The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-20
Organized COnservatism-A Rising Power


"
Organized COnservatism-A Rising Power.
From The Times.
The great difficulty in the way OF consoli
dating the conservative forces has been over.
come and an organized National Union move
ment now aims at meeting the urgent demand
OF the country.
In a certain sense the Convention just closed
partook of the nature of an experiment. The
purpose of its cOnveners was plain, and their
motives were above suspicion, but the teasi-
bility of bringing together men who have
hitherto been ranged under different banners,
and men who for years have been separated and
ahenated by civil war, and Of establishing har-
monious relations among them. remained
deOatable question. Reasoning alphabetically,
there were some grounds Tor fearing tnat. after
all, a remembrance OF bygone feuds might give
1ise TO jealousies and arrangements which
would be fatal to hearty reconciliation.
Moreover, there was the possibility OF trouble
arising from innrmities of temper and judgment
in an assemblage Of the magnitude originally
contemplated. Now, these tlcIlsh contngen.
cies have been safely overcome. The practica-
bllity of the object aimed at by the authors Of
the call mas been demonstrated. Union Repub-
lCans and Union Democrats have met in the
same committee-rOoms, sat i'll council together,
united III the same public proceedings, with
COrdiality and concord that left nothing to be
desired. North and South have Joined hands
and exchanged opinions, and bartered eXpe-
rlences, and compared judgments, pans, and
hopes; the end being the acceptance OF a COM
mon basis OF action. In all these respects the
Convention was grand success. As q dellbera-
tive body ii realized the brightest antlcpations
OF its promoters. As a means OF Obterating pre-
judiCes, rectIfylng mistakes, and developing the
universally and potency OF the Union senti-
ment in both sections, it accomplished all that
the most sanguine could have deemed possible
Considered solely with reference to these char.
acteTlstiCs, there has been nothing like il in
American polucs in our Gay.
In yet another sense there was danger The
persistent ialsehoOds of the radical press
pointed to contingency which touched the
sensitive loyalty OF many IN the North
Would the Convention be controlled by pOltI-
cal extremists, in the sincerity OF whose pro-
LESSONS the Northern people have had but
scanty con6dence2 Would the Convention be,
as It's promoters alleged loyal, conservative
body, or a body managed by politicians
who have ACQUIRED a reputation for dlsloyalty?
These were inquiries TO which predictions ann
promises were an unsatisfactory answer. Now,
however, they have been answered in a mannor
that preciudes further controversy. The record
OF the Convention tells Its own story. It's
organization, its officers, its committees, its roll
OF membership, cannot be impugned by any slur
upon its loyalty. Its declaration OF principles
admits OF no mlsinterpretation; they challenge
criticism as an embodiment OF principle
derived from the Constitution, and fully COM
plying with the requirements OF the most rigid
loyalty to the Union. And Its statement OF the
case, upon which the people must pass iudg-
ment, is SO impregnable in it's facts, so conclu-
in its argument, so effective In its appeal TO
the national sentiment. that no other eXposi-
tion is needed TO insure for the movement pro-
found attention and respect
The movement being organized, where and
when may we look for its results? The con
servatives of both parties being united tor the
turtherance of a common purpose, how and in
what direction shall we trace the evidence of
their power? The South having vindicated
itself itself in the eyes Of the nation, and
accepted the principles enunciated by the
North as the foundation of a restored Union,
what is yet to be done to perfect the work
begun by the Convention
Difficulties no doubt remain to obstruct the
easy working of the movement, and cripple its
usefulness, but none that should occasion
serious misappTehensiOn. The formidable task
of organization having been completed with
marvellous ease, the minor labors that are
| before US ought not to excite fear or even un-
| easiness. The work is transferred in detail to
each OF the States and Territories, and upon the
| people OF each depends the question of failure
! or triumph. To secure the latter beyond perad-
venture, all that is necessary Is to manifest on
| small scale the forbearance, the sagaclty, the
hearty unanimity of the Philadelphia assem-
| blage. Let this done, aud the National Union
! movement will sweep everything before II.
Tt battle of the Union, be it always remem'
| beTeo, must now be fought on Northern ground
| The danger to our nationPl existence no longer
| comes from Southern politicians or soldiers, but
! from sectional politicians among ourselves. We
! are not required TO fight theoretical secession.
ISIS, disciples OF Calhoun but instead, practlcbl
disunionists under the guidance of Northern
radicals. 1t is not struggle between sections,
| but struggle between the Unionists and the
| dlsunionists of the same section, and that the
| Northern. BY revolutionary usurpatlon oil
| power, the Gisunionists have excluded the
| South IRON the arena, but the sympathies OF
the Southern people are on the side OF The
| National Unionists, whose duty II is to prepare
| for purifying and nationaliZing Congress. This
| is the work which devolves upon us, these are
| the circumstances under which we are required
| to begin il. We of the North are called upon
to maintain the integrity OF the Union and the
| supremacy of the Constitution; and to do this
| ehectuallY we must expel the radical disunion-
lists from Congress, and elect loyal Unionists as
| their successors.
The process is simple. As matters stand,
names and nicknames amount to little. We are
fighting for the substance not the shadow, and
can recognize only the distinctions that rest
upon reality. Is a candidate for the Union, as
defined by the Constitution, or for dlsunion after
the fashion of the radicas3 This is the one
oyeTshadowing question. In the States where
nominations have already been made, there can
be no hesitancy in determining as between the
candidates. He that is not for the Union as
established by our fathers is against it, and
should be dealt with accordingly, under what
soever pretense he solicits votes. In the States
where nominations are yet to be made mode
rate degree of attention to the spirit which ami
mated the Philadelphia Convention and the
principles 1t enunciated will secure like har
mony and success. The people OF the NORTH
| have the ieaua in their own hands. and vii