The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-20
Thoughts for the Thoughtful Among
Conservatives.

Oreaave parties OF other counIlesj 10 Ihe |
Uniform favorable results which have every
where followed the carrying out of those doc
trines. In the days of the pro-slavery and
anti-slavery discussions in this country, the
wrongs and outrages of the slave system
formed the staple of the arguments against the
institution. They were, doubtless, effective in
reaching the sympathies and moral sense of
the people; but it may well be doubted
whether the positive beneficial effects of freedom,
as daily displayed in the intel
ligence, culture, wealth, and power Of
the nation itself, were not the strongest posi-
BILE arguments against slavery. So, in advo-
eating the fullest realization of the great prin-
ciples of political equality which lie at the
basis Of our system of government, we can
constantly appeal to the fact, demonstrated
over and over again, that the extension of
political rights and privileges works so well in
practice, that no retrograde movement has
ever been attempted in our country, or could
be attempted with any chance of success. For
instance, in the earlier history of the country
property qualification for suffrage was almost
universally required 1t has since been
abolished, we believe, in every State. This
involved vast extension of the right Of suf-
frage, yet no evil results followed. Nobody
now proposes to go back to the policy of
restricted suffrage in that respect. The liberal
policy has worked well in practice. 1t has vim
dicated itself by its results.
If we take those States in the Union which
have adopted the most liberal ideas in regard
to the equality of political rights those,
indeed, which place no restriction whatever
upon the right of manhood suffrage, do we find
any evil results following On the contrary,
in what other States will we find better
schools, intelligence more widely diffused
among the masses, wiser laws for the protec-
tion of person and property, public and pri-
vate works of charity better sustained; in
word where else will we find that organiza-
tion of society which we call government
more wisely or benefcently performing its
functions Now it is universally conceded
that one fact is worth whole volumes of theory.
Scientific savans demonstrated theoretically
that no steamship could ever cross the
Atlantic; yet the first one that did cross scat
tered their theories to the winds. When the
plan of Pacific Railroad was broached, dis
tinguished Senator brought forward the objec-
tion that the immense herds of bufaloes
roaming over the plains would destroy the
track.
The road has already been built straight
through the great buffalo range, and not
sr0ss.tIe or rail has ever been disturbed by
them. So those theorists who always pro-
phesy evil against the people, who doubt their
capacity for self-government, who go into
spasms at every proposal to widen the base
of the great pyramid of social organization,
we point to the admitted and potent fact that
the people do know how to govern them
selves, that they are doing 1t, and that they
are doing it most successfully where the great
principle of equal rights is most thoroughly
carried out into practical results. We point
to the successful voyage of the ship of state
upon the sea of Democracy, as the triumphant
reply to those who prophesied disaster and
utter failure.
In view of what liberal principles have done
for our cOuntry--of their acknowledged sue
Cess-of their beneficial results where most
fully carried out, we would like to ask intelli-
gent conservatives, who still hesitate and hold
back, whether, after all, if we were to close
this great struggle of thirty years. standing
by the authoritative and definite settlement
that, hereafter, in the United States, absolute
political equality should prevail among all
classes of citizens, whether, we say, it would
not be the wisest possible course for all parties
to pursue2 The final settlement of this
question is most desirable, in whatever
aspect we view it. The grounds OF citizen
ship and the status of the citizen should be
fixed. So long as they remain unsettled,
politics in this country must remain in an
abnormal and unnatural condition. We can
not move forward to the consideration of true
political issues, such as finance, taxation, pub.
Iic improvements, etc., until we get these
fundamental questions affecting the rights O
citizenship settled upon definite and endur
ng basis. The moment this shall be don,
there viii be great reorganization of parties
Questions of the policy of conducting the Gov
eminent, instead of those exciting and funda
mental issues as to its real character, vii
then command the public attention. Ono
settle it that the character of this Govern
nent Is that of equal rights for all its cit
zens let all parties recognize that q
a definite fnality of slavery and all the quei
tiOns growing out Of it, and we then give o.