The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-17
Political Signs of the Times and tho PhIIa
delphia Convention.

the approaching Congressional elections promise
to be very exciting. All parties see the import.
ance OF these elections. The radical party sees
that If it be defeated then IL will sink INTO
obscurity, never to attain power again. No
thing but the remembrance of its unprincipled,
vicious, and corrupt conduct could save it from
oblivion for never before did party exhibit
such lamentable want of statesmanship.
Dreading the fat which threatens it, this party
is making and will make the most determined
efforts TO prolong its existence. Its lear and
agony are seen IN the violent outbursts OF pas
SION in Congress and in caucuses against the
President ana all who oppose 1t.
The old Democratic party rises again with
nope OF de eating the radicals and re-estaOlish-
ing its power 1t is unwilling to give up its
name or organization, Notwithstanding the load
ol odlum that weighs upon that name. Like
the old Bourbon dynasty, 1t learns nothing and
forgets nothing. 1t does not appear to under
stand that we have passed through an eXtraor-
dinary revolution, that old political do2mas and
issues are dead, that there are new and great
living issues to be met, and that the people are
anXiously looking Tor an organization with a
new name and new leaders. The Democrats
f0Olishly want to use the new political elements
to patch up their worn out and odious party
Besides these parties there are the floating
conservative elements which have separated
from them, or which desire to separate from
them, and large portion OF the American
people who are looking out Tor some place of rest
tor some patriotic and new orgar izatlon to which
they can 60. We have yet 10 see how this fer
mentatlon win end-hoW these political elements
will crystalline.
The Philadelphia Convention might do some
thing towards forming q powerful conservative
party, II the men VINO get 1t up and who will
meet there should act wisely. We confess, how
ever, that while we wish to say an encouraging
word Tor 1t, we are not without fear. We are
afraid the old selfish and scheming politicians
and old party organizations will get the control
nuyno ItUVN4
regard TO the interests of the country. We hope
our lear may not be realized At all events 1t Is
worm Whlle 10 make an effort to bring about a
better state OF things, Tor the radical party in
power has Drought the country to a dreadtully
corrupt ana revolutionary condition.
In making an effort TO crystalline the conser-
Vau We elements OF the country into partV the
leaders have this advantage that the PRINCIPLES
upon which parties stand and party lines are
now well defined. The hypocrisy which covered
up the last Congressional elections is now un-
masked. Then the radicals were as bitterly
opposed to the reconstruction policy O Presf.
dent johnson as they are now but they dared
not say 30. To have taken the ground against
the administration then which they have since
would have lead 10 their defeat, and they knew
1t. The President has not changed; he stands
now precisely where he stoou then. Nor have
they changed; they were simply elected under
false pretenses. They cheated the people most
shameiully. The mask Is now torn away, and
they cannot go TO the elections again protesting
TO be with the President for during the whole
OF the last session they made war on his policy,
ana on him personally. The breaklng-up OF
the Cabinet ana retirement Of the radicals from
it, together with the late bitterly hostile eau
cuses, will open the eyes of the peoole to the
issue made. Deception is no longer possible as
to the wide difference between Mr.. Johnsons
consistent and conservative policy and the
revolutionary Jacobin policy of the radicals.
These are striking facts which che Philadel-
ph1a Convention night use with great effect
But in order to make that convention of service
fn hau rasf
representative character possible 1t ought not
to be composed OF selfconsututed delegates
and these the old political hacks and men of
Objectionable antecedents. Such men will GER
tainly creep in, II they can, to serve their own
purpose: If they should get in and control the
convention that would be fatal TO the higher
object in view. Public meetings should be held
throughout the country with out DELAY, and the
best and ablesC citizens be chosen as delegates
Let the people have direct voice in the matter
and let the dele gaUes come fresh from the people
There Is not much time In which to do this, it is
true, but still something can be done. Above
all, we ADVISE the Southerners not to send any
delegates who are obnoXlously tainted by the
Rebellion. Their own good sense ought to
make them prudent in this respect. The Iadi-
cais wl,i seze every pretext to assail and break
down the convention, and this ought to be O
sufficient warning.
The Philadelphia Convention may have great
moral effect upon the country. 1t will not meet
to make nomnatloDs Tor office, as some NAV
suppose; 1t will be simply gathering of man
from all sections to deliberate upon the affairs
OF the country. and to lay down a platform of
principles. What objection can there be to
this! Why should not the citizens of the North
and the South, the people OF all parts OF our
reunited country, meet together for this pur-
pose? The radicals Will not let the Southern
representatives meet in Congress; will it not be
well, then, to meet in convention? More than
five years the people OF the two sections have
been estranged, and they desire to be reunited
and to forget these years OF terr BILE trouble and
estrangement. What patriot what lover OF his
country does not desire to see harmony restored?
AS dlsunion radical Congress refuses TO bring
the North and the South together, we certainly
think the next best thing Is a spontaneous con-
yention oil delegates representing both sections.
1t can do no harm, and may have the best moral
effect.
But what can the convention do beyond meet.
ing to interchange views? To be most efficient
1t ought 10 have some direct object or aim. It
ought to direct its attention Immediately and
specially TO the Congressional elections to take
place in the fall. How much as regards the
1uture Of this country is involved in these elec-
tionsl The convention should do all 1t can
through widespread political organizations to
defeat the radicals; but 1t ought especially to
take up the corrupt and destructive legislation
OF Congress aud lay that before the people. An
able ana clear analysis OF this should be made
In such manner that all may easily understand
1T. and then it should be made campaign decu-
ment 10 be sent into every house.
Never was party more Vulnerable to attack
than this radical party. The refusal to restore
the Unlon The infamous Tariff bil the Internal
Revenue Dill, the Freedmen's Bureau bill, the
national bank system, and a hundred legislative
Joos that burden tue people with lmposts and
taxes, ana squander the public money-these
are fruitful themes that would arouse the
country: we 40 not want the mere assertion ol
duh poliucal dogmus but live issues, to be laId
before the people. Win the men of the Philadel
phia Convention be equal to the Crisis They