The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-17
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THs LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPIos-coMPILsD BvRRK
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELReRAPH.
Eyading the Issue.

Republicans policy OF WnlCn Dlau Is Lno lu-
veIlor, and Wade Hampton and the New York
Convention are the indorsers. Following out
this ingenious method of conducting contro-
versy, the World assumes that Grant will GER
tainly be defeated, and that the Republican
party will surrender the Reconstruction
policy which the majority Of the people will
have condemned" But, adds our oontem-
porary:-
"As the whole DRIFT OF Republican election
eering initiates against such supposition, we
wish mat the Times or some other organ OF the
party, would be explicit, and tell It's readers
whether the new policy is to be persisted In, II
q majority OF the people shall, by their votes In
tnis eiectlop aepuHiatea H. m II - me S oeaIen parry g
this subject the defamation about civil strife
as consequence OF the election OF seymour
and Blair, Is nonsense How can there be any
strife, II the Republicans accept the popular
verdict9 All their electiOneering bugbears inn
ply determination, on their part, to set at
naught public opinion, aud defy the will of the
majority, II the majority does not happen to be
country whether this is their settled determ1-
nation; and Il it is, on what ground they expect
to defend It,"
And we are asked to give an opinion con
the duty OF the minority, if the majority shall
repudiste the negro reconstruction policy by
electiDg Seymour and Blair" The inquiry
was answered by anticipation on Monday,
when we remarked that ''the will of the peo-
pie, when once declared, always challenges
and commands respect" The rule would
next November. Only let it be proved that
a majority of the whole people freely and
fairly express a preference for Seymour for
the Presidency and the friends of Grant will
quietly bow to the verdict. The Republican
party never did aud never will violently re-
sist a Judgment lawfully pronounced through
the ballot-box. Can the Democrats say as
much
1t must be remembered that the leaders of
the Southern wing of the Democracy have
made their willingness to submit to Repub-
lican majority conditional upon that majority
being composed of white men. They have
declared that a majority formed of black
votes shall not be respected. Wade Hampton,
in his Union Square speech, at the close Of
the New York Convention, pressed this point
strongly. He called upon his hearers to reg
lister an oath that If there is a majority of
white votes for the Democratic ticket, they
will ''place Seymour and Blair in the White
House in spite of all the bayonets that may
be brought against them" And the New
York Democracy responded enthusiastically
to the proposition. Others may not have put
the question quite so categorioally, but in
substance it has been publicly prOpounded
hundred times since the canvass began.
Again and again Southern orators have de-
olared that inssmuch as ours is "white
mans Government" the election of its Exc
outive shall not be regulated by colored votes.
ranks-well, if they choose the otherIside, and
Grant be elected by reason of their votes, the
result shall not be acquiesced in. This Is the
doctrine of the extremists, and is the basis of
an issue which the World has thus far
evaded.
Another and more formidable one growing
out of the Blair exposition of Executive duty,
ratified as it has been by the assembled repre-
sentatives of the party. According to the
policy thus authoritatively proclaimed it will
be incumbent on Mr.. Seymour, If elected, to
set aside the new governments as null and
void, and, with the help of the military, to
disperse them and re-establish the order of
things which Congress abolished. This pro-
granfme involves the forcible destruction of
governments organized under the law, and
whose validity Congress has recognized, the
overthrow of Constitutions which have been
ratified by a majority Of the people, the dis
reimbursement OF the freedmen in defiance of
existing law, and the restoration to power of
Rebel leaders in spite of the disability imposed
by the Fourteenth Amendment.
Now, though Republicans will in good faith
submit to the decision of the majority, what
ever 1t be, they can hardly be expected to con-
cur in so gross an act of Executive usurpation
as the Democracy contemplate, or so revolu-
tienary a method of undoing the results of the
reconstruction policy. If undone at all it
must be in conformity with methods indicated
be, as the World not long ago admitted,
through the instrumentality of the very Gov
ernments which the Seymour party propose
summarily and suddenly to sweep away. 1t
must, in fact, be gradual, and by processes
defined by the local Constitutions. This plan,
OF course, implies the exercise by the freed
men of the suffrage now in their hands, and
the interposition OF agencies which in every
reconstructed State-Georgia alone excepted
are wholly controlled by Republicans. Is it
probable that the latter would tamely yield to
Democratic dictaton and surrender without
a struggle the privileges and authority con-
ferred by law Is it reasonable to suppose
that the dispersion of Governments, the dis
franchisement of hundreds of thousands OF
voters, and the restoration of the old slave
codes, could be effected without bitter and
prolonged strife And il in these circum.
stances disturbances occurred, would not re.
sponsibility attach to the party who wantonly
assail the rights of States, and, under the
pretence of executing the national will, would
place their control in the hands of minorities
There is no danger of unlawful action on the
part of Republicans. They are oontending il
this election for the maintenance and the su
preme authority OF law. They insist that 81
far as reconstruction is an accomplished fac
II shall be respected, and that changes in tn,
Constitutions or Governments of the restored
States shall be effected by prescribed lega
methods. This is the policy of law and order
and therefore of true liberty.
On the other hand, there is very obviou
danger in the line of action marked out for
Democratic President by the New York Con
vention. That policy is one of usurpatio
aed violence. 1t is policy of wauton ag
gression as against the majority of Souther