The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-20
The Political Condition of the Country
The Great Issues.

The Great Issues.
From the Herald
When the great topic before the country was
the war, no man could doubt which side he was
on. There was but one possible side for every
patriot, and all the Copperhead inventions and
arguments, all the finely affected indignation
against arbitrary power, military rule, and all
that, did not for an instant confuse the people.
But when the country was saved, when the
armies went home-when all that the soldiers
could do was done-.hen the politicians came
forward again. and there we're parties once more.
Men who had just stood shoulder to shoulder,
who seemed to have no other thought or pur-
pose in life than the good OF the country and
how best 70 secure the national welfare, now
began to take the most diverse views OF
the necessities OF the case, and to advo-
cate measures so widely different that they
could not possibly both have the same
happy result OF securing peace and prosperity.
bow should the people choose between such
parties, when both claimed to do all for the
coed OF the country, and when, a few months
ago, all were equally urgent in the common
cause? How should they discriminate between
parts OF the organization that had certainly
saved the country, when the party were now
equally loud in claiming to be animated by the
same good purpose? The difficulty that sur
rounds such discrimination has been the life
of the radical faction. That faction has been
able to keep together only because it has been
dDjS W COuCCdl lLo puIpObGS IIOu Iue peOple. III
has escaped the storm OF popular indignation in
Its many DISCUSSES, and has found safety in the
constant declaration that it was not at issue with
the President, and that its grand object was
reconstruction.
But that game is pretty well done with now.
The disguise is tern away e6ectually. For the
hrst time since the politicians succeeded to the
soldiers in the arrangement OF 6ur national
affairs, the issues and the position of parties
so clear that partisans cannot confuse the vision
of the people Standing forward in his high
position, the President has appealed to the peo-
pie against the factious fanatics who, pretending
to be friendly TO his popular policy OF recon-
struetion, were doing their utmost to defoat il.
He has denounced boldly and openly the trai-
ters that, like our former fees in the held, only
assumed the gsrb OF Union nen in order to get
| close enough TO give q treacherous fire into the
| ranks of men really lighting for the Union. His
bold declarations have exposed the whole insidl-
Gus gaRe. He has recalled the popular rseol-
| lection to the TACT that these men sustained the
! cause Of the country only because it hap
Pensd TO coincide with certain pur-
poses OF their eWn, and has properly
pat them In the category of traitors, because
| they have always been aud are now as ready as
| the Rebels to destroy the Government when
| they ceuld net accomplish their objects In any
| other way. The speech in which Mr.. johnson
lald before the country on Washington's birth
day the true position OF the great issues OF the
day is the finest thing in his history. Its truth
IFS magnificent 1erce, may be seen by the terri
Bile writings 1t causes among the radical viperS
! everywhere. AS piece OF unprecedented
energetic, earnest eloquence, il is without an
equal. 1t has ali the ire, all the fervid denun
Cation that Is so splendid IN Demosthenes, with
more directness, dlstinctness, and point than il
found in any effort OF the great Athenian.
The people from Maine to California will re
spond 10 this bold appeal. Its simple view o
the political situation is the peoples view, an(
it will Become the platform OF new party
That new party made from the conservative
Republicans and from what is left OF tho ranl
anShle Of the Democracy, has already had tn,
breath Of life breathed into it by The President
words. That new party will carry the eoun
try iA the next elections, OF II 1t do not quit
that, it will open the way 80 we'll that it will
sweep all before 1t in 1868 Its simple ide
win be, the good OF the country before every
thing. 1t will at once rebuke and crush ou
both extremes With the grand thought quote'
by the President from Mr.. Lincoln, that so ia
from keeping the Southern States out of Con
gress we ought rather 10 force them to come in
II that should prove necessary. This party vii
class Garrison and Vallandigham together;
will put Stevens and Yancey side by side as enc
mics OF the Government making no choic
whatever between men who prefer their ow
notion 70 the common good. Mr.. johnson hs
laid down the platform of this party, and ii
growth, its triumph over all the iactious ell
ments Will be an inevitable part of the prOgres
Of events. The eyes OF the people are open, an
all tAe radical jugelery cannot close them