The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-25
The Convention and the Stiffness"

From the World.
The Times which has made one more summer.
saulI returned to a quasi support OF the Phla
delphia Convention, and ptofessed anew to
regard it as q reconstruction of the Republican
party, now at last piques public curiosity. Its
vacillations hitherto have been amusing, but
the constancy of them breeds in peoples minds,
naturally enough, the notion of a concealed pur-
pose, and sets speculation on edge to discover if
regeneration, too, has its law. ...
Ofcourse, nobody is deceived by the Times
renewed pretense that the Philadelphia Con-
vention is to reorganize the Republican party.
Mr. Raymond is chairman of its Central Execu
tive Committee, yet neither made nor Joined in
the call OF that Convention. And had he done
SC, the Republican hosts would never have come
for all his calling, for everybody knows, and Mr..
Seward constantly asserts, that the Republican
party is radical in the North by as heavy a ma
iorlty as its representatives are in the Rump
Congress. Mr.. Raymond sat in It's last caucus
in minority OF one.
Nor is anybody deceived by the Times urging
upon the Philadelphia Convention rule of
admission which will exclude "Copperheads
and Rebels The purpose of the Convention is
to assemble from the South the very men whom
the Rump excludes from their r1ghtnl seats IN
the Congress of the United States. The Times
protests against 8he exclusion practised by the
hump, and processes the desire to imposa more
wholesale rule OF exclusion upon the Conven-
IlOD. III the Int6TebI Ol Onlou, IL utmdUuS
admission TO ConQress OF Southern representa-
tives; in the interest of the Union party (needing
nationallZatOn), 1t demands the exclusion OF
the same Southern representatives from the
Convention. So much Tor those who were
''Rebels." But where ''Rebels" can enter, "Cop-
perheadsn cannot be shut out. Those who
thought peace should be tried as means of
restoring the Union, are not for that reason unit
to sit on the same benches with those who fought
against the Union till nghting was hopeless, if
present loyalty present desire for the restoration
OF the Union, be made the sole test of admission
10 the Convention, as it is made the sole test by
those who call it.
The Times nsineerity is patent, but it may be
exhibited M still another light
If the Times, as Republican journal. were
sincere in ITS complacency towards the PhIladel.
phia Convention, it could only be on such
grounds as those from which the only other
Republican journal OF aIy consequence in the
whole country that does not assail the Conven-
ton, regards II with complacency. The Spring
field Republican thinks it will be ~ great gain
to the country" because sit will be a grand
conversion of the nations enemies into the
nations friends ''The Rebels and Copperheads
must abandon their old positions; :" "must baptize
| themselves in a new and national spirit;" must
! start airesh on a new footing, in keeping with
the dominant Loyalty and unity of the nation"
Now this Is intelliglble from the point OF view
OF such patriotism as Republicans are capable OF.
II is intolerant, blgoted, almost Pecksnitflan
(tor tie only enemies to the unity of the nation
were secessionists, conquered after four years.
war, ana the ra0lcal majority OF Ine hepuDllCau
party, who have prolonged their struggle against
the Union Tor more than another year, and thus
far successfully; but its patriotism, such as 1t
is, is perfectly intellgible from the Republican
standpoint, and only from such standpoint
| can professed Republican, desiring the unity
| OF the nation with no sinister purpose, regard
| complacently the Philadelphia Convention.
| The Times insncerity is patent from still
The Philadelphia Convention is a noparty
| convention. 1t cannot, therefore, make any
party tests the standard OF admission. If 1t
| were "a Democratic Convention, Mr.. Fernando
| Wood Would have to cool his heels outside the
| door as he did at Chicago, as he has done at
| Albany for many year. Ii 1t were Demo
| cratic Convention, Mr.. Benjamin Wood, who IN
the DdlfV Nes0S opposed the candidates OF the
| Democratic party in the last national election,
IN the last State election, in the last CITY elec,
ton, and who is a straightforward man as well
as a modest one, would never think OF asking
admission. Tit we're Republican Convention
we suppose that to-day no man who said, as Mr.
Seward did, "the UnIen cannot be maintained
by force" that ''a Union OF torce was des
potism," that ''he did not know what I'M
Union would be worth II saved by the use oil th'
sword J" could be admitted; but If that were oar
doned, his preference (since he is hopeless nov
of the Presidency for the Premiership OF I'VE
administrations over hdelty 10 MS party AM
the seclusion of Auburn, would certainly eX
J clude HIM. But party tests do not apply to
no.party convention, and II MIR. Fernando Woo.
or Mr.. seward present themselves at Phllade
phla, thus aVoWing their accordance with tn
objects of the call, and are duly elected t
!, represent anybody, no test win exclude then
which win not empty the Convention. 1t is
therefore, as much out of place tor Mr.. Weed I
refuse to sit ia he Convention alongside MI
! Penaleton for his copperheadism, as it would b
for Mr.. Pendleton to refuse to sit alongside MI
4 Weed because he always denounees radicals an
tnen votes with them, OF because, 'corruphD
; legislatures, he makes all good goyernmen
u Impossible" or because he Is six feet high Q
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