The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-05
Congress and the FAN Elections.

From the Times. ..i
The compromise arrived at by the Senate in
shaping the Reconstruction amendment gives
evident satisfaction to the great majority of the
Ulion party throughout the country. The effect
of the radical action in the House upon the fall
prospects OF the party has been gradual but
unmistaRab able. In every State in which elections
are by.and.by to come off, feeling OF appre
hension has been engendered which hardly
admitted OF mistake either as to the cause
or The result il toreshadoWed. From New
York to Illinois the conviction among Union
men has been that by submitting to the
dictation OF Mr.. Stevens, and by committing
themselves to the impracticable policy to
which he has required their adhesion. not a
few Congressional delegations were handing
over their respective States to the Democrats
1t has been tet that party pledged to the DIS
union theories and dsorganizing tactics OF the
radicals could not go before the constituencies
without a certainty OF defeat. For the Demo.
Gratis, Notwithstanding the remembrance of the
Chicago platform, would be enabled to make a
plausible pretense OF supporting President )hn.
son IN his plan of restoration; and with the
Union party divided, and the radical section
welding co1tro, the success OF the Democratic
candidates would almost every where be assured.
This has been partially changed by the Judi
cious and conciatory course OF the Senate in
eXpungng the sweeping measure Of dsfran-
chlsement, and Inserting a substitute which
Though not altogether unobiectonable, is, by
comparison, ILOuGEtIt anu CODCllldbOIy. By UllS
step the Senate have repudiated the proscrlptve
principles which the House radicals, with the
help OF the Copperheads, proposed to apply
against the Southern people, To this extent
good has been accomplished, And the more
hopeful tone OF CORES pondence from the States
in which elections will take place next autumn,
shows the impression produced upon the prOmi-
nent minds OF the party by the Senates resist
ance to at least one strong feature OF the radical
programme .....,.
1t must be confessed, however, that the salts
fac ion expressed 10 view Of the improved posi-
ton of the Union party IN the States proceeds
more upon what is yet hoped Tor than upon what
has already been accomplished. The substitu-
ton OF specific and limited disability tor whole
sale dlsiranchlscment Is good so tar as it goes
1T diVests the amendment OF its absurd selesCutl.
lying character. But ITS chief value consists in
the disposition it indicates on the part OF the
Union Senators to act independently OF Mr..
Stevens dictation, and to pursue a course which
shall heal party dvisl ons and bridge the chasm
which has of late separated the majority OF Con-
gress from the President Herein lies the real
significance OF the decision OF the Senate. What
it promises is OF more Importance than what 1t
performs. And it is with reference TO further
and more complete reconciliation and modera.
tion that the active members or the Union party
in the several States beglu to gather the COnd.
denCe and courage which are essential to sue
cess. Their hopes are predicated on the expec-
tation that the better spirit evinced by the
Senate, III dealing with the Constitutional
amendment, will be so tar cultivated as to re
btO4C uol hOhJ W JllC puib9 anu W pldON IL DC
fore the country with an established right to the
appelation of the Union party.
ITO certain class, no doubt, these consideration
may seem unworthy, and therefore inadmisslble
They who maintain that great party should
be prepared TO die rather than abandon
crotchcts, which only fraction OF its member
ever possessed, may object to course which
points TO Cancellation ard compromise as tn,
means OF preventing overwhelming defeat at tn
polls. But Congress cannot afford to ignor
popular opinion and to defy the popular iudp
ment. 1t must conciliate or be itself recon
structed. 1t must meet the prevailing deman,
for party unity, based upon concession, as tn
precursor of national unity, based upon tn
Constitution, or exchange a majority OF /,
members for members Indifferent to Mr.. ST.
Vens whip. The fact may not be fattering G
pleasant to gentlemen who think that becau,
1hey ride hobbies they may override eyeTybod
and everything. But that it is fact an
person who watches the tone Of the local pre-
and the movements of the local politician
must be prepared TO admit. The question +
manning 10 be decided is, whether the hopes
reconciliation recently excited shall be veri6t
or frustrated; and upon the answer to this que
tion the issues IN the States depend.