The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-19

that it springs from different temper and
breathes . different spirit whether right or
wrong in its details, 1t is imposed upon the
South by force. II goes out under threats
backed mp by military power, and enforced as
an act and badge Of subjugation rather than
offered as a basis Of peace which both parties
can accept with honor, and as conducive TO
their common interests Differences of detail
would have been very easily adjusted, if the
subject had been thus approached in the spirit
Of a real and substantial peace.
But this has not been done. We are as far
from real peace to-day as we were when the
war was closed Indeed, the feeling that now
prevails between the two sections is less peace
ful, more bitter and more hostile, than it was
when Lee surrendered to Grant. The people
feel this to be the fact and they deplore it as
calculated to plunge the country deeper and
deeper into trouble and confusion. We are
not coming out Of the war with either credit
to ourselves or profit to the country. We are
simply prolonging its enmities and widening
the breach which the cessation of armed strife
ought to have closed. Nor does the progress
of reconstruction, under the law of Congress,
promise speedy relief That is regarded as a
hostile act by the people of the Southern
States-as intended to overturn and humiliate
them, and as calculated to disorganize their
society and destroy their prosperity.
The coming Presidential election will bring
blllb udAl6I W an lSbu6s IL Tie DtIuOCTALlC
party should elect a President representing
the principles and policy to which they have
adhered throughout the war, we should have
the whole contest to be fought over again, in
the political arena, if not in the field of arms.
If the Republicans, on the other hand, should
elect one of their Representative men''-a
politician who has achieved distinction by
waging a war of sentiments and ideas against
the South, he would carry the bitterness thus
guupndprpd iutn hig administration Of ,,1b1in
affairs, and would renew the asperities of a
contest which had been finally and victoriOusly
closed. In either case pacifcation would not
be secured That can be brought about only
by an administration which shall inherit none
of the hatreds and heats of former contests
and which can act with no other trammels than
such as a supreme regard for the honor of
the country, and the permanent welfare its
free institutions may impose.
We believe the people of the whole country
recognize the necessity of such an administra-
ton, and recognize General Grant as its
proper head. No section, no class, and no
party distrusts his patriotism, his practical
wisdom, or his magnanimity. We believe the
Springfield Republican is quite right in saying
that very many members of the Republican
party have looked to him. from the very close
of the war, as more likely than any other
man in the nation to reconcile both SECTIONS
to each other and to such policy of admins
tration as the good of the nation might require.
Thus far he has done nothing to forfeit that
opinion. His hold upon the country has
grown stronger with every days experience of
his temper, his opinions, and his character.
The South would accept from his hands, and
under his administration, measures which,
from one more identified with the strife Of
parties, they would reject and resent as in
sulting to their pride and hostile to their inte-
rests He would have their confidence instead
of exciting their distrust. And he would thus
be able far beyond any other man, to restore
peace to the country, put an end to sectional
strife, and enable US to legslate for the COM
mon good of the common country.