The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-27

RepubhcaDism and Christian Civilization.
A CONSERVATIVES" organ that invested
heavily in the "nigger" cry during the late
campaign, and failed to realize thereon,
mourns over the result, and assigns the follow
ing singular reason TOR it, v-1
1--WE have repeatedly spoken of the fact that
the radical politicians control to very great
extept all the instrumentalties which mould
the opinions of men. Churches, schools, books,
magazines, and-more potent than all others
the newspaper press have been subsidized to 4
fearful extent, and we night almost as we'll sup
pose that persons would grow up Christians in
a Mohammedan community,las to expect the
youth of our nominally free States to nave
true ideas of political affairs, when nearly all
their teachings are false and sophisticsL"
We wonder that it never occurs to people
who use language like the above, to inquire
,chy It happens that "all the instrumentalities
which mould the opinions of men, churches,
schools, books, magazines, and the newspaper
press" are so generally upon the side OF the
Republicans 1t is true that in the extract
above the word "subsSdtzed" is used, but that
is evidently merely rhetorical, as everybody
knows that the subsidizing influences, such
as Federal patronage, offices, and the like,
are mainly in the hands OF our opponents.
The fact remains, and it is worthy of conside-
ration, that the great levers of public opinion
are, to wonderful extent in the hands of
those who sympathize with the Republican
party. In fact all Of the liberal, growing,
progressive elements Of our Christian civil
cation are with it. The Republican party
has grown to power and greatness through
its appeal to the intelligence and moral con-
victions of the masses. 1t has educated the
people up to its standard.
The explanation of all this is very easy.
The principles of the Republican party are
based upon SIMPLE justice. They are the fun
damental doctrines which lie at the basis of
the liberty of the individual and of the self
government OF the State. They are the essen
tial principles OF our form of government.
They are those elements in our national life
which have made us prosperous, free, and
great. Every man indorses Republican doc
trines when he has his own rights to defend.
1t is only when his selfish instincts prompt
him to deny to his neighbors the same rights
which, as a man, he claims for himself, that he
becomes self-styled conservative, or pro-
slaveryite, or a sham Democrat. Under the
influence OF love OF justice, of generosity,
and Of true philanthropy, every intelligent
man Is naturally Republican.
That the churches should generally favor
the doctrines of the Republican party is natu-
raj enough, for Christianity is founded upon
the great fact of the unity and brotherhood of
the human family. The opponents of the
Republican party are just now basing their
success upon the heathen idea of caste, an
idea utterly repugnant to all the principles
of the Christian religion. We can conceive
of nothing more essentially aachristidn than
the efforts of false conservatis m and sham
Democracy to degrade and oppress our
colored citizens merely on account of their
color. If fanything could be more brutal than
rlis use made of the negro question by the
Democrats in our late campaign, we should
like to know what it is.
That the influence OF schools, colleges,
books, and of literature generally should be
also on the side of republicanism, is not
at all wonderful. All these things tend
wards civilization and refinement and
cour. esy. Learning tends to iberalize men.
The influence of literature has always been
towards human elevation. Eloquence,
poetry, song-all these demand the inspira-
tion which springs from Justice and truth
and philanthropy. Who ever read an elo-
quent defense of oppressionp What poet
ever sung the beauties of slavery? When
Mrs. Stowe wrote her great work against
slavery, "Uncle Toms Cabin" thousand
imitators sprang up who thought they could
invoke the same wit pathos, and wonderful
genius in favor of that institution; but they
made miserable failures, every one of them.
Mankind gladly treasure up good words
spoken for liberty, and will not let them die,
but hand them down from generation to gene
ration; but they turn away with loathing
from the prostitution of any mans intellect
to the base work of bolstering up injustice
and wrong.
1t should be matter OF encouragement
and of just pride to Republicans, when our
enemies can find no worse charge against us
than that we have the churches and schools
and books and magazines and newspapers on
our side. These great social forces come to
US by an innate tendency, spontaneous. i'm
pulse. They show the mighty power of the
principles which lie at the basis OF our great
organization, and disclose the secret of its
vigorous and wonderful growth.
Southern Progress with Regard TO the