The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-12

country, which formerly, through its staple
products, added so largely to the wealth Of the
whole nation, is no longer source of pros
perity, but of expense and trouble; and all
because, after having made every sacrifice to
put down the Rebellion, we were not willing,
after 1t was put down, to sacrifice party preju-
dices in order to sanotify and make lasting the
work which our armies had accomplished.
Every one knows that it is in the interest of
party alone that the reconstruction of the
South has been delayed and prevented. No
matter how men may attempt to explain and
defend the action of Congress in the matter,
the plain, simple truth forces itself on the
mind at the last, that the object of all legisla-
tion on the subject has been to render impos-
sibe the readmission of the Southern States
into the Union. That object has been thus far
attained; and from present appearances it
would be perfectly safe to say that, should the
Republican party retain its present ascend
ancy, the present generation will not see the
Southern States restored to the Union on the
same footing as the other States. 1t may be
that some or all of them will, in the course of
few years, go through the form of reinstate-
ment, but it will only be mere sham and de-
lusion-a gross mockery. The right of self
government will have been denied to the men
of our own race in those States, and political
power will have been handed over to the de-
scendants of Congo savages. That is the only
sort of restoration which is contemplated by
Congress; and improbable as that may seem,
there is an evident intent on the part of Con-
gress to carry out that programme.
But will the people of the United States
consent to such a degradation of their great
republic Even if the inhabitants of the
Northern States entertained no feeling towards
the white men and women and children of the
South but that of hate (Which, we thank God,
is far from being the case), would they, on
their own account, agree for one moment to
the proposition that the former slaves of the
cotton and rice plantations should have an
equal voice in the national councils with the
representatives of New York, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania and 0hioP To that plain issue
must it come; to that plain issue it has already
come. Congress, through its legislation and
through its instruments in the South, has
shown its determination that all political
power there shall be transferred from the
white race to the black; and Congress
assumes that in this policy it has the sup
port of the people of the North. Is there
good ground for any such assumption We
do not believe there is. We know that the
uupopularity of President Johnson has tended
to create the idea that the people approve the
destructive policy of Congress; but there is no
real foundation for that idea. The people may
have thought, and did think, that Congress
was sincerely intent on its desire to reconsti-
LuIe Jh6 Union on oasis OF perfect equality
between all the States, and that Mr.. johnson
was unwisely thwarting Congress in the exc
cution of that design. Such delusion cannot
exist to day. Congress has shown either that
it designs to perpetuate the exclusion of the
Southern States, or that if they are to be re-
admitted, it is to be only after their political
status has been thoroughly Africanized. Let
the people ask themselves whether they are
prepared for either of these alternatives, and
if they are not, then let measures be taken,
through public meetings, through the ballot,
and otherwise, to give expression to the pub
lie sentiment. We care not for President
Johnson or for Congress, for the Democratic
party or for the Republican party; but we do
care for the glory, and greatness, and pros
perity of the American Republic, which are
being cruelty and ruthlessly sacrificed for
petty partisan purposes. Again we appeal
to the people to take such steps in the elec-
tions for Congress, in public assemblages and
in private conferences, as will convince their
representatives that Congress must not per
sist in the policy it has inaugurated, and
which is as abhOrrent to sound judgment as il
is in utter repudiaton- according to Mr.. Thad
Stevens boast--of the Constitution, under
which alone Congress has any power to legis
late to all.