The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-07

day listless and apathetio towards the self-same
cause Of human rights which lately they de-
Tended as the Crusaders defended the Holy
Sepulohre. When the tide of public feeling
swells high, il is almost sure, soon afterwards,
TO sink low. We trust that the popular en-
thusiasm for equal rights is now at its low
water mark, aud that the next token will be
rising wave. Tie late elections were lost by
default. II is fortunate that their harmful
results are local. not general. But If the
coming Presidential election shall be lost by
deiaut-Or If, like "the shield OF the mighty. -
IL shall be ''vilely cast away'-the damage to
the country will be universal and irremediable
II is vain to say the Presidential contest
does not begin till next summer; it has begun
already. 1t is waxing hot at this moment
True, the candidates are not yet ohosen nor
is there any need OF haste in choosing them
In fact the longer the choice is deferred the
better. Let us have the advantage of the
very last moment TO make the very best
choice. Next June will be time enough to
name the ittest man. But the platform on
which this candidate is 10 stand is chosen
already. No thoughtful Republican is igno-
rant as TO what II ought to be, must be, and
shall be. Il is nothing less than liberty
equality, and fraternity Except with dis
honor and shame, the Union party can fly
no banner that does not unfurl the legend of
equal Rights to ALL" Here and there we are
surrender. The cowardly friends of polti-
cal party are more 10 be dreaded by it than its
bravest foes. A Republican who talks Of
lowering the standard of the Republican party
might better join the adversary at once.
The time for planting fruits and flowers is
the spring; but the time for planting prin-
oples and ideas is the winter. The intel
lectual, moral, and religious progress of the
world goes forward thrice as fast when
nerved by frosts and SHOWS as when unnerved
10y thaws and heats. Churches grow deci
mated and languid in midsummer. The lyceum
shines only in the winter solstiee Political
mass meetings would melt into mists on July
nights. But the crisp, sharp, bracing weather
of this young December calls to the post of
duty all men of ideas, all men of public
influence, all popular writers, all platform
speakers, all leaders of moral reform-sum-
moning them all, as with Roderick's horn,
to take up once again the weapons OF the Good
Fight.
Very frankly let us say that the pulpits of
the loyal North ought now to re-begin that
leadership of popular opinion which they so
nobly, conspicuOusy, and usefully maintained
during the war. The great issues which are
fastening TO the verdict Of next fall involve
the highest social and moral interests Of man
kind. Except for the incessant and unfalter-
ing aid of the Northern churches during the
war-churohes OF every sect and name-the
over the Rebellion. And, unless just such
aid shall still be rendered by the outspoken
pulpits of an unfettered ministry during the
coming twelve months, the cause of freedom
will suffer peril next November. Why was
the war fought out at all il the fruits of vic
tory are at last to be wasted, AS the North
ern pulpits helped forward a righteous war,
so let them now help forward just recon-
stIuction. The lesson Of the New Testament
is, 'First pure, then peaceable." Till there
be justice there can be no peace.
The press of the country, cOmprehensively
speaking, is intellectually active, able, and
critical-never more so than now but, on the
other hand, it is now less enthusiastic, less
| glowing less fred with patriotic ardor, than
| it was two or three years ago. Newspapers,
for the most part, rise and fall with the people;
they are chips on the popular wave. But the
| true function of journalism is not merely TO
state, but to make, opinions; not merely to
follow, but to lead, parties. Half the Repub-
| lican journals, East and West, for the last six
months, might as well have been written in
| water. We have never known so great a
| general tameness in the political utteranoes Of
The Republican party as at present. To this
| remark the Tribune is a conspicuous eXcep-
! tion. And we are glad that its editor, who
has been confirmed by the Senate as Minister
to Austria, does not think Of going thither;
for he is needed at home to fight out the bat
stifily begun against the time serving section
of his own party.
Congress, like q company of gladiators in
the arena, is watched by all eyes. We have
high hopes of this winters session. No abler
representative body ever sat since the Revolu-
tiOn. II knows its duty; and it has the will
and power to perform IL. It's only weak point
is lack of courage. But we hail the report of
the Impeachment Committee as one of the
most auspicious signs Of a courageous fidelity
| to duty that we have ever known National
Legislature to exhibit. Let both Houses join
in impeaching and removing the perfdious
and dangerous President Of the United
States The speedy downfall OF this bold,
bad man would electrify the country. Bon
fires would be lighted, bells rung, thanks
| givings offered, and the whole land shout
for Joy Let the great act be done, and done
| quickly
But, after all, the hope of the Republic is
neither in its pulpit, nor in its press, nor in
| its Congress but in its people. To the mul-
| titudes of our fellow-cOuntrymen who love
| liberty, who have made sacrifices in its defense,
and who have buried their dead for its sake,
we say, the time has now come for beginning
a final and crowning triumph for the good
| cause. We know not how others feel but all
| the signs OF the times indicate to ourselves
that an unusual struggle is about TO open
between the two great political parties OF this
| nation on, the still unquieted question OF the
negro's rights. II the Republican party is to
abandon the negro, let it be abandoned OF God.
| But the Republican party has too much brains
in its leadership to commit selfslaughter.
That great party-the party that must win
a victory next year. and must govern the
country the next four yeaTs-cannot, even for
| success and mower disregard the Christian