The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-18

we have renewed efforts to prove that the
country has pronounced against the Republi-
can requirements while the earnestness with
which these efforts are made has the effect OF
deceiving the disaffeoted SOutherners, who
seek excuses for oOntemning the law. evil
the Republicans now obey the will of the peo-
pleY" is the inquiry Of the Charleston Mer-
curry, by which is means, "Will the party in
power now dare TO push forward reconstruction
on the basis laid down by Congress 2"
Why not To pretend that ''the will of the
people" has manifested itself against the
policy Of Congress and in favor of the Demo
cratic purposes on the subject Of recoustruc-
ton, Is either folly or fraud. The people of
Ohio have shown that they are against negro
suffrage in their own State, but what has this
to do with suffrage in the States lately in
rebellion Or by what hoous-pocus can the
verdict Of Massachusetts against prohibition
be construed into a verdict for the unoondi-
tional admission of the South, or the revolt OF
New York against the license law and the
knavery and corruption of politicians into
protest against guarantees for loyalty and
peace The Southern newspapers which
oppose the law aud assail its authors may
be glad to have any pretext for their
course, and may pervert the import
of the elections accordingly. But they
are heaping up modification for themselves
and wrath for those who may be weak enough
TO accept their counsel For, though there
can be no doubt that the hold of the Repub-
lican party has been weakened by the eXtrava-
gance of many of its leaders, it must be remem-
bered that their ultraism relates rather to
projects which have been promulgated than
to the course which has thus far been pursued
towards the South. Impeachment, confsca-
tion, interference with the rights of States
now in the Union, coupled with general dis
satisfaction occasoned by the failure of Con-
gTess to satisfy the wants of the country in
regard to taxation and fnance-these are the
main operating causes of the diminished
Republican vote, and not the question of
reconstruction in the shape in which it now
stands. ..f. .
If Democratic gains proceeded from dislike
of the measures actually adopted by the Re-
publican party, we must infer that prefer
ence existed for the Democratic policy. But
can anybody tell us what the Democratic
policy at this moment is 7 Beyond a general
onslaught upon the action Of Congress, what
does it amount to What is the Democratic
plan of reconstruction, for instance or the
Democratic scheme of financed or the Demo-
cratic measure touching taxationH or the
Democratic doctrine in relation to negroes
and the suffragel Genuine party success can
only be predicated upon alleged approval of
some or all of the partys views on these sub
jects. But what these views are is a mystery.
Mr. Belmont and Mr.. Pendleton are as wide
apart on these questions OF finance and taxa
tion as are the World and the great body of
| the Democratic press in reference to compro-
mise as the prelude to reconstruction. With
what degree of truth can it be said, then, that
| the late events indicate reaction from the
Republican policy in favor Of the Democratic
policy .., N..f. ...
The opinien of the Southern opposition, of
| which the Charleston Mercury is fair speci-
men, evidently is that ''the will of the people,
| of the North turns in the direction OF imme-
diate, unshackled admission. 50 far as the
| Democracy have a policy, this is unquestion-
| ably its explanation. Their assaults upon
| the Reconstruction acts are made with the
design of securing the readmissiOn of the
| South without any condition or guarantees
| whatever
They aim at bringing back the old Southern
politicians, and reinvesting the old pro-slavery
| party with absolute authority in Southern
affairs. None of the recent elections, how
ever, have been won upon this issue. In no
State have the party managers ventured to
proclaim this as their object; for well they
| know that nowhere at the North could State
be carried on such a platform Everywhere
would the unconditional admission of the
| South be interpreted to signify "uncondi
tiOnal surrender to the South" and the
| Southern friends of the Democratic party have
lived to little purpose if they have not learned
the hOpelessness of contest conducted on thi;
| ground. . ... H..