The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-20
From the IRdependent.

from me (huepeR0eRt.
Like molten wax, the public mind of this
country is row ready Tor the stamp either of
impartial justice OF of dishonoraole COM
promise.
The Democratic party has been overthrown-
thank God The Republican party is wholly re-
sponsible Tor the reconstruction OF the Union
on the basis of political equality. If the re-
sponsibility is momentous, the opportunity is
illUstrIous. Having no enemy but ITSELF the
Republican party has now nothing TO fear but
its own cowaIdlce or folly. Like all other par
ties, it lacks neither CO owards nor fools. Its
co wards are those VIII o have courage enough to
follow multitude, but not courage enough to
follow principle Its fools are such as those
" hom CHRIST described as ''sloW of heart to
believe" Patent is the fact that the people are
in the van of their leaders. Is Congress more
radical than the people? The people are more
radical than Congress. Bo and noble was the
last Congress in &C nironting all questions but
the chief OF questions. We solemnly believe
that il Congress shall offer to the South, as the
one and final condition of admission, general
amnesty and impartial suffrage, the American
people will respond with an applaudng echo
like that which saluted Mr.. LlncOlns Proclama-
ton OF Emancipation. Equal and exact Justice
is now the dictate both OF conscience and COM
mon sense.
Here and there a stray Republican convention
has undertaken to say that If the Southern
States, shall ratify the pending Constitutional
| amendment they shall then, without further
| condition, oe readnitted to Congress- But this
| pledge does not bind Congress. For instance,
| what power had the late Republican conven-
| ton at Syracuse to pass resolutions binding
| Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner? Or
| does .any one suppose that General Butler is
| now taking the trouble to get elected N the
| torheth Congress for the simple sake of ioin-
ing in an invitation to the New Orleans riot
| ers 10 be readmitted on The basis of the pend.
| ing amendment? Undoubtedly a large sec
uon oil the Republican party-particularly the
returned backsliders headed by the Ne " York
ItGleS-Would make merry at seeing the South
EN- States brought back on such conditions.
There would be frOlic az the White House over
such defeat OF the radicals. lfimpartial suf-
traee be not eXacted next winter, then the fair
fame OF the Thirty-ninth Congress will lapse
from partial into total eclipse. Already the
best portion of the late Democratic party have
joined with the Republicans In voting for the
pending amendment II the Republican party
has no higher aim than the Democratlc-no
nobier purpose that the reconstruction of the
Union on basis of moral cowardice and mean
ness-n might as well take staG and scallop,
anH lace back wards towards the Middle ages.
: Inc Nauonal Committee Of the Republican
party lately issued an address to prove tlat
SonSIesS, ana Congress alone, has the power 10
dlctale tne terms OF reconstruction: and vet this
III adn ln 'nfs same address, presumes to
= eress Is to propose and accept The radical
party both North and South, rejects IN inada
, quate programme of the National Committao
5 The radical party refuses to be bound by any
y pledges which do not include impartial suffrage
Let 1t be distinctly known, both in thos,
States which have held their elections, and il
q those which are yet to hold them, that the radi
cal members OF the 39th and 40th Congresse
: will not stand pledged to dishonor themselye
g or their country, by compromising the politics
r rights of four million black citizens, for Tn
y sake of making Mr.. Alexander H. Stephens
d Federal Senator from Georgia
,e Sacred will be the duty devolving on the Ns
tional Legislature next winter to, declare tbs
4 no State of the waiting ten shall be admitted
81 seat except on condition of the political eou,
n lity of all classes OF its citizens. The radio
q Aparty will not soil its banner'by any less homo
70 Knble legend than Equal Rights for All. And
lie this sign it shall conquer,