The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-04
The Political Future.
Iron The Times.


The political history of the past two years
has been little more than record of the tri-
umphs of what was originally the Abolition
party, and which has since become the ultra,
absolutist element in the Republican party.
This element has driven that party from the
constitutional position which it held down to
1864, and from one point to another, each
more advanced" and extreme than its prede-
cessor, ever since that time.
Where this movement is to stop, or whether
it is to stop at all, is matter of conjecture. If
it does stop, it will be from compulsion and not
from choice. Every victory thus far has proved
to be only the precursor of new demands; and
this is quite as true now as it was year ago.
They have secured universal suffrage for the
blacks Of the Southern States, with the exclu-
sion from the ballot-box of large portion of
the whites; they have abrogated wholly the
supremacy of law as administered by the civil
tribunals and have subjected the South to
military control; and they have succeeded in
giving Congress absolute authority in the Ma
tional Government. For all this thus far they
have had the general acquiescence and support
of the people.
1t becomes a matter of considerable import
ance to watch carefully all indications as to
what this restless, insatiate, and potent ele-
ment OF the dominant party proposes to do
next. What they propose to-day may be laD
tomorrow. Judging from the past, it is very
likely to be so. We published yesterday a
letter from Senator Sumner and an article
from the Ant,- Slavery Standard which will be
read with interest in this connection.
Mr.. Summers leading object in his letter is
to insist upon subjecting suffrage in all the
States North and South to the regulation of
,n11c IIa ln,, IL, Cf4 n
no longer be left free to define the qualifications
OF voters within their limits, but that this
shall be done by Congress. And he frankly
aVoWs that the specific object of this funda-
mental change in the practice of the Govern
ment, is to secure the negro vote in all the
States for the Republican party. "There are
Northern States" he says, ''where the votes
OF the negroes can make the good cause safe
beyond question:" and he is therefore in favor
OF giving the negroes the right to vote in every
state, without consulting the Constitution
laws, or will of the people thereof The fact
that the Constitution of the United States re-
cognlzes, in express and explicit language
the right OF each State to regulate the suffrage
and to prescribe the conditions of its exercise
within its limits, is passed over by Mr.. Sum
ner as utterly unworthy of notice. He conde-
scends not to forget "the hesitations' which
nave been experienced on the subject, but this
If Mr. Sumner and his friends can make it
so, TINS is to be henceforward plank in the
platform OF the Republican party. Thus far
~ mas not been enforced as doctrine abso-
lutely essential to political salvation; but we
cannot ian rely on the indefinite indulgence of
p plls gracious and gratuitous federation. Those
nepupheans I'VE who hesitate to assert and uphold
tt sio "Ds9lote authority of Congress to control
the sutrage in every State will vary soon
come to be denounced as the oonfaderSs+es Of
Copperheads and Rebels. '''''
Inc Antl-Siavey Standard, which has been
for some time past the fruitful sonrea .''' 90 in
SPiration for the advanced" WING Of the
tSI1 hSePuG1hoan party, is still more sweeping,
IL i,a not more peremptory than Mr.. Sum
Republican majority in the Fortisth sns
as treaoherous and oowardly. n sbirIoaB the
Impeachment of the President which U With ItS