The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-05
An EplstIe 10 Good People.

vast, n not longer, how a good man can pos
sibly vote the Democratic ticket az the ap-
preaching Presidential election, aud the ques-
iiop seems precisely fitting one to put to the
good people themselves. We want It under
stood that we are not denying that there are
honest and even pious men among the Demo
crats; our question only touches the chow"
We are anxious 10 know the mental and moral
processes by which genuine goodness reaches a
position on the Democratic platform; and If
our honest friends will give us a moment or
two in private, aud allow us 10 use a little
epistolary directness, we will state our trou-
bles. II we have now come together, and you
are honest and good, and we are candid In
quirers, allow US 10 believe that you hold in
adherence the system Of slavery which the
late war swept away. We must take this
for granted, az we do your honesty.
In the light Of these days, we are sure you
would not reGnact the horrors Of the past, and
put back slavery into the heart Of the law,
whose idea is mingled Of justice and purity,
and whose proudest Office It is to maintain the
rights Of all, especially OF the weak. DO not
tell us we are revivipg dead and buried issues;
that this style Of talk belongs TO the past.
We thought 80, too, till quite lately; but we
were clearly mistaken. II seems that even the
most lagrant wrongs, when once grown into
mems passions and prejudices and interests
have even more lives than a cat-are harder
to kill than the snake, which, however per-
leOtly slain early in the morning, will, II is
said, persist in moving its tail till sunset. The
giant blows OF Grant, at the head Of the Union
hosts, have stretched slavery on ITS back
throughout the length Of its recent domain;
but the day is long-the sunset delays TO come.
To vote for Seymour and Blair is to vote for
slavery-not, indeed, as a thing actually ex-
listing in due form, but in spirit and in the
abstract. This ''sum Of all villainies, !"
alarmed for its life, kindled the fires OF revolu-
tion, and gave its myriads of citizens TO Mo
loch. 1t supped on horrors, and rose from
every repast with a keensr appetite; but the
waiting victims proved too numerous, and it
fell sacrifice to its own crimes. While il had
formal existence, the Democratic party loved
it well, waited on it, sung its praises with
ecstacy, and knew no higher authority. At
that time, however, it was able TO pay for its
honors, and the worship rendered il found its
justification in selt-interest. II it kicked its
votaries about as it liked, as suited its mood
1t made compensation with golden corn from
the official crib, or with some Office provided
with a separate crib OF its own. Devotion to
slavery under such circumstances was only a
horrid form of selfsbuess. But to love IL now,
when it is little more than a shadow or q
memory, when its head has been mashed and
1t can only shake its defiant tail TO indicate
lingering life, is to give it the heart--to love
its idea, and to honor it for its own dear sake.
Is not this the precise position OF the Sey-
m0ur and Blair party? Is not that party
made up of the disciples of peace, with every
genuine War Democrat counted out, and the
actual Rebels, the men who for the sole sake
of slavery, ventured their all Yes, the Con-
vention of the Fourth of July was gathering
OF mourners for slavery. Its platform said
''let US restore 'the lost cause, the cause
whose chief beauties were the auction block
and the fierce red lash; let us tear power from
hp al 0f fba nf ola AZ nd
the work Of reconstruction, product of
malignant hostility to slavery; let us repudiate
the debt made in crushing slavery; let us re-
store to power the beaten friends of human
bondage; let us remand the wickedly enfrsn-
chised blacks, who dared to sympathize with
their deliverers, and to bear arms against
their own sacred bondage, to the tender mer-
cies of their old masters"
Dear brethren, honest and earnest, are not
these words trueY Are not the intent and
quality of the Convention precisely the same as
those of the Rebellion Have Wade Hampton,
and Forrest, and Semmes repented of their
crimes against liberty Do they not rather
glory in their infamy, and insist on converting
it into fame, by means of their Democratic
allies Is not this pride and this purpose
most cordially met by the Democratic party OF
the North Was not the spirit of the slave
holders Rebellion the ruling and character
izipg spirit OF the Convention Did II not
Seem to be Convention of ex-Rebels, with
their Northern brethren simply present and
aiding? Is not such a movement an effort to
stop and even to reverse the progress of civil
ization-a reaction in favor Of political phi
losOphy which gave laboring men the name of
"mudsills," " which declared IT essential to a
good government that capital should own
labor, whether white or black! Honest men
good men and true ye who put morality and
justice as much above the claims of party as
heaven above earth ye who pity the oppressed
and glory in turning slaves into people, can
you bring yourselves to accept the spirit of
this Convention, and, along with Hampton
and Forrest and their Democratic followers
vote to honor and exalt or even to palliate
the crimes of the Rebellion
Our question is not how an honest Southern
man can vote the Seymour ticket. His whole
life has been colored by slavery, and his pre-
JUDGES hold him in Lhrall without his suspect
ipgit. We are not puzzled by the course OF
men who know nothing higher than political
success, and are incapable of seeing that gov
eminent has any relations to morality. We
are not even surprised at the conduct of igno-
rant men who, under ths impulses OF a genuine
but shallow patriotism, fought in the loyal
ranks during the Rebellion, but are now
found following in the train of their old enc
mics The moral element was not in the
struggle with them, and its serious discussion
now ottends them. But Seymour and Blair
ticket in the hand of good and thoughtful
person is past our comprehension.
Why the tTrlbune'' Trims.
EB-O1g tbeN Wo,Td