The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-25

Among others who comprehended the stu
alton, and evinced q disposition to adapt
themselves to its requirements, was Wade
Hampton He talked fairly. He professed
to recognize the significance of the changes
wrought by the war, and the obligations
which the result imposed upon all who had
resisted the national authority. He declared
himself anxious to assist in the work of
r. tconciliation, and, acknowledging the altered
status of the negro, expressed a willingness to
support qualified enfranchisement. At that
period-unless our memory be greatly at
fault lt-while opposing universal suffrage, hs
took ground in favor of giving votes to those
of the colored people whose intelligence and
thrift should prove their fitness forth privi-
lege. These were the circumstances in which
R.publican journals spoke Sin admiration of
Wade Hamptons frank and manly course"
The Republican party had then scarcely
passed the threshold of reconstruction, and
considerable proportion of its members re-
garded qualified and impartial suffrrge, with
out reference to color, as the best basis for
determining the political rights of the freed
men.
Soon, however, the class OF whom Wade
Hampton is representative began to misin-
terpret the temper and purposes of the ruling
party. They failed to appreciate the magua-
nimity which bad been shown to them and
hailed the course Of the President adverse to
Congress as evidences Of a weakness on the
part of the latter by which they might profit.
Their tactics underwent a change. From an
attitude of submission they jumped to one of
defiance. They were no longer willing to sub
init to terms. They forgot that they were con-
quered. And, rejecting very liberal conditions
of reconciliation, they claimed a right to resto-
ration, free from all terms and restrictions.
They insisted, in Short that conquered rebel
lion should dictate to victorious loyalty, and
fh thOea n uuhono tho nd cYiua,, adoo
should be made oivilly and politically subject
to the class who formerly owned them. From
that moment the Wade HamptOns changed
their tune. They talked no more of impartial
suffrage. They contended only for the over
throw of reconstruction, and the dsfrsnchise-
ment and permanent subsection of all whom
God made black.
York Convention. They were not, however,
assailed "for presenting to be present." The
natural allies Of the Democracy, their presence
excited no surprise. If they afterward found
themselves objects of unpleasant remark, they
have only themselves to blame Forrest threw
down the gauntlet by nominating General
Blair, with the Br ,adhead letter as his only
recommendation. Wade Hampton followed
suit by declaring that white votes alone shall
be counted, and that a majority acquired with
the help of black votes shall be overborne
He of all men first resorted to buster about
bayonets. Yet later, he expatiated upon the
triumph of the Rebel element in the construc-
tion of the Democratic platform, taking to
himself credit for inserting the phrase COM
mittipg the party to the revolutionary doc
t1ine of the Blair letter.
The Southern extremists, then, have no Just
cause of complaint against the Republican
press. If its language concerning them differs
from that which it employed soon after Lees
surrender, it is because their tone and conduct
have entirely changed. They were then, pro-
fessedly, willing to comply with requirements
laid down by the Government; they are now,
avowedly, resolved to resist its authority and
undo its work. The,change is in them, not in
the leaders or the journals of the Republican
party.