The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-23

No.plan can be devised by human wisdom
for the organization of States having such dis
cordant elements as those existing at the South
which will not be defective in its working 1t
is easy to say that a system which operates
harshly upon Rebels should be preferred to one
which fails to do entire justice to the loyal; but
IL must be remembered that the whole com
munity will be injured by the undue depres-
sion of any of its parts, and that the loyal will
gain no real advantage by an unfair monopoly
of political power. The best solution that
occurs to us is middle path, by which the
Government should be secured to the loyal
citizens for the first year or two, but afterwards
left to the operation of universal suffrage.
Even this restriction would not be favored by
us if we believed that Mr.. Johnson would use
the military power to organize and thoroughly
protect the Southern loyalsts; for every re-
strictOn gives rise to a bitterness of feeling
which breeds trouble for years after its cause
is removed. But with such President as we
have, the country must he content to stumble
along, as it best may, over the difficulties OF
its path. If Mr.. Johnson will execute the law,
however grudgingly, he is not likely to be inn
peached. If he refuses to do so, the questions
of reconstruction will be speedily simplifed by
his removal from Office.
In looking back upon the past, it is inn
possible not TO be impressed with deep sense
of providential guidance in the various con-
flicts which have brought the American people
to such comparative unanimity in favor of JUS
| tice towards the colored race. Every diff
| Guilty thrown in the way has but increased
the popular determination to establish equal
| rights. Six years ago the North would have
| reioiced to accept any mild restrictions
upon the spread of slavery as a final settle
ment. Four years ago it would have accepted
| peace upon the basis of gradual emancipation.
| Two years ago it would have been content
| with emancipation and equal civil rights for
| the colored people with the right of suffrage.
One year ago a slight extension of the suffrage
would have satisfied it. All these demands
were in their turn blindly resisted, in a man
| ner that reminds us of the vision of the old
| prophet who saw 'an evil spirit from the
| Lord go forth to deceive the wicked King Of
| Israel into his merited ruin.
Now the nation has been brought up to the
I demand of absolute justice-nothing less, and
nothing more. No confscations, no oppres
| sons are sought to be imposed by the major
ity of the Republicans in Congress-; but OF
equal justice they unanimously insist. Again
the short-sighted folly of the Democratic party
interposes to defeat this measure, more liberia
than conquered people ever knew. Again th'
demand rises higher, and the amendment
offered by Mr. Wilson, of Iowa, excluding
large class of Rebels from the ballot-boX, Il
almost certain to prevail Here we would
! gladly stop. we desire nothing III the way o
punishment to be imposed upon the masses o
the Southern people. But it may be tn
Divine decree that they shall not be savet
the madness of themselves and their friends
and that they shall be placed under the yok
which they have done everything to invite.
If Mr.. Johnson kills the measure of recon
structon now to be submitted to him, b
depriving Congress of an opportunity to repas
it over his veto, the doom of the South
written. A sterner law will soon be passe
over his head, and the sullen population g,
cuded from the privilege of self-governmei
may thank their Northern allies, and the
own obstinacy for a result which we depr
cate, and which the strongest anti-slavery me
never desired.