The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-08
whe Mission of the Republican Party In
the South.


From the Times.
We cannot share the tone of exultation in
which many of our contemporaries discuss the
result of the Tennessee election. In its over
whelming vote for Brownlow and his candi-
dates they profess to have discovered signs of
thorough reconstruction. And in the una
nimity Of the negroes they see an assurance of
the manner in which the newly enfranchised
race throughout the South will hereafter exert
their power.
If the mission of the Republican party were
TO invest the future of the South with danger
and difficulty, this rejoicing would be intelli-
gible and just. If the aim were to build up a
black party in the Southern States as the only
proper ally of the Northern Republicans-to
ALLEVIATE the great majority of resident whites
and force them into a position of permanent
hostility-nothing could be more satisfactory
than the verdict of Tennessee. Or if incura-
BILE Rebellion were assumed to be the lot of
four-ffths of the whites, and prescription and
insult the only treatment they are entitled to,
we could understand the wisdom of holding up
Tennessee tactics for imitation in the ten ex-
cluded States. From these points of view, the
Tennessee election would Justify all the re-
the exclamation, Tennessee redeemed 70 with
which more than one enthusiastic journalist
introduced the news. And it would enable
us to comprehend the calculation by which
the same writers prove the certain and lasting
success OF their party as a consequence of
reconstruction.
But we have not so learned the prineiples
and aims of the Republican party. nor so in
terpreted the object and tendency of its
reconstruction policy. On the contrary wa
have believed the mission of the marty n no
benefcent as well as patriotic. To its own
future it cannot be indifferent but that is de-
pendent less Gapon ordinary partisan appli-
ances than upon the gool feeling and sonnd
Judgment with which it pursues its work. and
the success which crowns its labors PARTY
advantages are to be incidental to success
not the end of all efforts. The speedy reor.
ganization of the South on a healthy basis
the earliest possible reconstruction of loca
governments, and the establishment of loca
authOrity-constitute the only Legitimate
purpose of recent legislation. In this sens
IL is understood and supported by the coun
try. 1t is, moreover, policy OF conciliatior
of forbearance, of amity and peace. ProscriI
tion nowhere enters into the plan throug
which it operates. 1t guarantees to the black
perfect civil and political liberty, but withor
imposing exclusion upon the whites. TIL
disabilities provided for prominent Rebels an
the Acknowledgement OF the ofice-holding clas
are exceptions too limited to diminish the fort
of the rule, the obvious design of which is
obIiterate distinctions of race, and to max
the whole community interested in the smoot
and successful working of the reconstruct
governments. The law, too, runs evenl,
with no risk of caprice or passion on the pa
of It's administrators. Its whole scope al
principle is directed to the maintenance
Justice or equality, the organization OF repul