The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-23
The Danger of Our Party from its
Friends.

r.
that its commendation of Congress, for striking
"rolden mean" between the extremes, would
meet with the earnest approval of the great
mass of the Republican party. It's Ccngratu-
1o,;on on the action of Congress is really
D;oca Of excellent advice rendered to the
Ranublioan leaders of the North, and is a hid
dan rebuke to certain of them for the reckless
extremes towards which they are seeking to
hurry the party. In the ranks of our friends
are those who are likely to do us far greater
damage than any of the host of our enemies.
There are enthusiasts who, in their desire
sincere and conscientious, we willingly allow
to do what is right, are endangering the success
of the very cause which they desire to aid.
To all such we will apply the advice of Mr..
COlfax, and request them to put down the
brakes and stop the too rapid progress which
will endanger our success.
Among those who are thus reckless, we know
of no one so likely to do damage as the Hon.
Charles Sumner. Mr. Summers true place in
a political contest is on the side of the mi
nority. As an aggressive and guerilla war
rior, he is invaluable; but when the majority is
than support. For the past year he has
been seeking to get through Congress bill to
declare universal suffrage in all the States Of
the Union. He has been attempting to have
law passed which will compel the reception of
black votes in Pennsylvania and all the West
ern, as well as in the Southern States. This
measure is to be forced upon us by free con-
of AI..A IL IS 4ha sf,k,n
which declares that 'the United States shall
guarantee to each State a republican form of
government" Assuming that no Govern
ment is republican in form which denies to
any class the right of suffrage, Mr.. Sumner
favors the declaration of universal suffrage
throughout all the States In this view of the
subject we do not sympathize with the Senator
from Massachusetts,, nor do we think he will
be supported by any respectable portion of the
Republican party in this country. Such a
construction of this clause is evidently an
error. No such meaning was ever intended
by the trainers of the Constitution. Nor do
we think that the United States have any right
to dictate to Pennsylvania on the subject. 1t
is one of the privileges reserved to the States
allows us to believe that such a construction
is authorized. Yet Mr.. Sumner, knowing that
the party were not willing to accept such a
measure and knowing equally well that the
Democrats would make great political capital
out of its proposition did not hesitate to seek
to produce discord by its introduction into
the Senate
The great body of the Republican Senators,
seeing at once that such a step would be
wrong and ill-advised, even if lawful, refused
to receive the resolution; but the effort so far
as Mr.. Summer is concerned, is nevertheless as
dangerous as though it had been adopted.
This, then, is one of the types of those enemies
who are far more dangerous than host of the
Pendletons, Vallandigharns, and Woods OF the
whole country combined.
Again, the agitation of the question Of
female suffrage is calculated to drive the con
servative Republicans away from the party
There is a strong feeling in the breasts of a vas
number of gentlemen against what are termed
isms. They do not object to reforms; but
when any of the dOgmas of societies in
which orators mingle without regard to sex
or color, come before them, they naturally
oppose any of the propositions.
Nor can we wonder, when we visit such an
assembly, that the best proposition which they
could have originated should be received with
suspicion. This woman-suhrage movement
arising from such associations, does not NEE
the support of the great mass of the people
male or female. The attempt recently mad,
in New York to saddle this theory on the Re.
publican party would have been fatal had /
succeeded. 1t is another Of those evils which
coming from our own party, are far more fata
than any attack from the opposition.
Il is of vital Importance to the continuanc
of the great party of liberty in the power {
the Government, that we should not allow tn
exoasses of any members of the party to il
volve us in trouble. There is no danger
the people of the United States not bein
rodical enough. The continual recurrence
evils which have grown up for centuries, a.
which it will take a century to correct, W
supply an ample number OF windmillS agar
which our valiant Don QuixStes can char
The temper of the people is inclined at
asaDt 70 favor means too radical rather u
those which are too conservative. With !
exceedingly radical spirit animating cert
Of our leaders, we think the advice OF Mr. I
f"v "a verv timely Keep to the middle WI
Ae~- - Il q bact Aftar a few yea