such will
bring forth bitter fruit in days not distant
For, after all, the admission of the South Il
Congress is merely a question of time. Th
exclusion may extend over one year, over TIVE
years, or more, but sooner or later it mus
terminate. AS prominent citizen o
Massachusetts is reported 10 have said, yol
must either eXterminate the Southern peopl
or restore to them their political rights. Their
is no alternative, save the overthrow of the nam
and forms of the republic. Ignoring the idef
of determination, then, the restoration of tn
South TO Congress Is a necessity, against whcl
radical theorists will in vain contend. TIL
very measures with which they hope to obtail
supremacy will hasten their discontinue And
depend upon 1t, when over the South shall re-ente
the Capitol, it will be as a unit against tn
party which shall be unjust enough, and insan
enough, to make the question of negro sufirag
paramount over all other things.
II the Union party in the Northern State
would avert defeat and the disasters which de
feat Involves, 1t must discard radical counsel
and demand of its candidates a faithful adhC
renee to the letter and spirit of the platform o.
which. as party, it has thus far stood. AS bt
tween the position of the President and the DC
sition Of the radicals in Congress, there is httl
choice is between a patriotic adherence to th
Constitution and reckless indifference to Coz
stItutional restraints, and the preference of tn
people will not long remain in doubt. Shall I'll
''rule or ruinn policy OF the ultraists IN Congre
be permitted to divide and destroy the gre,
party by whose favor they hold their seats