The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-30
Making mistakes.

We have never perused anything of the kind
more pathetic than the letter from Herschel
v. Johnson to a Northern friend, which we
recently printed. We refer to it now because
such reference is seasonable; because from the
President down to the puniest puppet who
lisps the stale formulas of a shallow conser-
vatism, there are men who are making the
Georgian's blunder without his excuse. He
engaged in the Rebellion against the feelings
of his heart, the promptings of his conscience,
and the conclusions of his understanding; he
walked to certain and foreseen ruin, as he
admits, because he thought himself bound to
follow the people of his State even in career
of crime; and the result has been his political
and material ruin. 81 find myself" says he,
sdisfranchised and assigned to position, in
respect to political and social rights, inferior
to that of my former slaves" He had ''never
cherished an emotion of hostility 10 the Con-
stitution or the Union" he chad spent hall
a century in endeavoring to uphold them"
and vet this old man suffered himself to be
talked. and persuaded, and bullied, and
coaxed into the notion that because his fell
loW-citizens in considerable numbers had
betaken themselves to treason it was his
dutv to turn traitor with them. 1t was
chivalrous error, and grievously has Cover
nor Johnson answered it; but he has still the
consolation of knowing that he was swayed
| lend his cOuntenance to the conspiracy for the
! sake of personal aggrandizelnent. From the
little gang of Northern apo5tates, who have
| bartered honor for pla .e and who have seen
in the preservation of the Government only
the continuation of its patronage, we can turn
| to the example OF Governor Johnson, and ma
a kind of relief even in the contemplation OF
his error. He at least did not sell himself in
the market. He at least acted under nobler
stimulus than that of greed. He frankly ac-
cepted revolution; but he did not put on the
mincing airs of an artificial conservatism.
He groans with reason over the establish
ment of manhood suffra e; but what
cause of distress have New York men-we do
! not care whether they call themselves Repub-
lcans or Democrats-at that natural, inevita-
BILE consummation If Rebels, with the smell
of battle still upon their garments, please to
side with the President in his usurpations, and
his prescriptions, and his fawning upon Rebel
remnants, there is no cause of wonder; but
why should those who profess to be still loyal
bow down and kiss his feet If the President
hates the Republican party, why should those
who have called themselves by our name aud
claimed with us fraternity, desert us at the
very moment of our mOrtifying atfiiction
There can be no answer to these questions
honorable to those concerning whom they are
prOpounded. Mr.. Johnson is taken up or
abandoned as suits their convenience. Their
crops look the most promising. Their con-
servatism means cash. Their principles have
all pecuniary squint.
We know what we mean when we write
ourselves radicals, and we are quite prepared
to take the consequences of doing so. Men
who call themselves conservatives should be
ready to tell us what they desire to conserve.
Is it the old Democratic party with which they
were so scandalously ready to strike hands
That we understand. Is it the tendency OF the
public money to their own private pockets!
We comprehend even that. Is it the manage
ment of great party by handful OF mer
who expect to be roundly paid for their atec
tionate carel Even this is not inscrutable
Is it the forgiveness of sinners before
kissing and crying of the Philadelphia
Convention Is it making private bargains
with our bitterest opponents for persona
purposes Such conservatism, we confess
is a little too delicate and metaphysical
for us, and it may prove in the end
trihe too potent even for its professors. Th'
people of this State are not in a humor to b
played with for the satisfaction of any mans
greed; and leaders who are missing wheI
they are most wanted may do very well a
conservatives, but must not expect to b
rated as Republicans. Thus far they hav
done nothing except make blunders. Tn
Philadelphia Convention was blunder c
more than Hibernian proportions. The timiC
support given to the President was another
+ The league in this State with the Copperhead
; was third the pretense of being this yea
= Republicans, even conservative Republicans
d is fourth. At this rate the time for weepin
% and wailing and gnashing of teeth cannot b
far distant. Let it come
q General Hancock Ou the RecOnstruc
Is tlOn Law
n FROM the ~ Y Times.
y Our Washington correspondents report
3 an interview with General Hancock fully COZ
. . firms the impression produced by that gallar
" | nnllinn.ln nrnnnnh 20 nrnrul 49,.