The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-10
why Did the Great Reaction Begin in
California;

California
From the N. y World.
Some enthusiastic Democrats may incline
to answer that California leads the great pa
triotic awakening simply because, in the fall
elections of this year, hers comes first. There
would doubtless be a strong element of truth
in this explanation for noteworthy symptoms
of an altered public sentiment were apparent
in the Atlantic States long before any indica-
tions of a change ON the Pacific coast were
observable here. We took occasion, several
weeks ago, to point out and dwell upon some
of these symptoms. The most remarkable and
trustworthy was the inclination of part of
IL Republican parry to nominate General
Grant for President. The aggressive tone of
the Republican party was wonderfully let
down when great portion of the party de-
sired the nomination of man deemed of neu-
tral or doubtful politics.
When political party is thus lowered ON
great ebb of public feeling, and half of its
members become practically neutral there is
good reason for hoping that the politics of the
country will no longer be controlled by gusts
of sectional excitement. The disposition of
large portion Of the Republicans to nominate
General Grant, was perhaps a truer gauge of
the subsistence of sectional passions than any
other that could have been furnished. 1t
showed a widespread and unconscious deser-
tion of Republican principles. 1t was general
sinking of the flames while no engines were
playing on them, proving that the combus-
tibles which had fed them were nearly burnt
out. The recent boldness of President JOHN
son. and, what is more significant, the uneasi-
ness and CONSERVATION it causes in the Repub-
ican party, is another proof of change.
The Republican party now makes sponta-
neous confession that its only hope of saliva
tion lies in impeaching the President. This
confession of weakness is all the more telling
for being unconscious. The great, boastful,
arrogant Republican party, which has so con-
fdently proclaimed the death and advertised
the funeral of the rival organization, and
which has a majority of four to one in both
Houses of Congress, quakes with fear when
the President musteTs courage enough to
change one Cabinet officer and two generals.
This arrogant party abandons all its assurance
unless so dangerous man can be summaTily.
deposed. When so vaunting a party is so
easily discOmposed, ii is a proof that its lead
ers have lost their confidence.
Those .sanguine Democrats, therefore, who
are ready to say that California is in the van
of the great reaction only because her election is
held first, are not without reason. Butwe, never
theless, think that they put the case rather
strongly. We regard it as fortunate that the
California election occurred first, forrwe sup
pose the reactionary tendencies to Be some
what ripper there than in any other State in
the Union. In other States, the tone Of the
Republicans is indeed lowered, but the conser-
vatized Republicans had not acquired courage
enough to openly change sides, till they should
see others leading the way. The energetic,
entelprising Californians are naturally bolder
than the people of older communities; and it