The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-05
The south and the situation.

The south and the situation.
From he Times
The damage inflicted upon the National Union
moven ent by the bad faith of the Northern De-
mocrats naturally reacts with peculiar force
upon the people of the South. The moderation,
the sober sense, the evident desire to conciiate
whichIdistinguished the Southern delegates at
Philadelphia, merited more considerate re-
turn on the part of those who claim TO be their
friends in the Northern States. To bring back
genuine national harmony, the representatives
of the South were prepared to acquiesce cor
daily in the propositions and plans conceived
with special reference to the requirements of
Northern sentiment. They indicated readiness
TO ,forego opinions and preferences that the
general cause of the Union might be thereby
benefited. The least they had right to ex-
pect by way OF response was Willingness to
sacrifice partisan prejudice and greed, that
nothing might retaId the combination OF Union
forces in the States which will this autumn de-
te1mine the grave issues now on trial before the
country.
Why these national expectations have been
bafLed, the South need have no difficulty In
judging. For whatever disappointment it may
suffer, the South may thank those who, like the
New YORK Democracy, nave preferred the graft
icat1on OF their paltry ambition and the promo
ton of their corrupt plans to the organization
OF great Union party with every lair guarantee
of success. In other words, if the South to-day
discern cloud over the prospecC presented at
Philadelphia, IL is because the Democrats have
refused to abide by the conditions which were
there solemnly ratified. They have broken faith
plighted with liberal Republicans and with the
South, and have applied themselves instead TO
the hopeless task of reviving and aggrandiZing
the Democratic party.
If aueht were wanted to teach the South the
folly Of looking for counsel or succor TO the
Democracy OF the North, surely this last display
Oft nnavu ulNn NnttlA hn nfanh nfnh
have been some excuse for it had the Democratic
party, as a distinctive organization, the slightest
hope of victory. The duplicIty, the in6delity,
would have remained the same as towards the
liberal Republicans; but the South might not
necessarily have suffered in the same degree
The certainty of defeat, however, deprlves the
party even of this poor apology. Trammelled
with the odium incurred by its leaders during
the war, it has nowhere the slightest chance of
success. 1t is chargeable, therefore, with the
deliberate betrayal of the South as well as of
those who composed the Philadelphia Con-
Vention.
1t Is for the South now to acknowledge the
significance OF indlsputable facts, and TO govern
itself accordingly. The hopes engendered by
the magnificent gathering at Philadelphia have
been wantonly destroyed. The patriotic move
ment there inaugurated has been summarily
and ine8cusably arrested. There Is no longer
reasonable. ground for supposing that in Penn
sylvania, In Ohio, IN Indiana, or New York the
principles affirmed by the Convention will be
sustained at the polls. The probability of
achieving triumph of Union principles By the
joint efforts OF conservative Republicans and
moderate Democrats Is at an end. And the
South cannot TOO soon accept the conclusion,
that, in the adjustment of existing differences,
ii will be required to deal with the party now
represented by the majority in Congress.
Z Ii the South were made up OF men resem-
bling Mayor Monroe, Of New Orleans, or If any
considerable proportion of Its people were likely
to act upon the advice of divers OF our Demo-
cratic neighbors, there might be danger of a
rQf1 aI IN N lnuI nf
But since the war the South has eyinced more
calmness and discretion than it has been credited
with. The conduct and language OF those
whom 1t cent to Philadelphia afford ground
for the opinion that it neither demands nor
expects eXtravagant concessions. 1t is anxious
above all things for restored Union, tor a
reconstructed industry, for revival of com
merce, and the obliteratIon OF passions and
prejudices growing out of the struggle Com
pared with these things, politics, as hitherto
understood are OF trihing account. And all
attempts OF Democratic candidates and writers
in the North to encourage the Southern people
in pretenslOns which, III present circumstances,
caLnot possibly be sustained, will,gwe believe,
tail OF their purpo,e. ..-..
The Southern people are not fools that they
should intrust the repair OF their ruined for
tunes TO party which is destined TO defeat IN
every Northern State. They are not lunatics
that they should make their peace and pros
perity contingent upon the triumph of the
Executive in the face of the emphatic verdict of
the North Their recent action affords proof
that they are prepared to acquiesce with good
grace iu that which is ineXorable. And the I'm.
proved tone of the Richmond Examiner, and
journals OF that stamp-the earnestness with
which they are devoting themselves TO questions
connected with the material welfare of their
respective, localties-ther evident desire tC
solve the problem of negro labor and education
in spirit of kindness and humanity-e encourage
the hope that the South will not fail to compre
hend the situation as now II IS and to prepare
for the changes which really seem to be in
evitable.