The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-23

west clamOrs is to be pursued steadily in Con-
gress we see no reason why this most volatile
of metals may not again reach the highest
point it touched during the war. If it does
not, no thanks to Mr.. Stevens and his clients,
the national banks.
The UltImatum of COngress-Progress of
the Great Revolution.
From The Herald.
Senator Reverdy Johnson's support at the
eleventh hour of the Reconstruction bill of
Congress is a remarkable incident and a very
encouraging fact. Every principle of this bill,
from first to last, Senator Johnson has actively
resisted. He has been leading advocate of
the Presidents views and measures of South
ern restoration, and from his great reputation
as a constitutional lawyer and a Southern con-
servative, this Maryland Senator stands de-
servedly high in the Presidents confidence.
When, therefore, ON the decisive test in the
Senate upon this radical Southern Reconstruc-
tion bill, we find this prominent leader of the
opposition coming over to the Republican side,
we may say not only that it is very remark
able, but very significant incident. His rea-
sons for this step are certainly very suggestive.
He said that if che could have his wish he
would Immediately receive the Southern
>
policy into this Chamber" but that, as mat
ters now stand, he felt bound to 'acquiesce
with the majority in anything that held out
hope, however faint, of accomplishing that
object" that che would vote for the bill
because he saw in it mode of rescuing the
country from the perils that now threaten
it, and not because he approved it in any par
ticular.''
The good example of Senator Johnson, let
us hope, foreshadows the course of President
Johnson. The Senator sees that further resist
ance is useless that the contest is decided; that
Congress has the case absolutely i'll its hands,
and is prepared to remove even the President,
should he persist in blocking its path. He also
sees that Southern intractables have put
check upon Northern concessions, and that
since the defiant and contemptuous rejection
by all the excluded States of the pending Con-
stitutiOnal amendment, harsher terms may be
eXacted by Congress with the full approval of
| the North. 1t is the ancient Roman tradition
of the Sibylline leaves over again. The old
woman came first with her nine books of the
Roman destinies to Tarquin the Second and
/ offered them for three hundred pieces of gold.
! He denied her, whereupOn she burned three
of the books, and still asked her full price for
the remaining six, and next for the remaining
! three, when her full price was paid. Senator
Johnson sees this, and sees, too, that the best
thing for the Administration and the South is
to accept this bill, and under its provisions
get the excluded States back into Congress as
soon as possible. 1t would be a master-stroke
of patriotism and policy ON the part of Presi-
dent Johnson to take the hint from Senator
Johnson and fall in with the resistless current
of manifest destiny upon this Southern
question; for he may thus place himself right
before Congress and the country, and still
make his administration a great success upon
the all-important money question.
Louis NapOleon's abandonment of his grand
Mexican idea points out the way of wisdom to
President Johnson. The imperial Mexican
programme was a far more dazzling game in
the outset than Mr.. Johnsons Southern policy
in its best days; and in finally giving up his
projected American balance of naval and COM
mercial power, Napoleon has made a much
greater sacrifice of pride and ambition to the
law of necessity than is required Of Mr.. John
son. 1t is only the going of Mahomet to the
mountain on finding that the mountain will
not come to Mahomet. We would also i'm
press these facts upon the ruling minds of the
Southern States-that they no longer live in
the age before the flood, when men existed
over nine hundred years. but that there has
been deluge and great revolution from the
old order OF things; that the heresy of State
sovereignty is defunct and that with slavery
all civil and political disabilities on account o
} race or color, excepting Indians not taxed
nave Deen OF must De wiped out. we WOulC
also advise the responsible leading men of tn,
dominant white race of the South that while
as they stand they are powerless to help them
selves or obtain help from abroad, the doc
3 opened by Congress will usher them into
f new era of prosperity, wealth, and power.
1t is curious to note how the accidents of tn,
war and the blunders of opposing politician
have assisted in the work of this great politica
= revolution. A decisive defeat of the Rebels a
e. the first Bull Run might have saved Southern
S slavery in the collapse of the JEFF Davis Con
federacy. Had Mcclellan succeeded at Rich
: mond there would most likely have been n
y. emancipation proclamation from Presiden
e Lincoln. Had Andrew Johnson, when calle
g to take his place, convened Congress for tn
1 legislative work of Southern reconstructio
= instead of undertaking it himself, the State
, concerned would doubtless have been restore
h upon a halfway compromise on negro sutfrag,
= Had those States followed the example of Tel
, nessee, they would be now in Congress on I'll
@ same terms. t.E
If Had the Democrats in the House voted fl
a this last bill as it came from the Senate, the