The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-13


From the Times
The results of the late elections show very
clearly that the contest has been almost pre-
cisely as it was two years ago, between the
Democratic and the Union parties. The diff
ferences between Congress and the President
have had no perceptible influence upon the party
divisions of the past four or five years. Nor has
the Philadelphia Convention, strong as was the
impression which it made at the outset upon the
public mind, produced any marked effect upon
political organizations in the several States
where elections have been held On the one
side is the old Democratic vote, increased or
diminished somewhere here and there by local
influences, and on the other is the,Union ma
Jorlty, stronger on the whole than ever before
and not at all affected either by the strong
appeals made 10 its judgment and reason, or by
the influence and patronage of the General
Government brought to bear upon 1t. IL is un-
doubtedly true that the whole power of the Ad-
ministraton has been thrown against the
Republican party; yet that power, great as it
always is, has been able to effect absolutely
nothing III the general result.
The reason OF this is found in the fact that it
mas been thrown in favor of the Democratic
party, as organized and directed during the
war. 1t has not been used with primary regard
to the principles and policy of the Administra-
ton itself. The Philadelphia Convention set
forth what we believe to be the Administration
platform was not made the basis of political
action by the Administration itself or by any
Dody else. 1t was simply surrendered to the
Democratic party as stepping.stOne to power.
The leaders of that party seized upon il for
that use. Their subsequent action proved con-
clusively that their motives in accepting and
endorsing 1t were partisan-that they sought,
not so much the restoration of the Union as
the REORGANIZATION and reinstatement of their
own party.
The Philadelphia Convention gave the country
basis of restoration upon the principles set
tied by the war-and to this the South gave its
unanimous, sincere, and cordial assent. IT the
Democrats of the North had accepted it with
the same sincere desire for the public good, it
would have been indorsed and reaffirmed by the
people. But they did nothing Of the sort. They
took it as part OF their own stock in trade.
They seized It as the ladder upon which they
were to climb back again into the high places
from which they had been expelled. Designed
as great national movement, for the attain.
ment of national ends it became, IN their hands,
tool for the attainment OF partisan purpose
for the resumption of official place and party
power
Unfortunately the friends of the Administra-
tion lent themselves to the project Demo-
cratic committees and Democratic candidates
repaired 10 Washington and demanded of the
Administration the aid of its patronage and
Its influence for their party purposes, and 1t was
very largely accorded to them. Democrats of
CopIerhead antecedents were appointed to
othce-not universally, perhaps ten through
inadvertence and lack OF inormation-but
upon the application of Democratic leaders,
far more anxious to restore their party to
power than to serve the Administration
or save the Union. The same men,
acting from the same motives, secured Demo-
cratic nominations for State offices and for Con-
gress, wherever they had chances OF success,
and the whole current OF political action ran
in the same direction.
The natural effect OF all this was to produce
upon the public mind the conviction that the
ann OF the Administration was to restore the
Democratic party to poower; and as this convic.
tiOn grew the political power of the Adminlstra-
tion dwlnded until it absolutely ceased, as the
result shows, to have any perceptlble influence
upon the elections whatever. There is one
thing upon which the people have made up
their minds, and neither the President nor any
other power can change it, and that is that the
restoration of the Union shall not be intrusted
to the men who tried to destroy it by war, nor
to those who failed to resist that attempt by all
the means in their power. This determination
may not be logical nor constitutional nor
strictly in accordance with the rights of States
and sections; but it is instructive and uncon-
querable. Once let it be distinctly understood
that the Democratic party is not to be restored
to its old ascendancy, and the people will be
liberal, Just, aud generous in their adjustment
of all political differences; but so long as that
point is left in doubt, they Will be exacting and
intolerant upon all. The late elections. show
that they intend TO have guarantees upon that
point first; and nothing is likely TO be gained
in any quart er or by any party, by resisting
and deiying their VIII.