The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-27
The True Policy of the Republican
PartV.


will fall behind the times, and merit and re-
ceive defeat. The truth of this statement is
too wellexemplifed by the history ofthe Union,
but is to be applied now with fourfold force
as the present age is emphatically one Of ad-
vanoement. The Republican party was
founded as the party of progress. 1t has so
far not only kept pace with the rapid develop
ment of new ideas, but has frequently gone
ahead of its contemporaries, aud sustained de-
feat on that account. At present the future
merits the most careful considerations and the
intellect of the wise and prudent of our
statesmen should be devoted to the discussion
OF what kind of policy it is best in the coming
year to pursue. There are two classes of ex-
tremists in our ranks who threaten on either
hand to engulf us. If we avoid the Charybls
of one we are liable to be wrecked on the
Scylla of the other. In one of these are
uns werving fanatics. We do not use the
words in any derogatory sense, but because
they exactly express our meaning. This
class are ready to sacrifice everything
to their honest convictions. They are
eminently sincere and truthful, but
lack one great quality-discretion. They
would have us press the issue of negro suf-
frage in the Northern States, and incorporate
in our Chicago platform plank emphatically
in favor of universal suffrage, North and
South. "We would rather be beaten on this
track than succeed on any other" say they.
And we respect them for their frankness. But
it seems to us but poor judgment which
would warrant any such policy. Why sacri-
fee great good by immediate precipitation
Is it not more consistent with duty to tempo
rize and save the structure we have reared,
rather than risk all by endeavoring to gain an
end which, although all of us desire it, is not
necessarily immediate in its success The
other class who endanger our success is the
one which is composed of all the male old
women of the party-the timorous, easily
frightened, and nerveless portion who are ever
ready to make a goblin out of a COW, and
make an Internal machine out of magic Ian
tern. This class would have us retrace our
steps. They would "throw the negro over
board" as they express it. "Why," they
ask, "should We lose our power for the sake
of the niger Y'' And, terrified at the result
of the late elections, they would undo what
has been done, sacrifice principle to policy,
and seek in flight safety from overthrow. For
such as these our feelings are mingled pity
and contempt.
Between the two opposing factions stands
the great bone and sinew of the Repub-
lican party, the vast mass Of our thinking aud
intelligent citizens, who never allow their
enthusiasm to overcome their reason, or their
terror to put to fight their principles. On
these rests the great hope of the continued
triumph of our party. They will act wisely,
but not oowardly; they will act according to
principle, but not madly. For such as these
we speak. We see no good cause for any fur
ther agitation at present of the question of
negro suffrage. By this we do not mean that
we should give up our declared opinions, or
that we should retrace one of the steps we
have taken. But the combination of events
shows us that we can gain nothing and may
lose much by persistency at present. In the
South the progress of reconstruction is hap
PLY being carried ont. The wheels of govern
ment are beginning to move. The prospects of
their being fully in motion in the course of
the next twelve months are excellent. The
question in the late rtb9llious section is
adjusting itself We would not have single
act repealed or a statute modified, but we
would not on the other hand add
any more to the system. The decla-
ration made by the House, with singu-
lar unanimity on the part of the Republicans,
that Reconstruction shall not 60 backwards, is
hopeful sign that we need not fear any such
reaction. If left alone justice will be done
throughout all the Southern States. In the
North the lesson of last fall is too clearly
written for us to mistake it. 1t says to us that
we are not prepared for the question up here.
The vast majority of the people are opposed to
it at present. We do not think that it could
receive majority of less than $4,000 against
it If the question was put in our State. If we
we're to attempt to force it now it would receive
such defeat as would prevent its renewal for
years, and at the same time drag down our
party and expose the cause in the South to the
injurious influence of the Democratic admins
tration. We could not by pressing the issue
gain anything, and as clearly as the sun
shines, we can see how we would lose much. It
is therefore certainly dictate of reason, sound
policy and enlightened patriotism for us to
leave the future in allegiance during the coming
year. The Convention which will meet at
Chicago should merely insert a paragraph
f. eOnpratuiatin0 the cOuntrV on tina DrOOrhss Ol