The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-03
The People, the President, and the Poll
ticIana

OOlng lS Work among Inc pOllglclanS Iue ma |
jority of the Union party in Congress begin to
evince gratifying unwillingness TO play the
game of the few reckless meu who have arrogated
the authority Of leaders. There is manifest ten
dency in the direction OF prudence, IL not of alb
solute conservatism. The rage for Constitu
tional amendments gradually abates. The cru
sade against the Southern States is moderated,
not to say checked, by an increased regard for
consequences. The warfare against the Presi
dent, though persisted in by the radical press,
finds less sympathy in the CAPITOL where other
counsels than those of the disunionlsts for the
moment prevail.
For this wholesome change the country is
undoubtedly indebted in large degree 10 the
President. Had he been composed of more
pliable material possessed less hrmness OF pur-
pose, orr been IN any manner subject to the
external influences by which less courageous
men are swayed, the radical dlsunionists would
have carried everything before them. Every
branch of the Government would have been
subject to their rude energy. A central dlrec
tory, holding secret sessions in a committee
room of the Capitol, would have laid aside the
Constitution as a useless scroll, discarded the
decisions of the Supreme Court, made the votes
OF Congress eiecJual Tor everl thing, and frus-
trated the whole object OF the war by rendering
the restoration OF the Union impossible. The
hrmness OF Andrew johnson has in measure
saved us from these perils, mmed ate and con-
tingent, and imposed a restraint upon conduct
that would have led to renewal of civil con-
hlct.
Without in any instance oversteppng the de-
fined boundaries OF the Presidential authority,
he has asserted the righttul privileges OF mis-
office, and turned to just account the opportunl
ties that have come before him. The iron
nerve which, during the war. sustained him
amidst no ordinary danger, has enabled him
to stand Uniinchingly before assaults that
would have intimidated another man. HIS
courage, his pl esence OF mind his clearness
OF intellect, and steadiness of Will have indeed
made themselves more manifest a. The Oc3a-
sions Tor their exercise have arisen. Ii he
has spoken publicly with greater frequency
greater fulness, and greater Significance than
! Presidents have usually done, it should be
| remembered that never since the formation OF
! the Union has there been a similar necessity
! toI this kind OF Executive effort 1t now and
| then he has been more pointedly controver-
! sial and denunciatory than comports with the
! pleasure of radical newspapers, let it be borne
/ IN mind that the radicals themselves, by the
! Yirulence and indecency of their attacks, COM
! PEELED him to vlndicate his own manhood and
! uphold the high trust reposed in hlm, by indi-
! catingLhis course and the grounds upon which he
! relies for its jusuhcation. This always inay IL
be said, as well OF his lmpromptu addresses as of
those which bore evidence of preparation, and
! OF his messages to Congress not less than either
| that Andrew Johnson has satisfactorily Winds
! Gated the consttutionality and the consistency
| OF his position, and the wisdom OF his policy
considered as means OF healing wounds pro-
duced by the Rebellion, and restoring peace and
| irteglity to the Union. Therefore, we repeat,
the country may thank the President Tor the
vigor and intelligence with which he has recalled
Congress TO sense of its duties, and Tor the
pluck which has enabled him more or less COM
pletely to battle the plans oil the disunionlsts.
Another and Yet more powerful influence is in
operation to counteract the movements OF the
dlaunionists, and direct the labors OF Congress
into more useful channels. The people of the
North are making their power felt in various
directions, and especially in the direction OF
those who are supposed TO reOTesent them at
Washington. 1t is well understood that since
the delivery of the veto message, public oDinion
has not permitted professed members OF the
Union party to forget the purpose for which the
war against the Rebellion was conducted or the
nature of the platform upon which they were
respectively elected. The imposing demOnstra-
tion in this city gave the key note TO the Union
party throughout the country, and we antlci-
pate that, as time rolls on, the pressure which
constituencies may legitimately exercise upon
their representatives will exhibit augmented
force. Ii this expectation be fulfilled the
threatened disruption of the party will be
ayerted, the radicals will be thrust into the
background, and the constitutional views enun-
clated with so much CogenCy by the President
will be sustained
The truth is that an overwhelming majority oil
the American people have not, and never had
any decided sympathy with the principles OF
plans OF the extremists. Your Philpses and
Garrisons have been supported by q faction
which compensated by noise and activity for i'll
significance OF number; and though the result
, OF the war has seemed to yield tribute to then
, influence everybody knows that the abolition o
/ slavery is attributable, not tn their advocacy
! but to caus es which were developed during The
progress of the conflict. Their violence to-day
then, reflects simply the feeling OF faction
7 which, though capable, negatively, of mischief
, is Incapable of producing any positive etfec
upon the vast mass OF p1bhc opinion. IL ma,
t suit the passing convenience OF politicians t
. keep alive sectional animosties, TO cultlyat
, cTotchets at any possible cost and to gratlf
their capricious vengeance, albeit its product b
the permanent disruption OF the Union. But TO
these things the people will have no patience.
Their anlmoslty towards the South cease
when the victory OF our soldiers over the Rebel
lion had been consummated thenceor ward
: they regarded the citizens oil the South as erin
= iriel ds and brethren who had been punshe
I for their error-not as aliens and enemies. to b
I treated with haTshness and contumely all thei
y DAYS. So also IN reference to the object and tn
, end OF the war itself AS understood by tn
. people, the restoration of the Union was tn
y one great purpose; and having put down South
l. ern Rebels who fought to destroy TIE Unlol
= they are not likely 20 look with favor on NORTH
- ern radicals who scold and conspire to tear tn
y Union asun0er.
y In this great fact rests our principal source
Z hope and confidence. Tne people are Tor tn
~ Union, let who may be AGAINST It, The peopl
are Tor the Constitution as the fathers made i
whether the radicals are contented with it {
not. Sooner or later the judgment OF the peopl
Is will not admit OF misconstrdction on eitht
T. point; and CONGRESS- shows its sagGcty when
le yields seasonably to the OOYious current
50 national opinion, instead OF vainlY striving
rs thwart or resist It,
ID The Democratic Interpretation of the Vet
ia From the Tribune
ie No one affects to doubt that the men who 10
y fully anticipated the veto Of the Freedmen
- IA