Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-30
WENDELL PHILLIPS ON THE srru.
ALTON.

That fanatical tribune of Radicalism
WENDELL PHILLIPS, prints characteristic
article in a recent issue Of the Anti-SaUaJ
Standard. PHILLIPS is fanatic, and like
his class is frank and outspokeH; but he has
more sense than men of single idea gen.
orally have. He is shrewd and far-sighted
"He knows from a little what good deal
means" lie is fully aware Of the import.
ance Of the Philadelphia Convention, and
does not underrate its influence. He chides
his co-laborers who are 50 weak and silly as
10 attempt to belittle and ridicule it
lie has the sagacity TO see that i
"the things that make for peace
prevail, Radicalism will soon shrink to the
diminutiye dimensions Of the sect Of which
he and GARRIsoN were the chiefs twenty
years ago. He interprets the Philadelphia
movement 20 mean peace conservatism
national integrity individual rights, on he
basis Of The Constitution. He knows that the
people are unprepared for the impracticable
ideas Of reform which constitute the shib-
boleth Of the political party which circum-
stances have contributed to build up. He
sees clearly that the movement at Phila-
delphia has consolidated popular sentiment
against it. He knows, too, that agita-
ton and the turmoil Of the public
passions is the only element in which
the Radical organization can hope to sur
yive. Though no politician, he knows that
able and successful men are at the head Of
the Conservative column. To quote his
own language, he is free 70 confess that ne can
see great reason % fear he effect Of such Con-
pention as dat Of Philadelphia"
Admitting the danger, he boldly and earn
estly portrays the elements Of weakness in
the Radical ranks. He tells them that they
have yielded ground-that they have sur-
rendered the outer works-that the very
citadel is beleaguered by the hosts of con-
servatism--that the crisis is at hand-that
they are confronted by a compact and
formidable organization with able leaders,
and an indOmitable captain, who knows no
such word as fail, and bears banner with
the legend, TaHdem triunphans. He abuses
them for vacillation and cOwardice, and
plainly tells them that the cause is desperate
unless the last resort Of desperate men can
save IT, He tells them that all their efforts
to goad ANDREW JOHNSON into an indis-
erection have failed-that he is too wise and
too confident in his strength to resort to a
coup detat against Congress-that the
President has banked that Radical
scheme utterly. He exhorts them to
consider at once the question Of revolution
airy means TO sustain the cause of Radical
ism against the Executive. He uses direct
and unambiguous words He gives the key
note. He speaks the wish, and if they dared
to do it, the purpose Of the Radical leaders.
He says, speaking of Congress:
Our duty IS 10 put there men rho wiU, at
al hazards, sdUe The nation remembering that
they stand UAere The Long Parliament stood IN
1919; and though he block and are IN front Of
the palace may be no fitting measure nO,g, tkey
are bound 10 find and use some measure ft and
efficient 10 secure their purpose, the deposition
Of he pejurea and Hsurpiag traitor"
The President must be deposed by some
means or other. Decapitation may not be
necessary, and civil war may be avoided, but
the headsman stands ready by the block,
and the dogs Of war are "straining on the
start" win the Philadelphia Radical Con-
vention meet the question thus boldly?