The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-01

MOderRting Tone of Public Sentiment
FROM the Times
In the political campaigns which are now in
progress in New York and Pennsylvania and in
several of the Western States, we are glad TO sec
more moderate, conservative, and pacific tone
beginning to prevail While Congress was in
session, the constant appeals of members to
violent passions and party preiudices kept the
popular mind in state of the most perilous ex
citement; and during the later summer months
we have had several political whirlwinds that
have swept over the country with fury which
threatened general destruction. The language
used on the stump and in the press has been OF
acharacter unknown IN the political contests of
former times. We have always, it is true, been
accustomed to loud and clustering talk upon
such occasions; and the frothy dlatribes OF
Democratic and Whig partisans often reached
cllmaXes as lofty as they we're ludiCrous, But,
after all, there were bounds beyond which they
never stepped. All parties were agreed upon
certain general principles, in which were en-
Draced the fundamental doctrines OF the Gov
ernment and the continuance of peaceful and
friendly relations under ali circumstances.
But, during the past year, we have had in
tionary appeals, the most ferocious and SAN
culinary threats, all poured forth under an ex-
citement as intense as the frenzy of war itself.
The very tOunoation principles of our political
structure have been unscrupuously assailed as
OF no account, and the invectives and menaces
against the administrators OF our public affairs
nave been such as are uttered only by revolu-
uOnists against the most intolerable tyrants In
TACT, what we have been hearing from radical
sources has been more like the wild language
we listened to just before the outbreak OF the
great Rebellion, than like anything ever before
known in the country. Those VINO suppose
that this sort OF thing has no influence upon
the popular mind and the public action, ignore
Inc iacts OF our own times and the lessons of
history; and those who imagine that it does not
at the same time give certain indications of
heated and dangerous condition of affairs in
the country, overlook the way in which it is re.
celyed and the nature of the results it produces.
We are sure no intelligent and dspassionate
observer has been able to regard without alarm
the extreme violence of partisan displays during
The last year. 1t is evident tot nose acquainted
with human nature and the workings of the
human passions, that its continuance would
make impossible the continuance of peace and
the permanent existence OF our free institutions
Ihe one and the other depend upon the control
OF reason in our political affairs, and its ascend
ancy IN the public mind. They depend upon
the prevalence OF spirit of compromise moral
conservatism, and reverence for law In the
country. They are utterly incompatible with
Inc spirit or the language of violence and vim
9lcuVeness OF ultraism or sectionalism which
nave Deen displayed by such men as Stevens
Butler, Brownlow, and others of like kidney.
II there mas been within q short time mode
Iatng OF the intensity of political language and
ieeling-and there can be no doubt that thke
has been, at least in this State-it may be attyi-
Duted to variety of causes. Chief among these
Is tne very powerful and pervasive influence
that has sprung from the course of the national
conservatives. 1t has been felt in O thousand
ways and thousand directions. The great
strenGth OF the conservative movement acted a.
warning to the more extreme leaders and
restrained them in pressing the more violent of
ther schemes; while the people at large have
Deen compelled, upon reflection, to admit the in
Irinsic justice OF the main positions that the CON
serVatlVes assumed. The general approval which
Is now given to the Constitutional amendment as
: basis of political settlement between the
= hh. an, and the lately rebellous States, are
proofs Of this. IL only requires that this ground
be adhered to consistenI,S oy tne dominant
party until the states of the So0sH aso come up |
TO it. to insure, in due season, cessation Of tne
wild and threatening turmoil from which the |
country has SO long and grleyously suffered. |
Then, again, we think the reaction OF feeling
has been helped along by the very extravaganza |
of the madness of those who have lately taken J
hold of the work OF iaHaining the public mind
10 the revolutionary point The horrible pro-
positions of such men as BrownloW can never
be accepted by any great body OF Americans. |
The American mind springs from the concep
tion of q doctrine to its practical execution and
results; and by its very nature it revolts from
the realization of such scenes of carnage and
desolatt as these madmen suggest. The only
Otner ground we Will mention Tor the remarSa-
BILE phenamenon of the moderating of political
passion even in the midst OF a political cam
paign, is the assurance that is felt on all hands
of the approaching triumph of the Republican
Union party, both IN this State and Pennsyl-
vania, as we'll as in the West. OF the fact itself
there are few doubters among astute politicians,
and the rank and file of both parties are as we'll
aware of it as their leaders. And the influence
OF this assured triumph in moderating the tone
and language of the more radical members of
the party, will be easily understood by those
who are In the habit of watching the course of
parties under analogous circumstances.
We rejoice profoundly over even the appear
ance of anything like moderating of the un-
happy temper which has of late acquired such
power in our poliucs. If the glorious lustitu-
fions of our country are 10 be maintained in per-
petuity, it must be through the dominance of
reason, not of passion.