The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-05-28

not vet shown themselves in ability
equal to the old leaders, who, though
politically prescribed, are still the
moral leaders of the other party. The
brains are against them. In this con-
test, then, will the brains win? Wen
dell Phillips says brains always do
win Let US hope we may find an
exception In this case. 1t is the for
lorn hope of the unconditional loyal
Southern party that history, in this
instance, win not repeat itself.
There is substitute for brains in
devotion and patience, and .audacity,
which some times gives bottom to the
champions of right but weak cause,
enabling them to win. do not
think, that the leaders of the pro-
gressive liberal party have the ability
to command victory upon the first
organization of these States. Whether
they have the qualities to secure their
success, In this generation, remains to
be seen. Their present prospects
here are not so good as in Florida,
Virginia, the Carolinas, or In Tonnes
see. Here the old proscriptive party
do so indefinitely. They probably
come more intelligent, and better in
formed upon the quest ionsg at issue,
or until other issues, auncennected
with secession and the war, shall
come before the country, and divide
the better educated and more intel
ligent portion of the people. now
united. t,g .A.o.esT ,Eir s~.e..f3
Everybody is loyal, Mr.. Editor-or
saws. SO; and to- hear them talk of
their rights to participate in the direc-
ton of public affairs evidences the
fact. They are not conscious of hav-
ing committed any offence by the act
of rebellion, or of having done any
thing to forfeit the confidence of the
country and of its good citizens. None
admit they have done anything to
merit censure. The doctrine of State
Sovereignty, and the consequent para
mount obligation of State allegiance,
in their minds justify and excuse all
offences in their name committed
against the United States. They still
deem themselves entitled to all the
rights that they had-forfeiting no.
thing. The loyalty which they now
have is only negative quality-a dis
position quietly to acquiesce, and, if
allowed, Ito participate also, lid the
Government which is merely be-
cause they nave found it too strong
to be- resisted SUCCESSFULLY. This
is the whole efSouthern loyalty as felt
by those lately engaged in rebellion,
and in just the degree that this is loy<
atty they are conscientiouslyi loyal.
They know the Government is too
strong for them This is not what |
have been accustomed to cali : 10y
alty.'1' Certainly it will hardly appear
to any soldier of the Union army that
these same men, who we're insurgents
and rebels, and disloyal in 1S61-5,
without ever acknowledging, Or feel
ing they have done any wrong thing,
or have committed any offence, are
now good and loyal citizens In 1867.
The admitting again of these dis
affected citizens to the privilege of
participating in the Government,w while
yet treason has not become odious,
and has not been punished, and while
the questions of rebel debt and Fed
eral debt can scarcely be called set
tied, seems the severest testcto which
our Republican institutions have yet
been subjected. -lasN
Indiana is loyal and may NOT feel
much solicitude in the matter, but
the unconditional loyal men of Mis-. I
sissippi are too much in a minority
not to do so. For Johnsons success
scr wewant President who, with a
steady hand, will be with the loyal
masses of the people--those loyal
masses whose loyalty was established
by the last war There is 4 decided I
inclination to take man from the ar
my. But we want not hero only
we want also an administrative man,
that he may become a statesman. IF
a man is to be taken from the army,
give US General Thomas Of Chicka-
manga. His stability is not to, be
doubted, nor are his principles I'M
certain. For availability he is not a
whit behind the foremost. Whoever
the coming man may be, let him be
above suspicion, man of decided and
known principles, and sound prin-
cipled man. In 1868, let us rather be
defeated squarely on question of
principle, than hazard betrayal by a
man of availability without principle. |
sa4 4asg BoUK, I