The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-26

they have no such alternative The accept
ance of the amendment is no more humiliating
than is any law proposed by equals for the
government of all Both North and South
are affected alike by its action, and that in
practice it applies more to the South than to
us is only because by accident larger num-
Der of negroes reside with them than with u.s.
The rule applies to all, and surely what can
be borne by us can also be borne by them
What is not too degrading for the North is
not too degrading for the South. 1t does
not compel negro suffrage, 1t does not grant
the black single privilege more than those
bestowed on them by the Legislature Of South
Carolina, which adjourned on Saturday.
1t only proclaims general rule changing
the basis of representation, a rule applicable
North and South, East and West, and no
more degrading than a change in the rate of
tariff or tax on cotton. That the heavy
tax on cotton falls principally on the South
does not imply an insult to that section, and
that new basis Of representation is ordered
does not cause the inference that stigma
is put on the South because she is most
affected. If cotton grew North we would
suffer, and if the negroes were as numerous
here as there, the same law OF decrease would
affect us as them. There is nothing in 1t
insulting or humiliating, 1t is merely loss
ofpower, not of selfrespect, which keeps back
the South.
Feeling convinced that the South will never
be represented until it does adopt the amend
ment, we urge as matter of policy that it i'm
medately act. 1t will then be at once read
mitted to Congress. To be sure, 1t will lose
some twenty-four members in the House, but
as the majority in the North is so great that
even with the twenty-four it would still be
in minority, we do not see that their loss
is of vital consequence, especially when we
reflect that the Senate will become the
conservative body. If all the Southern
States were to return and adopt the
amendment, the upper House would then
stand about forty Republican to thirty-four
Conservative, which would prevent the pas
sage of bill over the Presidents veto. They
need not extend the right OF suffrage unless
they desire; but even if they did not, their
condition would be infinitely improved by a
rpadmission. All the questions would be set
tied for the present. Commerce would be
once more established. Harmony would pre-
vail. The coantry would be harmonized, and
the South be allowed to go on in the new way
Of prosperity opened to her. Will she accept
and regain her power, or will she continue
forever an excluded province, hanging, without
influence, on the very verge OF the nstionp
The PittsbuIg Convention Great Success.
The demonstration of lighting soldiers and
sailors at Pittsburg is a magnificent success.
Nothing like it has been witnessed in the
country. The contrast between il and the
late Cleveland affair is most marked and sig
nificant This is convOcation of men who
expect no "bread and butter" They will
send no congratulatory messages by tele-
graph to the Fort Pillow butcher. They
are men who fought to save the country from
disruption, and the Government from over
throw. They seek now to guard the fruits OF
their costly labors. They speak the senti-
ments and cherish the convictions that really
carried the nation through its great struggle.
A private soldier, representative of the
three hundred thousand "brave and true"
who laid down their lives in the war against
Rebellion, was, appropriately, called upon to
preside over the preliminary. proceedings of
the Convention. The proceedings of the
Convention will be watched with interest,
and cannot tail of having a marked effect
upon the country.