The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-11
The Sources of Peril and the Means of
Peace.

Means
Peace.
From the Times
There are, as we have said, two parties or
factions, whose principles and plans are mimi
cal to the peace and prosperity of the country.
The demagogues who press upon Congress mea-
sures involving the reduction of the South to
the status of conquered territory, and who adj
VOcate negro suffrage on grounds that would be
fatal to the rights and selcgoverning power of
every State in the Union, form one, and that
perhaps, the most prolific source of peril. The
noisIest champions of the Executive who re
commend the adoption of violent measures to
overcome Congressional opposition, and to
secure for the South unconditional admission,
make up the other side of the danger with
which we are threatened. Both oppose the
Constitutional amendment-one because it falls
short of the extreme measures with which
many of the radicals would preCede the
restOrati on OF the Union; the other because it
imposes penalties upon prominent Rebels and
illustrates schemes that are essential to the
future success of the Democratic party. Both
moreover, contemplate the occurrence of q con-
tingency IN which armed force would be relied
upon to solve the great problems of the day.
Whether the radicals in Congress get rid of the
Presidents opposition by impeachng and de-
posing HIM, and then push forward their plans
to consummation, or whether on the Presidents
side force be employed to resist and nullity the
action OF Congress, as certain of his Copper
mead advisers propose-the result will be the
same. Either course would entail the gravest
complications, and not improbably a renewal OF
civil war, under circumstances different from
those OF our late struggle.
1t is folly to ignore these contingencies as not
likely to occur. We will not say that they are
probable, Tor we have not lost faith in the
ability or the disposition of the great body of
the people TO hOld both classes of extremists in
check. But the tendency OF great part Of the
current political discussion is Hnhappily in the
direction of turmoil and trouble. Not only is
there no approach to healing of existing dit
1erences, but there is a constant desire to mul-
tiply aud aggravate them. Predictions and
threats are echoed defanty Radical and Cop.
perhead-both talk OF further strife and blood
she'd as matters OF course; as things which must
reCur sooner or later, before the country settl
down to permanent peace, and which had
therefore better come soon. General Butler
considers them inevitable in 1869, and avows
preference 1or 1867; and the extremists on
the other side seem TO entertain similar choice.
The chief strength of these mischtef-makers,
be they radical or Democratic, lies in the indif-
ference or inCredulity of the people. The same
feeling prevailed six years ago. Few then
attached Importance to the threats OF the fire.
eaters, or realized the crisis which was imm
nent. So it is to-day. The explosive force of
the elements which aIe at work is underesti-
mated. The possibility of collision, of conflict,
OF civil war, is not acknowledged. The causes
which operate in that direction are passed over
as OF no immediate Importance aud the iuiu-
ences that are most likely TO bring it about are
persistently disregarded. Hence ulGralsm makes
more headway than would otherwise be posi-
Ge. The Butler radicals assume the airs OF a
real power-the dictator OF terms 10 the ruling
party, and the author OF policy which 1t must
unhesitatngly accept. In the same way, the
advocates or forclble inteTpostion by the Exc
c9tlVe presume upon the concurrence Of all
who have approved OF the general scope of the
Presidents policy in the South. They assume
that the friends of thh immediate restoration
OF the South will acquiesce in whatever the
a. fTN Gr,1l 1l,,,,,
sentatlon in Coneress and that as between
the President and Congress, they will sustain
the former even to the extent Of revolutionary
measures.
In these circumstances the conservatism of
the country is bound to do all that is possible
to make itself felt well against the fanaticism
which Butler breaches as against that other
ISM which, under the pretense Of upholdng the
Constitution, would ignore the nights pertain
ing to Congress. The signs OF the times are too
OminOus OF evil to admit Of prolonged apathy.
To allow matters to DRIFT, none knows whittier,
is, IN effect, TO invite the conflict which every
good citizen cannot but deprecate. More than
mere censure is necessary. Effort is needed to
cOunteract the doings of demagogues, aud TO
assert for the moderate men of the country the
controlling influence to which they are entitled.
Party demonstrations are not required for the
purpose. Brownlow and Butler may be neu-
tralzed without descending to their level on
the stump. The maign counsels which endan-
ger the Presidents position may be rendered
lmpotent without subserVlency or intrigue.
OHly leC IL De unueTSlOOu IndI Tue country VIII
not tolerate the beginning of revolution, by
whomsOever attempted, and the extremists of
both classes will find themselves effectually
frustrated.
And how may conservatism make itself most
decidedly felt? We answer, by showing that the
North is a unit in supports Of the Constitutional
amendment as basis of compromises means
OF satisfying the demand for guarantees on one
hand, and on the other of reducing to reason
able limits the sacrifices to be made by the
South. Any doubt in regard to the attitude of
the North upon this point will serve to confirm
Executive opposition, and to mislead the South
ern States. Remove doubt-prove inContesta-
bly, that the North, while neither harsh nor ex-
acting in its requirements, is firm in its resolve
to maintain the great issues of the war-and the
South will discover the futillty OF reliance upon
any party or person not in harmony with the
action OF the people on the subject. An en-
lightened seltinterest may then be expected t.
dictate the ratification OF the amendment, which
rs but another method Of expressing the accept
anCe OF the inevitable. And the amendment
ratified, and the South restored to the Union
the danger which now menaces the peace OF th,
country will be ended.