The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-04
Restoration VS.. Reconstruction.


Restoration VS.. Reconstruction.
from The World
Anything that looks like real restoration, as
opposed to the so-called reconstruction now
so popular in the radical party, will be hailed
with satisfaction. Accordingly, we congratu-
late the country, Connecticut and especially
this city, upon the failure of the attempt to
reconstruct Mr.. Phineas T. Barnum from
hrst-class shoeman into ifth-rate statesman,
and his restoration to the position for which
he has proved his fitness as the curator of that
celebrated collection of curiosities which some
OF our most eminent scientific men have pro-
nounced to be absolutely unrivalled. He has
returned from the field of battle in the Fourth
Congressional District in Connecticut with no
honorable or dishonorable scars but with an
astounding number of scratches" received
at the hands of his own political party. A
complete collection of the radical tickets in
that district which contain the name of Haw-
ley and omit or erase the name of Barnum
would form an interesting additional feature
to the absolute 1nrivalled, ct ceterG, and would
show that Barnum has hosts of friends in
Fairfield county who would much rather see
him in his Museum than in Congress. The
general and lofty estimation in which the
Museum is held is witnessed in the following
extract from an editorial in the Tribune of
March 27:-
"They denounce his museum, but many of
them would be inconparably more respectable
II they had employment in the menagerie Of
wild animals connected with that excellent
establishment. We have yet to learn that there
is anything irreligious in the exhibition of
valuable curiosities, though we do not know
what the museum might become II such Demo-
Gratis as MIR. Barrum may boast of having for
enemies should be included in the collection.
Mr.. Barnum represents true principles, the
honest convictions of the loyal people, and
In EfNIuFf fri BNG
the name of Republican Will vote for him."
We may fully indorse this opinion of the
entire absence of "anything irrelgious in the
exhibition of valuable curiosities,' - and we
give the Iribune'S notice the benefit of our
larger circulation and our much wider influ-
ence, as the result in Connecticut shows.
The Tribune urged Mr. Barnums election to
Congress; we implored the voters in Barnum S
district not to bereave the city or the Museum
of the constant attention and attendance
Of the enterprising proprietor, and the
voters listened to our voice. In behalf
of the city, we thank them. The eminent
scientific men, the chambermaids and chill
dren, the country cousins from New Jersey
and elsewhere, and all who throng the
museum daily, Sundays excepted, from sun
rise till 10 p. NJ, can i'll afford to see that
valuable collection even temporarily in the
hands of manager who may ignore it's
scientific bearings, and consider it only in con-
nection with the pecuniary receipts at the
door. We are quite sure, too, that Mr.. Bar
mum himself will feel that, after all, the claims
of Connecticut upon his services are as nothing
in comparison with those of the amusement
seekers in New York. So far as he is con-
cerned, the election in Connecticut has given
the unrvalled collection a worldwide cele-
brity, and those who ignore the scientific
merits of the happy family will yet flock to
see the CITY Snowman who came so near being
a Connecticut statesman. Barnum is restored
to his business Congress has another and yet
better Barnum in his place; the Tribune has
had an opportunity to express its opinion of
the candidate and his collection, and their
close connection in the late campaign; and
everybody is satisfied with the ''return' of
Barnum, not to Congress, but to the city.