The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-04
MGgnanimity-Beech wise and other
wise.

M"gnanimity-Beech hor-NIse and other
wise.
From the Tribune.
We have been most anxious that, in the set
tlement of our great National difference, the
North should deal generously with the South.
Only let slavery be utterly annIhilated-root,
branch, and suckers-and no cost could be too
great to insure perfect reconcilement of those
so lately divided by the maddening strife of
civil war. We labored and dared-not once
only but persistently-to have that strife ended
by negotiation or treaty which should define
the rights of all parties, and preclude the posi-
bilty of considerations and executions tor treason.
Indeed, we should have much perlerred that the
last billion of dollars that the war cost should
have been expended in rebuilding and replen-
ishing the homes of the South rather than in
continuing their devastation. So, when at last
the Rebellion had utterly collapsed and fallen
into absolute ruin, our first thought was
to save those engaged in 1t from fur
ther infections, our hTst utterance
magnanimity. At the moment when the assas-
sination OF President Lincoln had inturiated the
loyal millions, so that their ears were tempo
rarily deaf to the plcadings of mercy, when An
drew johnson, the Herald, the Times and other
Johnsonan oraces were declaring that 'trea-
son must be made Odious" by vengeance and
bIoodshed, we did our utmost to calm the popu-
lar fury which they were so needlessly aggra-
waiting, and pleaded for conciliation and peace.
Thousands of subscribers lett us, therefore.
never to return; hundreds of grieved but for
bearing friends wrote us that we were defymg
public sentiment-as if we did not know the
fact or if that TACT might influence our course.
Even down to very late day, the fact that we
were seeking to have Jefferson Davis either
promptly and fairly tried according to the laws
OF the land, or liberated with his fellow insur-
gents, has been used oy the Times and its echoes
to excite against us the bitterest prejudice
throughout the loyal States.
But there is Just one test of magnanimity
that we cannot abide, and that is the surrender
of the black Unionists to the uncontrolled
domination OF their white enemies. We can
not, even TOR magnanlmlty's sake, be faithless
and ungrateful. The four millions of Southern
blacks were called to her defense by the nation
in her hour of mortal peril. They we're pro-
missed their freedom in case of her triumph;
and our honor is pled5ed to the complete fulfil
ment of that pledge. Whatever Of sacrifice,
pecuniary or otherwise, may be required, the
guarantees that their liberty is no snare and
no accident. The promise given in the agony
of impending national dissolution must be kept
in the full sunshine of national deliverance
and prosperity. Two hundred thousand blacks
are enlisted to fight for the Union, of whom
twenty eight thousand died in her service, and
they cannot, in full view of Memphis and New
Orleans, be left to such treatment as those they
enlisted to put down shall see tit to accord
them, without the blacklist perfdy and ingra-
titude. The magnanimity OF guardian who
mistress, trusting that she would deal gene
rously by the righttul owner, must not be imi-
tated by our rescued country.
The trio of generals who invite Mr. Beecher
to pray at Cleveland for the success OF Johnson
ism, treat this matter with a most eloquent
silence Knowing how thoroughly their chap
lain's honor and tame are bound up in the
national recognition OF the manhood OF the
blacks, they do not even venture to assure min
that ii such rare blrd as Johnsonised Rlack
Union soldier could be found, he shouN b(
tIrNV
They talk OF "lhe rights OF all sections" but have
never a word TO offer for the rights of all men
They commend "a generous and magnanimou
policy towards the people OF the South" bu
they manifestly fail to recognize four millions o
those people people at all. They want the
Union reconstructed on a basis of "ChristiaI
brotherhood" but they plainly fail to recognize
blacks as included in that brotherhood o.
entitled to any rights but such as the Rebels, a
once eXasperated and chaerned by their over
whelming defeat, see bit to bestow on them
The Generals do not recognize even the over
throw OF slavery. On Mr., Beecher is thus I'm
posed a task harder than there any need OF
They might and should have offered him SOM
excuse, some pallaton, for his betrayal of tn
rights of the humble, prosecuted, suffering ma
lions who have long believed in and trusted hin
as their advocate and champion. 1t was un
generous, because unnecessary, on their part, t
render his apostasy so bare, so black, so hateful
so hldeous. In pity, if not in decency the
should have put something into their letter i'm
plying or insinuating an assurance that h
Gods poor and shaming the honorable record {
his past years. Bot military life is apt to blur
the finer sensibilities.
Mr. Beecher, thus wantOnly exposed, doe
his very best. If it were not for facts OF gla
ing notoriety he would have achieved a success
"The excluded population he. says, zero
more irritable" No. Mr.. Beecher, the onl
population OF our country to-day excluded fro
the right OF selt-government are the blacks, an
they do not grow more irritable" The viii
eX-Rebels have reconstructed their sever
States, and now rule them with rod of irol
so that white Unionists are fleeing thence
thousands. Bitter impenitent Rebels are no
ruling most OF them as Governors; Rebel gen
rails and Colonies fill nearly every desirab
office, and stand ready to step into Congre
whenever your johnson party snail triumph
the loyal States. But the four millions OF 10y
Southerners guilty OF being horn black have
voice in the Government they shed their blo
to uphold, and no shadow OF power even
those States where they constitute majority
the entire population. And Johnsonism Is tu
resolved that, with your help, they never sh
have. That is clearly the ''being's end a
aim OF your Cleveland Convention.
All your talk of danger being apprehend
from the admission of Southern menb TO CC
gress is deceptive and misleading. What
object to is the representation of Southern al
tocracy and rebellion to the exclusion of Sou
ern labor and loyalty. Mr.. Stewart OF Neva
last winter, proposed in the Senate a settlem
of all our remaining differences on the basis
universal amnesty and Impartial suffrage.
..t one commanding voice was raised from
South in its favor. The men whom what
call ''the South have been taught to abhor
dread would gladly have closed the controve
.. on that basis; but 'the South" spurned
suggestion. And now you excuse 'the Sou
a and blame us
Your military friends having no word of h
for the freedmen, you are constrained TO dra
the unwelcOme topic. You scout the idea