The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-16
THE NEW YORK PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPICs-ColIPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
The Democracy and the South.


ln SO much haste to reunite with the Demo.
Bratic party of the North, as the leaders and
organs of that party evidently expect. Gov.
Rrnor Orr's speech in Charleston not long ago
confirmed this opinion. In common with a
good many Southern politicians, who always
before the war were Democrats, he now pro
tests against any such coalition, and gives some
very cogent reasons therefor.
A writer in the Charleston Is. c. Courier,
writing from this city, comments on that
speech in the following terms-
NEW YORK, April S-Governor Orr's speech
at the banquet given by the Char lesion board
ot Trade, is published and commen tea upon py
most New nork papers IJs IOne, ~ ~ ne
TO parties, is not relished by Democrats, II Jne
South Qhe late Confederate senlmenG mas
any friends at all at the North. they are to be
found in the Democratle orgahlzaJlon, anu NOT
among the radicals. why tne Soqth it ,sIo snouio
and couuet with the party which has waged
this terrible war, ana brought down all this ruin,
is difficult to understand. For opposing the on
ward march of Radicalism, the Northern Demo-
Gratis were driven out of power in 1860 and for six
long wears since. for the crimes of standing
Nv The Constitution and the rights OF the
South, these Democrats have suffered insult
and persecution, imprisonment and mob
bing. If they have not been able to attain
power and stop The pressure upon the South,
il has not been for the want of striving. The
suned sympathy for the South. The National
Democratic Convention at Chicago in 1864 de-
clared the war to be failure on the part of the
Federal Government, and that declaration was
the cause of the party defeat in every Northern
State. Now that the party has maintained its
organization, and steadily increased its num-
bers in the face of all these adverse circum-
st inces until as in Connecticut, it is beginning
TO r-gain its old asceudancy, and now that the
Republican party is torn by intesti ne quarrels,
and is on the verge of dissolution, it is curious
policy to destroy the old friends by deserting
Them, and give a new lease of power to the old
enemies by joining them.
The charge is made that the Democratic party
of the North promised to stand by the South,
and prevent coercion in 1861, and that the pro-
mise was not Kept, In response, it is said that
the party would have thrown itself into the
breach il, at the critical moment, it had not
been deserted by many of its prominent men.
A large portion OF its members were carried off
into the Republican ranks by such Democratic
leaders as DIX, Dickinson, Butler, Logan, For
ney, SickleS, Stanton, and Cochrane. This left
the party in helpless minority, and for refus-
ing TO follow those leaders into crusade upon
the South, 1t has been in minority ever since.
Now it is proposed that the South shall abandon
the consistent DEMOCRATS (Franklin Pierce,
Thomas II. Seymour Horatio Sey.uour, Charles
O'Conor, Isaac Toucey, and the like, and
affiliate, perhaps, with The party of which But
Ter, Logan, and Forney are leaders.
These are some of the reflections in which the
Democrats here indulge, in commenting upon
Governor orr's proposed change OF policy
Several points seem to be established by this
statement, made on behalf of the Democrats
of the North:-
/. If the 'Iate Confederate Sentiment'' of the
South has any friends at all in the North at
present, they are to be found in ''the Demo-
cratic organization as it still exists.
2. If the Democrats did not stop the war
before the South was subdued and leave them
in possession of what they claimed as their
rights and for which they plunged into rebel
lion, sit was not for the want of striving" but
because they were overborne by the sentiment
of the Northern people.
3. The Democratic party would have Gre
deemed its promise to stand by the South and
prevent coercion in lS6l'-if sat the critical
moment it had not been deserted by many of
its prominent men,"
4. The consistent Democrats" who were
for throwing the ''party into the breach" and
going to the aid of the Southern Rebellion as
they had promised to do, were thrown into a
minority and were thus disabled from keep
ing their promises but they ought now to be
recognized and rewarded by the South for
having done everything they could, under the
circumstances, to aid the Rebellion: they,
and the party organization which they lead,
ought not to be now abandoned by the South
ern States.
We commend these admissions to the atten-
tion of the World And we venture to suggest
that the leaders of Southern opinion are not
likely, in their political action, to be guided or
governed by gratitude for past promises, so
much as by an intelligent estimate of future
advantages. They are not in condition to
base their public action upon sentiment
1t may be quite true, as undoubtedly it is,
that the Democratic leaders did not keep theil
promises, simply because they could not; but
in public affairs it is quite as fatal to be una
BILE as tits to be unwilling, to fulfil pledges on the
strength of which allies and associates have
staked their existence.
The South has no object in allying its for
tunes with party which is likely to be power
less in the Northern States. It's necessities
compel it to do otherwise. 1t wants help
practical material, immediate aid; and it mus
go to those who can give it. The statements
on which the Democrats base their appeal t
the South are precisely what will keep then
out of power in the North. And the South ii
Aauite sagacious enough to see it.
Nm our Judgment, the next Presidential ,elec
Nwill decide the action of the South, anC
|l 4 Rlitical character of the country for
Aany years to come The present de
lion of the most prominent leaders o
Ablican party is to nominate an ex
resentative of the radical sentimen
lndidate; but in our opinion the.
9ason for changing that purpose befor
ination is made. If the Republican
nomination some man whose tidelit,
Aion during the war is not open t
whose desire for restoration on tn
Lablished by the Union victory
but who does not assent to an
ines of confscation, Impeachment
and general oppression whic
N leaders have promulgated an
md in whose patriotism, SCUM
and frmness of character the cour
has full confidence, they wi
election, and will have a majorit
bar,, GNa4oe oir yoo1itioal al lie