The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-29

ment-are not deemed fit to have the suffrage
we have given it to the negroes lust set free
from slavery. This has not been done out of
love for the negro, nor because he is deemed
intelligent enough to have the suffrage, but
because the politicians want to use him.
The Northern Democrats hope their ancient
allies OF the South who constituted the majo-
rity in former times, may be able to bring over
the negroes to them. The old Southern Wings
are earnestly at work, and are really making
some headway in some of the States, to get the
black vote with a view to supremacy in the
South, and probably with view to support
the moderate Republicans against the radi-
Gals. The Republicans of both the conserva-
tive and radical stamp have earnestly begun a
sort OF missionary campaign to convert the
newborn American citizens of African de-
scent to their party and views. This is all for
political power-the Offices and spoils in the
future.
In this struggle it is not very easy to foresee
the result; for, as we said, the circumstances
are novel and unprecedented Still looking
al all the movements referred to and at the
signs of the times, the radicals appear to have
the best chance of succeeding. Wendell Phil
lips, the great apostle and pioneer of radical
ism, has proclaimed his political gospel, and
doubtless, the lesser lights and less advanced
of his party will follow him as they have fol-
lowed heretofore. Revolutions, it is said, never
60 backward; certainly, they rarely stop until
they culminate in the most extreme measures.
The Military bill of Congress, for the recon-
struction OF the South, is declared by Wendell
Phillips as zone step only" and that "the ele-
ment that was coming next Chat is, in the
progress of radical measures) would say to
the South that the negro should not only have
the ballot, but forty acres of land under his
feet" He holds, too, that the South is not in
a condition to be reconstructed yet-that it
should be held "by the police power of the
nation (the military for five or seven years,
until the seeds of Republicanism are planted
beyond the possibility of harm" To this,
he says, "the spirit of the people is already
compelling Congress" to come.
Here we see, then, the programme of this
bold leader of Republican radicalsm-the
South to be kept out until the radicals secure
a long lease OF power, and a large portion of
the lands OF that section to be given to the
negroes. de does not urge confscation in
direct terms; but he must mean that How
could forty acres of land be given to each
negro without? Will the Republican party,
or the majority OF that party in Congress, fol-
low the lead of Wendell Phillips That is
the important question. Heretofore they have
followed him, though more or less tardily, and
though he has been little in advance of
them. VIII Phillips radicaism make such
progress by the time-say next winter-the
southern States shall be ready under the Re-
construction acts of Congress to be restored,
to shut the door against them for five or seven
years viii ''the spirit of the people,"
under radical instruction and influence, com
pei Congress to this course2 Mr.. Phillips
believes so. We shall see. Next winter we
shall know whether the radicals can triumph
on the Phillips platform, or the conservative
Republicans have the courage and power to
defeat them.
such are the issues looming up prominently
just now, to change, modify, or consolidate
parties Reconstruction is the great question
OF the day, and on that the fight will be made.
But there are other great questions that will
come up shortly to overshadow old ones
Whether this one OF reconstruction be dis
posed OF or not by the restoration or pro-
longed exclusion of the South, the new issues
cannot be kept long in the background.
First will come questions relating to our
national finances, the currency, banks, the
public debt, and how to pay it, and sound,
equal, and economical system of taxation.
After that, territorial expansion and political
control of the whole of the North American
continent. The negro will soon have fulfilled
his mission as the all-absOrbing element in
political warfare Parties will be formed upon
the new issues named. There will be a
demand from the people for a reduction of the
burden of taxation and of the expenditures of
the Government. They have borne heavy
burdens during the war, and under that trahsi-
tion state of circumstances resulting from the
war which we are passing through but they
will not consent to bear these in times of
peace. Any party that may attempt to keep
us in that condition will be ignored. Any
party that takes for its platform reduction
of taxation and an economical administration
of the government, will secure the favor of
the people. The New England policy of a
high tariff for the benefit of capital and few
which has governed the coun-
try for some time, will certainly be repudiated.
The great and growing agricultural States of
the West and South will never consent to be
the hewers of wood and drawers of water for
these local and selfish interests, and they will
be powerful enough to dictate a broader and
more liberal policy of their own. The infa-
nous system of national banks, which takes
from the producing classes the profits of their
industry, and twenty millions year from the
Treasury, cannot be tolerated long. 1t is clear
from the proceedings in Congress during last
winter and this spring, and from the tone OF
the press, that public opinion against this sys-
tenn is growing nightly. Nor will the capital
lists Of the Eastern and Atlantic States be able
to resist the views of the West and the people
generally with regard to the currency. The
clamor for forcing specie payments, whereby
the bondhoders and the few rich may increase
their wealth, and all the rest Of the community
be plunged into bankruptcy and ruin, will
certainly be resisted. Such are the issues
which will divide and reorganize political par
ties in the future. Sectional and local interests
must yield to those of the people generally;
and upon this question the popular voice will
be irresistible We agree with Wendell
Phillips that "the millions of voters and the
great journals are more the Government than
the machine at Washington" " and, we will