The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-07
Secretary stanton's Coup d'Etat = TIL
Radicals FIanked.

against them. Secretary StaLto J, the SLAYER O
the Philistines, has declared in favor of Presi.
dent Johnson's restoration policy. The radical
reconstruction scheme of the Joint committee of
Congress has proved too radical for Stanton.
Percelv1ng, with the sagacity of an old cam
paigner, that his scheme is sure to prove q bad
investment, he seiZes the first occasion of q
Cabinet council TO express his unbodnded admi-
ration OF the wise and benefoent policy of the
Admins ration. This movement Of the enthu-
siastic Stanton at this crisis is as remarkable as
the abandonment OF the Jacobins by Danton in
the midst of the bloody French "Reign OF Ter
ror"
Danton, like Stanton, from the profession of
a lawyer, became republican leader remarka
Bile for his energy and terrible activity against
the reoels and coppeTheads OF his day; but
Danton, in pleading for mercy to the Girondists,
brouehtupon himself the wrath of Robesperre
and the axe of the guillotine. Stanton, like
Danton, has evidently had blood enough of his
own countrymen, and will also have to answer
to his Robespierre of the, convention; but, un-
ike Danton, Stanton in having the balance of
power on his side, will come off the victor
Thus the Great outrage against justice and hu.
an ty perpetrated in the execution of Danton
VIII, as an event in history be rectided in the
triumph OF Stanton. ....... ....
The lover OF Plutarch may enlarge upon this
para lei between Danton and Stanton, tor there
al abundant materials in the public career of
the C two distinguished men to pursue the COM
pdrlson to any extent, but our purpose Is Sc
ctred in vindicating the memory of Danton in
tie living and successful example OF Stanton.
Everything depends upon the circumstances by
which we are surrounded. The same virtuous
act which one day and in one place adds another
victim 10 the guillotlne, on another day and in
another place opens the door to a new epoch of
power and glory. Secretary Stanton, with more
patience and calculation than his French proto-
type, Danton, uses the political factions of his
day, and awaits his opportunity. Thus, with
the decline of Cameron in the War Office Stan
ton, by his adroit and successful batteries of
General Mcclellan, secured the then powerful
influence OF that officer in his favor, till firmly
fixed in the War Department, and then quick to
perceiN the weak points of Mcclellan, Stanton,
without remorse, cut him down. A politician
OF the shrewd and energetic character OF Secre-
tary Stanton brought up in the school of Mar
tin Van Buren and James Buchanan, and in the
midst of great revolution, perfected in his
studies under Secretaries Seward and Chase, is
not the man to play the subordinate to Thad-
deus Stevens moment longer than is necessary.
As II has been the rule OF men in power, in
all ages OF the world, to seek still higher ele.
Yatlon, we may assume that Mr.. Stanton, as
Secretary OF War, has not forgotten himself in
his services to the country. We may assume
that there was something of personal ambition
in his shelving of Mcclellan, and in his attempt
to disgrace sherman, which, under all the Cir
cumstances, but for the prompt and effective
interposition OF General Grant, might have been
successful. We may even venture upon the
theory that the Secretary of War, as a profes
sional politician, has learned how to trim his
sails to the popular wind, and that he trims
them accordingly, and has no more reluctance
IL parting company with Forney and Greeley,
than he had in cutting loose from the old
broken-down hulk OF the Democratic party.
Certainly, as he has little to lose, and fair
prospect OF much to gain, by cordial support
OF President Johnson there is nothing very sur
prising in this dec sion Of tho Secretary of War,
with the report of the Committee of Fifteen be-
fore him. He sees that his radical friends in
Congress are on the road to ruin, and he has no
disposition to be numbered among the victims
OF their folly.
The radicals profess to be incredulous; this
thing is impossible, they say, but they are none
the less alarmed. If Stanton deserts lis, who
can be trusted This is the trouble. The dis
cipline OF the party camp is disturbed, confusion
IS introduced and the conservative elements
sympathlzing with the Administration are in
vited TO take possession of the field. With Stan
ton in cordial cooperation with the Presidents
policy, the State of Pennsylvania, in October
will cast out the faction of Stevens and Forney;
for, according to the resolutions of their late
convention, Stanton, in Pennsylvania, is the
embodiment among the Republicans of all that
is good and great. And as Pennsylvania goes
so will go the other great central States OF the
North, from New York TO Illinois inclusive.
Secretary Stanton, in falling in with the policy
OF the Administration, makes an important
change among the figures on the Presidential
cl.ess-board; for thus, Secretary Seward as the
head OF the New York conservatives, may be
overshadowed by the more vigorous Stanton
and the first gun of the fall elections from the
Keystone State. 1t is probable, too, that the
Secretary of War and General Grant, as in all
tEeir relations heretofore, will soon be found in
perfect accord on this paramount question of
Southern restoration. The principles of Mr..
Stanton may be patriotic, or they may be the
seven Democratic principles of John Randolph
the five loaves and two fishes; or the prin.
clples of the Albany regency, Machiavell and
Mephistopheles combined; but whatever they
may be, when Stanton abandons his party wor-
shippers OF the radical camp we are safe in the
conclusion that they are weighed in the balance
and found wanting; that they are near the end
OF their reign; and that their kingdom is already
divided among the Medes and Perslans.
The Tennessee Land SpOliatiOn Scheme.
From the DAILY Ne,Os.
A pretty kettle of fish, indeed was that which
met at Knoxville on Thursday, for the purpose
of considering the advisability of setting up a
separate State Government for East Tennessee.
These political brigands, doubtless under old
Brownlow's instigation, feeling themselves at a
disadvantage In the State, propose seriously to
secede thereirom, and to set up new concern
which shall have Knoxville for its capital and
Brownlow for its head. The arrant impudence
OF this programme is scarcely relieved by its
more fragrant features. The individual who pre-