The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-01
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPICs-CoMP1LED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
Grnnt and Democracy.


late campaign, is the unheard of and demoral-
izing pre- position now made by certain parties
in the country to lay the Democracy OF the
land at the feet Of the smoke nveloped Acct
dent who has lately been elevated to the Presi-
dental chair. 1t seems strange to us that men
prolessedly gifted with sense-with patriotism
with love of country, and belief in the prn-
oiples of Democracy, should now, above all
other times, urge the disbandment of the
Democratic party-urge the grounding of our
arms, and submitting ourselves as willing
Capiiyes to the power we all detest.
The country is torn and bleeding. Finances
are shattered as never before. Tue Coustitu-
tiOn is now, as it has been for years, ignored.
The principles which alone have made this
country great are the principles of Democracy,
and while the people are striving against
almost insurmountabe obstacles TO restore
the country to its once proud position, 1T
seems to us cTiminally wicked for any man,
protesting to be Democrat, to urge the hanl-
ing over OF the gallant army of freem-n, which
has the past year so earnestly waged war
against despotism, TO the and keeping of
a man or party in antagonism to the interests
OF the people and the welfare OF the country.
The late campaign has been one of terrible
endeavor. But for the cowardice and treachery
of those in high places in the Democratic
party, but for the ineXcusable action OF the
World and its effort to demoralize tho party
cratic vote of the United States would now
have been a quarter million stronger than it
is at present.
The Democracy have made the best fight
this year they have ever made. As Demo
Gratis we have worked against opposition, the
like of which was never known to or placed
before a political party in the world. The
purse of the country, in the hands of wicked,
corrupt, unprincipled men, has been against
us. The artist ocracy of the land, with purses
plethoric with plunder, have worked upon
the wants and suferings OF the people. The
powers of the Government have been turned
against the people; but despite all this, the
cause of Democracy has been steadily in
creasing, and to-day the Democratic vote of
the country is stronger than ever before since
the confederation of States, which can only be
restored to their place and power through the
supremacy OF Democracy.
We did not vote for Grant. We did not
urge his election. We worked against him
because we had no confidence in his ability,
his honesty, or his integrity. We did all in
our power to defeat him, believing it was for
the interests of the country that he should be
defeated. We worked against him and against
the men he is in league with against the
party he is protesting to lead, because we
knew the party TO be corrupt, wicked, and
unprincipled as never was party before; be-
cause we had no faith in the ability OF Grant
year. or the honesty of the party that makes
of him but catspaw for the benefit of de-
signing men. Oar war against Grant was an
honest one; it was an earnest one; it was Que
that W believed necessary; but the purse, the
sword, and the Puritanism of the land have
triumphed for time, and though the gains
of the Democracy have been great, they have
not been sufficient to overcome the opposition
it had to cope with.
We must go on with the fight the next four
years, or till liberty shall again be restored to
our country. For one, We do not intend to
submit to Grant or his dictation, except it be
in accordance with law. For one, we most
earnestly protest against discontinuing the
war fare of Democracy against Republicanism;
and in behalf of the people whose cause is our
cause, whose liberties are our liberties, we
shall prosecute the contest for the right with
unabated vigor, till our rights be given us,
and till the Confederation of States, born of
patriotism in the days agone, be restored to
the proud position it once held. We have
no confidence in Grant, neither have the Re-
publicans. We have no confidence in any
man who is not true to his party, his prin-
ciples, and his profession. We have no conf
dence in any man who, for the sake of power,
place, position, or price, would forsake the
principles he long had professed to believe in.
But We had rather be- disappointed in Grant
than have the country 60 on as it has been
going for the past few years. We had rather
Grant would prove himself the statesman the
patriot, and the man of genius some claim
that he is, than to have the country distracted
and at unrest, as is now the case. We had
rather million times that events would prove
us in the wrong, than to have our country
suffering as it has been suffering for the few
years that it has been laboring under Republi-
can rule. II Grant, by his own genius, or by
the aid of wisdom from any higher power can
restore the country TO its peace aud pros
perity, then, and not ill then, shall we be
willing to give him credit for genius, for
patriotism, for honesty, aud for stability OF
purpose. We are willing to aid him by all
the lawful means in our power, but we
are not willing 10 ground arms aud say that
we shall not criticize him or his party, OF
that our party shall be thrown before the
wheels Of this smoking Juggernaut. We are
willing to endorse that which he may do
which is right, as we most certainly shall con.
demn that which may be- wrong, or which We
may believe to be wrong. Ii Grants words
and acts are these of wisdom and love for the
people, then shall we give him credit. II he
proves himself to be more OF patriot than a
partisan; if he proves TO love his country more
and his party less; if he proves to be actuateG
by that high and holy love for the light which
is not at present found in the Republican
party, then no man in all the land will yield
terms of him thau ourselves. We shall
him and the right. He is now Presi
dent. 1t is for him to save the country, o.
help ruin it. II is for him to be man or
tool. 1t is for Linn to be patriot or a plum
derer. And as time rolls by, and his act
prove him to be worthy of confidence SO shal