The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-05
Order or Anarchy.


1t is the misfortune of many public men, with
the President al the head Of them, that they
have no ideaofa radical and general change of
national opinion. Twenty-Five years ago, an
Abolitonist was denounced as fanatic in the
most respectable quarlers-in Courts OF Justice,
Legislatures, Congress and churches, not to
mention the political conventions and the por-
te1-houses while nine commercial men out of
ten united to swell the chorus of censure. Such
petulence was not then absolutely foolish, for it
had a zeal object and genuine though indefen-
slble purpose; but 1t is somewhat OF a tax upon
our patience 10 listen now to the untlmely repe-
tition OF nicknames applied with ludicrous So
lemnlty or undignihed anger to a large ma
jorlty OF the inhabitants of the country. Slavery
is abolished .H ...
An intelligent man like Mr.. Peter Cooper,
whose letter to Mr.. johnson We were GLAD the
other day to publish accepts the TACT, takes his
stand upon II, and makes no attempt to get
round it, under il, or over it. He is content
TO ask himself and others what new public and
private duties are to be inferred from this fun
damentai social change; while towards are
shrieklDg their apprehensions, while Copper
head politicians are bewalling the alteration,
while indomitable Southern aristocrats are
seeking to save some fragments OF responsible
authority out OF the fire, this honorable New
York merchant-we hope that we have
many like him-begins Immediately and con-
scentiously to inquire what legislation is
and truly freedmen in fact. We make note OF
this, because we are sure that the prosperity
and safety OF the country demand general and
hearty acquiescence in the vital change which
the violence of secession rendered it impossible
longer to postpone. Now the question comes
up, IN naked simplicity, whether we are to oe
| apostates to those principles OF democracy
| which we profess to revere, or whether we shall
! Courageously carry them oHt TO their fullest
| extent. .
To do this, we admit, requires little bravery.
| Already, the alarmists are bringing out their
| largest and most ingeniousy horrible bugbears.
| MAJOR Wood rides this monster and Senator
| Dooltte that: General Dix has his doubts and
| while Mr.. Weed mods as gravely as Lord Bur
| leigh, the ItnleS and the World, great news
! papers and little ones, are proud to nod in such
| excellent company. These gentlemen and these
| journals will not see that reasonable hostility
| to the United States has varied its tactics, and
| is now seeking to postpone peace, in the hope
| that something diabolical may turn up by grand
| and petty persecution of the freedman. The
advantage Of this is palpable. Just so long as
there is anything to dispute about they keep
| up quasi condition as a superior class: they
| keep down the vital principle of social equality
and OF equality before the law; they color
legislation to suit their own purposes; and tn ey
can always, whenever they are ready tor another
| Rebellion, have subject OF dispute with the
intelligent and really Republican masses of the
North. While they keep ''the social power
which Mr.. Johnson once said 'must be de-
stroyed," they can at any time put their States
into position OF autagonsm to the general
Government voting always in cliques and in
families; by their votes swaylng the destinies Of
their respective States, and making chronic the
quarrel between truth and talsehood, equity ana
injustice, actual and merely nominal freedom.
II is useless 10 talk OF anything as ,'settled"
while Southern society is In this un6xed and ab-
normal condition. Settled is beautiful word
but we have heard it too often to be deceived
by it now. Things were "setted" when Con
gress threw out the ant-slavery petitions when
the Fugitive Slave law was passed-when the
Compromise measures were manufactured into
Statutes when judge Taney gave his great Dred
Scott decision-When Mr.. Buchanan was elected
to the Presidency. We played over and ovel
again the childish came OF lac5-n-a'boX; wC
pressed down the little joker and instantly he
was up again as fresh and lively as ever. Al
our flax, aud we had plenty oft, didn't put ou
the fire. II anything, matters are now more
complicated than ever, because we have {
nominal emancipation which cruelty anC
hatred prejudice and rage, revenge and Oh
stlnacy will all combine to make the bitteres
! and the most dangerous of delusons. The onl,
safety is in establishing justice;" out, it W