The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-21
The Democratic Party and tho South 70
phe Real ISSUE
From The ~ Y. Times.

From The ~ Y, Times.
Senator Yates, in the letter read at the
Cooper Institute the other evening, tersely
indicated the prospective result of the restora-
tion Of the Democratic party to power. 'No
one can doubt" he wrote, "that the result
would be the immediate recognition of the
revolted States as lawful States in the Union,
and the admission to seats in the Senate and
House of Representatives of the leaders of the
Rebellion, to resume their old influence and
power in the politics of the nation" In other
words, "Ihe triumph of the Democratic party
would be the reopening of every question
settled by the war"
The motive of the Democratic party is mani
fest. Its chance of restoration to power is
dependent the readmission of the Southern
States to Congress, free from the conditions
now being enforced On the attainment of
this object the very existence of the party is
contingent. For with all its numerical
strength in the North-notwithstanding its
gains in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and the vigOr
with which it is fighting in New York and
other States-the fact is indisputable that the
salvation or the destruction of the Democracy
is involved in the future of the South. Let it
come back as though no Rebellion had occurred
with slavery overthrown, indeed, but with
all the appliances of the slave system in full
operation as before the war-and the re6stab-
hshment of Democratic authority over the
land would be simply question of time. On
the other hand, bring the South into the Union
subject to the terms and governed by the in
tiuences of the reconstruction acts-with the
freedmen enfranchised, the prominent Rebels
excluded from Office, and the local organza-
tiOns checked at the outset by the restraining
hand of Congressman Southern representa-
tiOn will thenceforward throw its weight
adversely to the pretensions of Democracy.
Thus reconstructed, the Government of the
Union will be beyond the reach of the present
Democratic leaders.
While, then, we are bound to confess that
certain features of the Congressional plan
were framed with q view to partisan advan-
tage, it is equally clear that the course of the
Democratic opposition is controlled by no
higher considerations than those of party
profit. Here, however, the analogy ends
Beyond this point there is not the shadow
of resemblance. The reconstruction mea-
sures are warped by partisan bias, but at
least their general scope harmonizes with
the objects which animated the North in the
prosecution of the war. Granting that the
experiment of universal negro suffrage is
beset with difficulty, and that the disabilities
imposed are more sweeping and harsh than
wisdom or magnanimity would desire them
to be, it must not be forgotten that the pro-
visions of the scheme, of which these are
great object of securing and perpetuating
divers essential results of the Union victory.
The means employed may not be the most
discreet imaginable, nor the spirit that en-
ploys them the most generous or amiable but
these defects will be forgiven if their effect be
to build up the Union anew on basis of
justice and peace. With the Democracy the
case is altogether different. What the war has
done they seek to undo. The victories of the
Union oryniac fblU VyOnl1 QOUntarapt nv a
surrender of all that the Rebel leaders
demand With guarantees of peace or justice
they are ready to dispense that thereby they
may reinvest with the balance of governing
power the States but recently in rebellion. To
obtain for the Democratic party the help
which alone can save it, they are prepared to
clothe with authority as Senators and Repre-
sentatives the unpunished, untaught, unre-
pentant promoters of Rebellion, that the Fede-
raj Government may be transferred from Union
to Democratic hands. Dvested of surplus
age and DISCUSSES, this is all that the Demo
cratic policy on this subject amounts to. 1t is
an attempt by pretenses of constitutionality
to ignore the lessons and upset the results Of
the war; and to secure for the Democracy
renewed alliance with the disatfected elements
OF the South.
Intoxicated with late occurrences, our oppo-
nents scarcely affect cOncealment. The last
fortnight has changed the tone of many of
them considerably. Twelve months ago negro
enfranchisement had no more doughty cham
pion than the leading Democratic journal of
the Northwest. More recently our neighbor,
the World, while bitter in its denunciatiOn of
the measures of Congress, was earnest in its
recommendation to the South to accept them,
and to comply with their requirements, as the
sole means of regaining the privileges of the
UIion. The World then insisted that no
available form of resistance could benefit the
South as against the power of Congress, and
our impression is that it counseled a prompt
compliance with the prescribed conditions as
preferable to prolonged exclusion. Since the
elections in Ohio and Pennsylvania our con-
temporary has preached widely different doc
trne Instead of advising compliance with the
law, it vehemently urges the Southern whites
to stand alOof from the work of reconstruction,
that they may embarrass and, if possible, de-
feat it,. The hope is held cut that by de-
aging reconstruction, readmission uninoum-
b-red by guarantees may be obtained
through the successes of the Northern De-
mocraoy. One concession, and one only, is
recommended, and that relates exclusively tc
constitutional provision for insuring an
equality of civil rights in the South. With
inns exception, the most rational and the mos
aoie OF democratic journals now scout the
hUIloh oi reconstruction. 1t will listen to nC
SaI saIA oI Terms 1t spurns every proposition
.oI teouIsng 10 the loyalty Of the South the di
rectlon OF Southern affairs. II will be content
WIN Ao'i'lng less than the unconditional restO