The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-06
A PARALLEL

From The Daily NeaoS.
The demonstrations of Joy and gratitude with
which our people are wont to celebrate the ami
versary of the day that ushered their republic
into existence should be encouraged, for, if
offered in sincerity, they serve TO perpetNate the
sentiment that inspired the patriots OF old when
they proclaimed their Olsen nthralment from
foreign yoke. But we have gained nothing
beyond memories OF a glorious past, if having
been reclaimed from the sway oil the mother
country we permit the tm bulence and amb ion
o. factions at home TO impose a despoJsm
equally oppressive and humiliating. The record
OF the great republics that have lived and
peTished before us attest that it is easier TO
achieve independence Than to preserve il. The
men who purchased liberty with their blood,
who earned il by their v9lor, forCltude, and such
sacriches as only pure and devoted patriotism
Will endure, appreciate its worth, and guard 1T
with the vigilance OF the mariner who, having
weatbered the storm, knows that the ship still
floats upon tickle ocean, ana tnat the calm
waters may again be troubled.
But those 10 whom the priceless inheritance
comes as gilt are too apt to underyalue the
inestimable treasure. Our 1oretathers be-
queathed to us the pure gold Of republcanism,
tried in the crucibles OF deadly conflict; but
let reflect uIon our political condition
to-day, and confess that we have permitted the
virgin ore to be contaminated with base alloy.
The principles that inspired the men of '76 have
established ninety years ago has been repu-
dated and the most precious gems that graced
the broWs of the fair goddess OF our nat onality
have been torn away by the violence OF faction,
and their places supplied with false stones ard
tinse that glimmer through the darkness OF
anarchy and lanaticism with pale, unsteady,
ana deceptive light. Well may we paraphrase
the Italians lament:-Rond! honed! Roma
Non q pio como era prifld.
The same outrages that we're perpetrated by
Great Britain upon the American colonies, and
that finally kindled the Revolutionary fires that
eventually burst into the blaze of freedom, have
Eeen repeated by the radicals in Congress upon
the Southern people.
They have refused to pass laws for the accom-
mediation of large districts of people, unless
those people would relinquish the right of repre-
sentation in the legislature-a right inesimable
to Them and formidable to tyIants only.
They have erected multitude of new offices
and sent to the South swarms of officers to
haTass the Southern people and eat out theiI
substance.
They have affected to render the military indie
pendent OF, and superior to, the civil power:
They have impos ed taxes upon the Southern
people without their consent
They have taken away their charters, abo
lished their most valuable laws, and have
altered fundamentally the powers of theil
governments. They have suspended Southern
legislatures they have declared themselves in
vested with power to legslate for the South in
all cases whatever,
We have but quoted the enumeration oi
\ wrongs against which our fathers protested in
the Declaration of independence, and we appeal
| to the record OF the present Congress to show
that the result is faithful representation OF the
! policy pursued towards the South. What, then
| must have been the mood Of the Southern peo
pie on Wednesday in their celebrations of the
anniversary of the republics birth? The words
OF the Declaration of Independence, if they had
the heart to read or TO listen to that sublime
production OF pure patriotism must have keenly
reminded them of their own condition deprived
Of their republicanism, denied represel ltation,
governed by Federal military commissions and
@ e agThos @ rs Vi reuelaa anu suplecteu 70
faction. The celebration of the Fourth of July
must have been to them, under the circum'
stances, a painful solemnizatlon of their own
misfortune and subugation. We trust that the
radical members of Congress did not neglect on
Wednesday the customary iormalty OF attending
the lecture OF the Declaration of independence;
the parallel between their policy and that OF the
British Government ninety years ago is sug-
gestiVe.