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

The Democratic Senators and Representatives
who have signed the address iavorng the Union
Convention are obviously acting not ia their
character of Congressman, not even in their
character of Democrats, but in the character OF
simple citizens. The issue of a political address
by members of Congress is an old usage which
has been obsolete for whole generation. Since
the era of national conventions, the delegates to
those bodies have, in their collective capacity,
been the cons tituted organs for expressing the
views OF their respective parties and the national
committees which they appoint have been the
regular authority for issuing calls for tie assem-
bling OF conventions. Members OF Congress,
when nominated by the district conventions,
are selected without reference to oIher political
duties than such as devolve on them as members
of the National Legislature. 1t may be true that
their representative capacity makes them the
proper opponents of party views in an uueX.
pected emergency; but they cannot be deemed
representatives OF their party when they assist
in movement which looks to the building up
OF new organization. As citizens, they have
perfect right to favor or participate in any poll
tical movement they chooses; but having been
delegated with no authority for that purpose,
| they neither represent (nor bind) anybody but
| themselves.
The probable purpose of the Philadelphia
| Convention Is to form new political party.
| The political views expressed both in the call
and the address are such as no true Union man
| can take exception to; and the question whether
| a new party is the fttest means or desirable
| adjunct 10 other means, for giving them effect,
is fair topic of discussion. Even If, alter full
discussion and consideration, it should be de-
| cided in the affirmative, that affirmative deci-
| sion does not dissolve the Democratic party.
| The Philadelphia Convention, most obviously
| will have no commission to do anything OF the
| kind. Whatever may be its success, it is not
called by the Democratic party, has no authority
| to speak for the Democratic party; it cannot in
any way bind or restrain the free action of the
| Democratic party, eXerted through It's customary
channels. The Democratic party is patriotic
compact, and time-honored organization. 1t
made the history OF the country so long as that
history was glorious. 1t has consistently che
rished all the aims proposed by the leaders of
the new movement; and up TO the present mo-
| ment has been the chief hope of the country.
1t is not a supposable case that this honored
| organization can be abandoned.
| If the new movement should have the greatest
success conceivable, it cannot supplant the De-
mocratic party. At best, it will only run paral-
| lei with 1t. The Democratic State Conventions,
| the Democratic Congressional District Conven-
tions, and, in due time, the Democratic National
| Convention, will he held precisely as II the new
| movement had not been inaugurated. If the
proposed Convention proves a success, it will,
| of course, appoint National Central Commit
| tee, with the usual power to call Conventions,
| and will proceed to perfect its party machinery
! by appointing local committees in the several
States. If it chooses TO hold its conventions at
the same times and places as those of the
Democratic party, mutual committees of con.
terence may bring their actions, as distinct
bodies into harmony. If things shall take this
turn, and reach this result, the new movement
may serve good purpose. 1t will then form an
| important branch OF an allied army against the
| common enemy.
Tie political value of this new movement de.
| pends upon two possibilities. President john
son may identify himself with the party it
proposes to organize, and give it his vigorous
| support. This is one possibility The Union
loving people of the United States may regard
with great partiahty and favor party organized
in opposition to the radicals, and of which the
| President acknowledges himself as the head
This is the other possibility. If both of these
| possibilities should ripen into facts, the move
ment now naugurated may prove of great
| public utility. The reluctance thus far evinced
| by the President to separate himself from the
political party by whose votes he was elected,
has been the chief difficulty of the political
situation. But for this, the Democratic party
land with 1t his policy would have triumphed
in the spring elections. In consequence of this
the influence and prestige of the President have
been used to elect radical governors and legis-
latures So far as the purpose of the philadelphia
| convention is to construct bridge on which
the President can retreat fIom the party afflia-
tions by which he has thus far been bound all
| conservative citizens must approve of it. We
presume this will be the practical effect of the
| Philadelphia Convention, If the numbers, cou-
rage, enthusiasm, and geographical distribution
OF lis members shall furnish evidence OF strong
| popular support.
1t is not in the power of few public men to
inaugurste political party at their will. Par
ties are not made, but grow. Political conjurors
may "call spirits from the VastY deep, but 1t
avails nothing II the spirits will not come. III
the people shall regard this movement with
favor nothing can obstruet its success. II is
their preIogatiye to form new parties; and on
them II depends whether the new movement
shall be success, or the futile effort of leaders
who have no following. The ends it u proposes
make it respectable; and the favor and indoTse-
ment OF the people will render 1t important