The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-23

enforced against the whites by military power,
as the cornerstone of the Republican plat
form; and they will accept General Grant as
the candidate if they can first force him upon
that platform and If they can't do better. The
Democrats have not yet succeeded in getting
any platform or any candidate. Events vet to
occur will probably do more to shape and con-
troll the action of both parties than any which
have occurred hitherto.
One such is announced in the correspond
ence of the Anti-,Slavery Standard. The letter
is dated at Alexandria, Va. (very near
Washington), and the following is an extract
from it,
"a movement is on foot to bring out General
Butler for President, and Benjamin Wade for
platform. That ticket, it is believed, would
rally to its support the Southern radicals and
that would be; but It would be ticket al for
radicals TO vote for, and that Is more than can
be said in favor OF some other tickets have
"Let Congress pursue the same course a few
weeks longer it has for seven months In the
past, and the Republican party need not worry
Itself about the next President. II will be de-
feated, and Democrat willhll the Presidential
chair the next four years, and If the party aban-
dons the principle OF universal suffrage, IL
ought to be defeated, and every true radical
and foreign policy the Democratic party oocu.
pies fair a position as the Republican party,
and can be as safely trusted. The Republican
party, under Grant, on a platform of expedl.
ency In 1868. will share the fate of the Wing
agitation and availability.
ga movement is now commenced for the call
ing of Radical National Convention at WASH
ington, on the twenty second OF Fe6ruary next;
IL Is proposed to organize National Radical
party, ard adopt 2 platform Of principles
ardice of Republicans in Joining the Copper
heads in an Endorsement OF the policy of Presi-
dent johnson, has made such movement
necessary. 1t is not proposed to nominate a
ticket unless matters assume new shape
before that day, to make such nomination
necessary
We hope this project will be carried out. 1t
is square, straightforward, and above board.
1t responds more directly and distinctly to
the political necessities Of the day than any
we have elsewhere met. 1t recognizes actual
facts; in the current phraseology of the time,
it understands and accepts the situation, and
takes its measures accordingly.
The real issue before the country to-day is
between policy which recognizes and
accepts the Constitution as the paramount rule
of action, and one which virtually discards it
as inadequate to the emergency, and accepts
the abstract doctrines and sentiments
ascribed to the Declaration of Independence
in its stead. The Republican party has
always hitherto held the former position. In
all its formal declarations Of principle and
policy, it has been especially careful to keep
| within the restrictions and limitations of the
| Constitution, and the indications of its
purpose to do so still, are what has caused
this revolt against its authority on the part Of
| the radical element.
We hope the Radical National Convention
will be held. We hope it will adopt q
"thoroughly radical platform'-organize 8
radical party, and nominate Ben. Butler and
| Ben. Wade as its representative candidates.
| We shall then have one party in the field
which knows what it wants, and goes straight
ahead in its attempt to get it. If the radicals
had taken this action two years ago, the coun
try would have made much more progress
towards solution Of its political difficulties
than it has yet made and if they will only
take it now, the people will understand wha
they have to do hereafter. Those who ap
prove the radical policy will know how to op
pose it, will know how to meet it. And that
piece of information will be useful to botl
classes and to the country at large. We hop
most earnestly that the convention will b
! held.