The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-14
The path 60 Peace.


and impelled, as it believes, by patriotic de-
sire to see the country tranquillized, intimated
that it would offer some suggestions looking
in that direction. The warmth of approba-
ton with which the spirit Of that article has
been indorsed in numerous letters from
various parts of the country, encourages us
to proceed Our respected correspondents
confirm our Judgment that the present Is
a favorable coDiuncture for settling the peace
of the country on a durable foundation.
We have, meantime, while awaiting such
responses Favorable or adverse) as we sup
posed the appeal in question might perhaps
call forth, been attempting to smooth the way
for its sequel by demonstrating the impos5-
billty OF any permanent settlement by the FUR
ther prosecution of the pending reconstruction
scheme nor do we feel at all discouraged by
the aspeTity of criticism which this demonstra-
tion has provoked in Republican journals. If
the reconstruction contest is to be fought
through on party basis, they are under
political necessity of adhering to their mort
bund scheme. Our purpose in exposing its
crumbling fragility was to convince fair
minded Republicans that their party has
nothing to lose in tranquillizing compromise,
by which all differences would be settled, all
rights protected, all interests adjusted and
harmonized, and a question which so vitally
concerns the present and future welfare of the
country be rescued from the embittering ami
mosities of a convulsing Presidential canvass.
We have no doubt that if the controversy
proceeds on its present basis, the Democratic
party will carry the Presidential election; and
any Republican who thinks the present recon
struction scheme will stand in that event, dis
credits his intelligence. The essence of the
present reconstruction scheme is negro suf
frage; and if anything was ever emphatically
condemned by the people on the eve of a
Presidential canvass, negro suffrage has been
so condemned in the late elections. Negro
suffrage may be right in itself; but clearly
the people are not ready to concede it, and no
time remains to educate them up to that point
before opening the great canvass that is close
at hand. 1t is against every reasonable pre-
sumption that party standing upon that
issue should succeed. The Democratic hopes
seem to us to rest upon as solid an assurance
as the contingencies of party politics admit Of
But, for the sake of the argument, we will
allow the Republicans to discount our expecta-
tions to any extent not absolutely extravagant.
The fact that it is generally conceded by Re-
publicans that their only chance of success lies
in running an uncommitted man like General
Grant, is confession that as simple contest
OF opposing policies, unaided by personal
prestige derived from other sources, the Re-
publican cause would be hopeless. The tide
whose ebb has in one short year stranded that
party III 50 many DJdI6S, Is Sllll running out.
With this survey of the situation the most
sanguine Republican must acknowledge that if
his party succeeds next year, it will be ''by
the skin of its teeth, - after a contest which
will have consolidated half the population of
the country into attitude of intense hos
tility; a contest which will have arrayed the
Southern whites in stubborn scorn of the pre-
tensions of the negroes, and majority of the
whole people (including Southern whites and
Northern Democrats) in unrelenting Opposi-
tion to the policy of the Government.
We appeal to every citizen not wholly des-
ttute of candor to say if such a state of
things would be solid foundation of tran
quillityl If it would tend to cement our
shattered national unity If it would grub up
by the roots the deadly upas which poisons
our political atmosphere With race arrayed
against race and party against party in nearly
equal strength; with passions whetted by the
fercest Presidential canvass ever known, and
the violence of contention fed by prejudices
which such contest would render ineradica-
ble-if this be what we are fated to come to,
may God in His infinite mercy take pity on
us May Heaven help our distressed, dis
tracted country
The questions now in issue penetrate to the
very foundations of our political system; they
| touch the most powerful and irrepressible
| passions of human nature. These questions
| are too deep-reaching and too unsettled to be
| safely kept open and made the football of
party violence in successive Presidential cleo
tions. This deeply agitating controversy can
never be closed by method which half the
| population of the country stubbornly refuses
| to accept. We therefore, in a spirit which
| asks and is willing to make concessions,
present this appeal to the good sense, sober
| Judgment, and patriotic instincts of the
| country.
| No settlement has any reasonable chance OF
| durability which does not secure the concur
renee of well ON to two-thirds or three -fourths
| of all our citizens. A bare majority, on ques-
| tions which so profoundly agitate the public
| mind, can settle nothing, because the beaten
| minority will not despair of success on a sub
sequent trial. The Constitution wisely ordains
that nothing shall be inserted therein, without
vastly outweighingI preponderance of public
sentiment in its favor; wisely because there
can be no stability which does no rest like a
| pyramid upon a broad base. Whether the
proposed settlement shall take the form OF
! Constitutional amendments or not it is essen
tial that it should be established on a popular
assent equally broad; and if it can gain that,
it would probably BE better to secure it against
subsequent disturbance by fortifying it with
constitutional barriers.
But the chief thing TO be aimed at is not
this technical security, but the substantial
fairness which will commend it to the judg-
ment Of the great body of the people. To this
end it must furnish adequate security to the
Union; to the rights of the States; to the just
claims of the public creditors; and though
last not least, to the interests and capabilities
of the negro race. No settlement can stand
which does not combine and harmonic these
several elements on basis adapted to the