The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-26

! issues new problems, new national wants and
| necessities had arisen and demanded popular
action. The lines of existing party organiza-
| tions by no means defined with accuracy the
| actual divisions of sentiment on these new
nroblems. The Republican party was far from
being unanimous in support of the Sumner
| and Stevens theory of reconstruction, nor was
| the Democratic party any more unanimous in
| denouncing the war which had crushed rebel
lion. or in protesting against the "unconstitu-
tional" process by which slavery had been
abolished. There was general ferment in the
public mind a disposition to let the past bury
! rs dead. and to meet, as the emergency re-
ouired. the new issues and the new policy
! which the occasion demanded.
But neither party was inclined thus to let
! nolitical power slip from its grasp. The
| Union party naturally felt that it had carried
the country through the war, and that it was,
therefore entitled to take the lead in measures
by which the Union should be restored. The
Democratic party felt that, the war being
over, they might avail themselves of the re-
action which they predicted against debt,
taxation, and arbitrary rule, and regain the
power from which they had been so long eX-
cluded. They accordingly adhered to their
old organization, followed their old leaders,
put in motion their old machinery, and under
their old party name renewed the old struggle.
The Philadelphia National Convention
offered good occasion for acting upon the
policy which the National Iateiiiqencer now re-
commends. That Convention in some of its
leading features, responded to what was un-
Questionably national sentiment. The fact
that leading men from both sections had
again met in friendly council, was OF good
omen. The proceedings of the Convention
were characterized by dignity, good-feeling,
and a patriotic desire for the public good.
The declaration of principles which the Con-
ventiOn adopted was acceptable to the great
mass of the people, and proved that both sec
tions were ready to accept the results OF the
war; and to take, as fixed and irreversible,
the great principles and measures which the
overthrow of the Rebellion had established.
The Convention had laid down a platform
upon which the great mass of the people We're
perfectly willing and ready to stand; and if
proper action had been taken national
movement would have grown out of it by
which the Union would have been restored,
and the policy of the nation marked out for
many years to come.
But the Democratic party would not con-
sent to this. 1t saw in tue Convention only
ladder for its own return to power. 1t resolved
to use it for its own advantage. 1t went into
the contest under its old name and its old
organizations put forward its old leaders; ap-
prOpriated the Philadelphia Convention as its
own, and coolly invited those of the Union
party who accepted its principles and shared
its spirit, to help them prostitute both to the
restoration of the Democratic party to power.
In Pennsylvania they had nominated in the
namowest and most selfish party spirit,
Heister Clymer one of the most obnoxious
anti-war Democrats of the State, for Governor;
and far from seeing the wisdom of changing
this action to meet the new state of things
which the Convention had created, found in
that Convention fresh hope of success and a
fresh motive for adherence to their party pur-
pose. In this State they rejected, with osten-
Latious contempt, General Dix, because of his
support of the war; nominated for Governor a
Democrat of the straitest sect; adopted plat
form which no Republican could possibly sup
port without stultifying himself, and i'll this
spirit entered upon the canvass. In Ohio
Indiana and the West in general, the party
acted in the same temper Instead of dis
carding "Old party names and stale issues"
they blazoned both upon their banner, and
marched to inevitable defeat.
For the people had neither forgotten nor
forgiven the part played by the Democratic
party during the war. As an organization
in all its corporate action-it had been the
nounced the war for its suppression, and to
the extent of its ability, and within the limits
where such action was safe, it had done every
thing it could to render it abortive. The
people would not, under any pretext, return
such a party to power. Whatever distrust
they might have of men and measures in the
Union ranks, they preferred the chances of
both to the certain results OF conhdlng the
Government to Democratic hands. The Presi-
dent by taking the stump for the Democratic
ticket, greatly strengthened this sentiment.
His speeches-nOt so much the opinions and
principles they embodied as the temper and
spirit which they evinced-alarmed and re-
volted the public sense, and contributed
powerfully to the defeat of the Democratic
party.
If the Democrats cling to this narrow and
selfish policy, they may reasonably count ON
the same result. Prominent and influential
men in the Union ranks are doing much to
disgust and ALLEVIATE public confidence in the
Union party-but they will never quite sue
ceed so long as the only alternative presented
is the return of the old Democratic Bourbons
to power.