The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-14
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER ID, 1866.
Temperance in Political Discussion.

Temperance in Political Discussion.
"THE times are out of Joint" Ultraism is
the order OF the day, and the earnest desire
to grasp the truth and a decisive courage in
maintaining il, engendered by our war, have
proved contagious to manner as well as idea.
Our people are rapidly falling into the grave
error OF supposing that the possession of posi-
tive views demands positive way of express
sion, and have learned to believe that loud
voice and an excited delivery bring convic-
ton. The bloody scenes through which we
have passed in the last FIVE years have
brought us in contact with men who held
sentiments at once disgraceful to themselves
and insulting to their auditors. When these
views were declared, it is no cause of surprise
that loyal hearers lost their tempers and in
dulged in abuse. Because such was unaVoid-
able in times of war, and the best of our
citizens INDUCED in 1t, the masses of those
who are but imitators have affected a loss of
temper, until over all the land seems to have
spread the epidemic OF passion and the invi-
tation, "Come, let us reason together" is
almost unheard.
Now this condition of feeling is one which
i
sincerely deploring. The only way in which
a misudgment can be corrected is by calmly
arguing with the holder of the wrong views,
and convincing him by quiet reasoning that
he is In error. 1t is idle to endeavor to intimi-
date q sensible man into asserting to your
views by using the voice Of Stentor or going
through some of the attitudes of the prize
Of irit mill
use a name as offensive as your own, and
either return your violence, or, if ne be a
gentleman, quietly turn his back and leave
you alone. To assault mans doctrine is to
make him their bitter advocate.
Our public speakers seem to have forgotten
the maxim of Jefferson, Error of opinion
can be tolerated where reason is left free TO
combat it," and falling back to the more con-
genial doctrines Of the Inquisition seem de-
sirous of making martyrs Of all who do not
agree with them in opinion. We repeat that
such state of affairs in the political world is
one which should be deprecated and remedied.
1t is only natural that the fumes OF war which
still I'LL the atmosphere should lead to such
excesses of expression as occasionally might
be tolerated, but that they should be chronic
is indeed a sad proof of national spirit and
popular temper The term traitor" and
"Copperhead'' died with the fall Of the Rebel
lion. We have no such persons now. There
may be "traitors," and we believe there are,
but SO far as an overt act is concerned there
are none in the country; and to term man
"traitor" is SANDER, for which he could re-
cover damages in the courts We regret to
see this indiscriminate use of insulting titles
The DEMOCRACY call the Republican party "dis-
unionists," and the Republican party letorts
with the chaste epithet of "traitors," though
both the terms are inapplicable. The Repub-
lican party has a record such as to render the
name "disunionist" simply the spitetul utter
ance of an imbecile; while, if the conserva-
tives DO include all the late traitors, it is no
reason Why the party is traitorous. The ex-
punging OF all adjectives from the dictionary
would tend greatly to advance deeenoy and
cultivate common sense among our political
sneakers. All sober-minded men are dis
gusted by hearing a speaker endeavor to
over come his adversary by indulging in such
epithets as would do honor to fishmonger of
Billingsgate. Let us have some courtesy in
political discussion, let spirit of moderation
in manner and temperance in utterance be
inculcated; for unless some such reform is
speedily made, we fear to think of what the
style OF argument in the next generation will
be. The children who see their fathers always
slake their fists in an opponents face, viii
very likely not hesitate to put bullet through
political opponent when they are men, ant
all discussion will degenerate into brute force
1t is a duty our public men owe to thei
children, as well as to their own seli-respect
that the excessive intemperance OF Language
be Immediately abandoned, and reason ant
politeness once more resume their sway.