The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-24
The Shirt of the AGE.


we call the spirit of the age is undoubtedly a
liberal and progressive one. We find every
where, under all forms of government, that
the masses are struggling upward; men are
claiming and enjoying more rights; an equali-
zation of privileges and blessings is going on
the truth that governments exist for the peo-
pie, and not the people for governments, is
daily becoming better understood; and the
general tendency of opinion and action is
towards larger measure of public freedom
and individual independence. Even despots,
who would gladly stem this ever-increasing
tide of the worlds thought, are compelled to
respect it and to yield to it. Aristocracies,
that cling with a death-grip to their
special privileges, are daily compelled to
yield point after point to the masses,
lest, by holding on to all, they lose all.
Everywhere, in all directions, the people are
looming up as the grand and governing power
of the future, while classes, orders, and favored
individuals are sinking out of sight.
1t must not be supposed, because the United
States from their foundation have had osten-
sibly republican form of government, that
this great world-novement of progress and
liberalism is not manifested in our own coun-
try. On the contrary, in no country on the
face of the globe have popular rights achieved
grander triumphs over the forces of despotc
and aristocratic privilege, than here in our own
country during the past six years. In 1861,
the United States exhibited practical condi-
ton of society which, in many respects, was
l a.
other in the world. Four millions of its citi-
zens were held in state of chattelhood
absolute and unrelieved. 1t had just been
solemnly proclaimed from the bench of our
Supreme Court that all these millions Of
slaves, together with the entire race to which
they belonged, had no rights that white man
was bound to respect. Such was the construc-
ton put upon our organic law by our highest
judicial authorities. Emancipation, by the
action of the General Government, was almost
universally conceded to be both impracticable
and illegal.
Behold the contrast Not a single slave
remains in all the broad territory from the
Ohio to the Gulf, and from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande The Constitution, which was
now expressly forbids it. The Judge who out
ragged justice in the atheism of the Dred Scott
decision has gone to dishonored grave, while
the place he occupied is now filled by Chris
tian statesman and jnrist, who believes in the
absolute equality of all men before the law.
The emancipated millions have nearly all been
enfranchised, and are expressly recognized by
low oifiga,o of he TIYifad Ctokos
Where has there been greater progress than
this In what nation of ancient or modern
times have popular rights progressed with
more magnificent strides or where have aris-
tocracy and class privilege received more
complete overthrowf Our late civil war, philo-
sophically considered, was simply contest
on grand scale between the principle of
freedom and d'progress and that of slavery and
stagnatiOn. Itwas the true spirit of the age
in conflict with the spirit of bygone ages. 1t
was democracy and despotism appealing to
the arbitrament of physical force.
1t is little strange, as matter of specula-
tive observation, that the party in this
country which arrogates to itself the name Of
Democracy should have been all along,
| Ss-N AS AOWJ III lOpIllby W
this enlightened and liberal spirit of
the age. Under the name of Democracy
1t has fought the battles of despotism. 1t has
sturdliy and dOggedly resisted every exten-
sion OF popular rights to the masses, and
stranger than all, despite the complete over
throw OF the slave power in this country, and
the general progress of liberal principles
throughout the world, the Democratic partv
to-day seeks success through the champion
ship of reaction and retrogression. II seems
to suppose that tAe tide of the worlds thought
and sentiment, sweeping ON so grandlv 10 its
destined end of equal popular rights, can be
resisted and turned backward. In this State
we have recently beheld this party nominate a
Chief Justice upon platform Of avowed,
iVustice--a disgrace to the nominee who con-
sents to stand upon it, and to the party that
made it.
Vain hOpel The popular principle is des-