The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-09

ganized without them; State Constitutions
will be framed after the Missouri and Tennes-
see pattern, disiranchising all who cannot take
an Odious oath; and voluntary abstention will
be exchanged for permanent Acknowledgement.
If Conventions are held and Constitutions
formed without their participation, those Con
stitutions will be promptly accepted by this
bgOted radical Congress, and the States adj
mitted under them. Military rule might be
tolerable; but inaction will not secure the
continuance even Of this hideous blessing.
The real choice lies between negro radical con
troll, and reorganization by the white majority
under the Sherman bill. A policy of in6ction
is not in conformity with the restless. impa-
tent American character, and the people
cannot, for any length of time, be held to it.
But IL the Southern States are reorganized
by the negro-radlcal element, the work will
neverbe undone; for, in that case, the Southern
States themselves will send radical Repre-
sentatives to swell the Republican majority in
Congress.
We feel no sort of squeamishness in resting
recommendations on party grounds. We
would never consent to belong ~ a party that
did not honestly aim at the public good; and
why should we hesitate to advise what will
conduce to its success The sixty or seventy
Southern electoral votes are worth trying for,
and the election of n conservative President
the North. II, by the aid of the South, we
can elect the next President, the presence of
the Southern members of Congress will render
his vetoes efficient, and the radical domination
under which the South groans will be broken
There is time enough for this if the South will
act with reasonable promptness.
1t is not at all necessary to wait for the ap-
proval by Congress of the new Constitutions
before organizing the State Governments under
them. 1t has been the usual practice in the
Territories, when permission was given to
form a State Government, to elect all the
State officers, and set the Government at once
in motion, before submitting the Constitution
to Congress. The Legislature meets and elects
Senators; Representatives are chosen under
the State laws; and the delegation to Congress
and the State Constitution appear in Wash
inGtOn at the same time. If the FOrteth
Congress adiouns to October, there is no
reason why the South may not, if it chooses,
be ready for admission at the opening of the
session.
1t is true, they run the risk of breach of
faith on the part of Congress; but even if Con-
gress is faithless, their labor will not be in
vain. Their action will prevent the Bolts
PieIpont party getting the start Of them, and
taking the reorganization out of their hands
If this party present themselves to Congress
with new constitution, it will of course be
accepted, and the State promptly admitted.
The white majority should take events by the
torelock, If for no other purpose than heading
OF this movement. In fact, if they prefer
military rule to readmssion under the Sher-
man bill, their only chance of retaining this
melancholy boon is by taking charge of the
reorganization movement, and so managing
1t as to insure rejection. But we think it
would be better to manage it with a view to
success,