The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-29


aPsrtiesp pa are the Inevitable growth of gov
ernments. They exist in all.-but conspicu-
ously In those In which large body of the
people participate IN the choice of leaders. We
may protest as earnestly as we please against
parties in the South, but parties are not made
or unmade by protests they are made by no.
'H, Nor 'i is there anything in the prospect Of
parties in the South which should occasion the
nonest the Repnblioan Tnion bart1 tne
or the Jacobins-in short, by whatever name
they are called cannot be beaten on their
simply from one of two causes-the Ignorance
of the blacks, or the Indifference and folly Of
ut is undeniably true that conservative
people of Virginia may lose power now and
by sullen inaction, or by naughty and un-
generous course towards the disfrpnchised.
But II is equally true that with an honest exc
cunningly devised to destroy us, with frank
and fair treatment OF the colored people, such
them when they were slaves, and with friendly
explanations and advice such as IL becomes us
to extend them, any respectable white and
colored man in Virginia can be satisfied that as
an American citizen he should labor for the
destruction of the radical party.
"What we want especially in Virginia is a
framework on which to begin building con
servative party. South Carolina, Florida,
in this matter, and with the happiest effect.
The best OF the colored people in those States
in whose neighborhood they were born. and
near whom they will lie IN death. But here
nothing has been done to counteract the wies
of those who for selfish ends. are urging the
colored people TO a position of hostility to the
whites.'
The above are not our views, certainly;
but, as the Examiners, do they not evince
gratifying progress What that journal pro-
poses is, that those whom it distinguishes as
the whites of the South, by argument and by
general department, convince the blacks that
they ought to vote as those whites do-that
is, against the Republicans. Who can object
to this effort
Let us suppose now the editor of the
Examiner before an assemblage of blacks, en-
deavoring to persuade them to vote for his
ticket; and one or another of the negroes shall
see fit to PROFOUND to him these questions:--
''You say, sir, that we ought to vote to-
gether: admit it. Now, then, why assume that
the requisite accord is to be attained only by
our voting with youP Why shouldn't you,
rather, vote with us 20
''YOu call yours the conservative ticket, and
urge its support on that ground. Very well;
we are conservatives; we have recently been
blessed with freedom and equal rights, and we
are anxious to conserve, to secure, to perpe-
tuate them. Will you show us how and why
voting as you wish will achieve our end If
it will do it now, would it have done it two
years ago? If not, what has produced the
changeP'
'Iou indicate hostility to the radicals as
the basis of your political action. Please state
frankly whether we do not, under God owe
our opportunity to vote at all to radicals and
radicalismH But for them, should we ever
have been honored with the address you are
about to make us In Short do you not
detest the radicals mainly because they have
made us free and constrained you to seek our
votes ?''
Wouldn't the editor be somewhat bothered
to give plain, straightforward answers to these
questions
The Selma Daily Times even more ration
ally and practically accepts the situation, as
follows:-
"ln entering upon the work of reconstruction,
let us not impede 1t at the outset by that old
Bourbon error of learning nothing and forget
ting nothing. So far as is possible, we must
past, and act nationally and philosophicaly.
True, we are not permitted to devise the
scheme of reconstruction; that has been de-
vised by Congress, and to us is left the mere
mechanical work. Our work, when consum-
mated, VIII embody design conceived and
mapped by an architect who consulted more
his caprices aad prejudices than the harmonies
OF the architecture or the convenience of the
builders; but While our work will be unplea-
SAINT and purely mechanical we should execute
IT well and thoroughly. Not only is the design,
but the materials for the structure are fur
nished us. These materials are not the Parian
marble, nor are they such as we would have
selected; but such as they are we have to use
them.
I'VE are now, as it were, out Of doors, without
roof to shelter us and our families. Let us so
construct the building we are to dwell in as to
render it as comfortable as circumstances will
allow. We are much mistaken If such be not
the course dictated by prudence, common sense,
and patriotism"
All this is wise and commendable; but in
what sense does it tally with conservatism
What is it that 'the South" labors to con-
server and what is her present conception of
conservatism? ? We know what it was in
1854, in 1860, in 1861, in 1865; but what is it
in 1867 and what does it promise to be
in 1868?