The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-10

CODp rnehu SpiuIses
Nh Brooks, of New York, entertained the
House of Representatives yesterday with an
amusingly mixed-up TRADE against the Recon
struotion bill, in which he reminded one OF
cross between George Francis Train and Petro-
leum V. Nasty. He travelled from Faneuil
ual, 70 the "Plains Of Marathon" and from
the 'tomb of Washington and the Home OF
Monticellon to the "Pass Of Thermopyla."
He compared Virginia to a 'lost Pleiad."
Magma Charta, King John, aud the Barons
were duly trotted out. The Tartars and the
Duke of Alva were not forgotten. Something
was said about Hungary and the Emperor OF
Austria. Despotism, military edicts, oppres-
sion and several other exciting topics were
discussed. Mr.. Brooks grew courageously
grandiloquent: "He did not know what the
President of the United States would do, but
he knew what he himself Chat means Mr..
BrOoks) would do before sending this bill back
to Congress. He would send Sheridan to
Massachusetts, and Maine, and Scl1es to Wal
russia to teach the Esquimaux." Having thus
disposed of the irrepressible Phil. aud the
obnoxious Dam, Mr.. Brooks next informed the
wondering House what he would do in case of
impeachment: "If he were President Johnson
he would never let Congress enforce upon him
8 law entirely subversve OF the Constitution
of the United States" fortunately, as "he'
ia not President Johnson, but as ''Booby
Brooks" the country may rest easy. The
earth will probably continue to revolve on its
axis as usual.
1t is amusing to see with what perfect indif-
ference the country listens to the rawlings of
these Copperhead fanatics. Their empty decla-
nation passes unheeded as the idle wind.
The people have listened to it for the past five
years; it has become an old story. All this
talk about military desPotism" at the South,
estates annihilated," ani the like, fails to
awaken the slightest interest in the popular
mind. And why should it Here is this
fellow Brooks-a pro-savery doughtace who
crawled on his belly in the dust at the feet of
the slave power as long as there was a slave
power-what does he know about the true
spirit of the Constitution, or whahappreciation
has he Of popular rights? What right has he
to take the name of Liberty on his lips, pol
luted by lifelong defense of slavery
If these demagogues of the Copperhead
order, like this man Brooks, could only OBJ
literate the history of the past six years; il
they could roll back the mighty revolution
that has taken place during that time, and
bring back the "dark ages" of pro-slavery
domination in this country, then they might
have chance to do something. As it is, they
are out of place. They are fossils of former
era. They lived in another age. Their time
has gone by.
The people are profoundly conscious that
the nation has passed through great war
That fact is to them living reality, and de
termines their political action. They know
that this reconstruction of the South is but
the completion of the great work they have
had in hand. since 1861. They are not to bt
turned aside from finishing it. 1t is work
for the future peace and stability and freedom
of the nation. The strong hand of military
power is necessary at the South now, tina
liberty and tranquility may prevail hereafter
The work being done there is not in the in
terest of despotism, but in that of freedom
The rebuilding of the political structure is going
on upon truly democratic basis; and it il
this very fact that rouses the anger and ex
cites the terror of such Old-time worshipper.
of slavery and caste as this man Brooks
There is just where the shoe pinches. 1t il
not despotism, but the lack of it, at the Soutl
that they mourn over.