The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-24
Let Something be Done.

is alone needed. The time has passed LOT
Dragging. There must be something DONE
It is vain, it would be uncandid in Journalists,
who have the confidence OF any considerable
poriion of the Democratic and Conservative
party of the country, to attempt to con-
ceal the fact that they have suffered disas-
trous defeat in the three great States which
held their elections on the 18th, which will, in
all probability, result in their final defeat In
November, unless there shall be complete
change of the programme presented to the
masses of the people.
In the great struggle in which we are en-
gagged the very life OF the nation is at stake,
the long cherished liberties of the people are
imperilled, the existence of republican insti-
tutions and a cons titutional Government is
endangered. The leaders of the radical faction
are openly arrayed against these safeguards of
popular freedom. They are in revolution
against them. 1t is the duty of the conser-
vative masses-a duty owing to themselves,
their loved ones, their posterlty, and
their country-to leave no expedient un-
tried that will arrest the progress Of those
who have surreptitiously selzed upon the
reins of power, and appropriated to them
selves all the details of Government. To do
this is the sole purpose of honest, patriotic,
well-meaning conservatives. To them, in this
emergency, Observation-Disclosures as nothing
success is everything. If the leaders hitherto
relied upon have proved inefficient, If 1t has
been made apparent that under their leader
ship success is even doubtful, and that with
others there is more hopeful prospect of sue
cess, it is the duty of the true friends Of the
Constitution and the Union and civil liberty
to demand that a change shall be made.
Under existing circumstances it would be
nnwise, uncandid, and unjust to attempt to
cheat and deceive the conservative masses of
the people of this country with delusive sug-
gestions, promises, or assertions that the Re-
publican candidate will be defeated by the
present leaders Of the Democratic party. The
result in the October elections only confirms
the apprehensions freely and generally ex-
pressed in July. With all the splendid and
unstained reputation of Mr.. Seymour as a
patriot and a statesman, with all his record of
nobleness and excellence in public and pri-
Vate life, and with all the chivalric and self
sacrificing devotion of General Blair to the
cause of the Constitution and the Union, it is
already evident that they are not the chosen
leaders of the great conservative masses of the
people, who are anxious to set aside the
ruinous and outrageous usurpations of the
Jacobins in Congress.
This fact, 30 patiently demonstrated in the
October elections, cannot be ignored. Truth,
and fairness, and honest dealing demand that
stubborn facts should be frankly admitted.
The conductors Of journal that has been
trusted and relied upon for truthfulness and
genuine patriotism would be reoreapt to their
trust If they should attempt to practise de-
oeption upon their readers and patrons, and to
mislead them as to the true position of affairs
in which they are so deeply interested as in
the result of the Presidential election. 1t
would be suicidal for an editor to risk his
character for veraoity and foresight by
making predictions and exciting expecta-
tions only to be confounded and dis
appointed by the actual results within few
days. We have hitherto in every instance
endeavored to keep our readers promptly and
accurately informed. We have nothing ex-
tenuated nor aught set down in malice in
speaking of our opponents. We have spoken,
and we intend to speak unhesitatingly,
'twithout fear, favor, or Affection" OF all the
heinous outrages and usurpations of radical
ism, and to denounce them as they deserve to
be denounced but we should be unfaithful as
trusted sentinels upon the watch-tower, if we
should fail also to call the attention of the
conservative men of the nation to the faults
and follies OF their own leaders, which threaten
to involve them in disastrous defeat.
Distasteful as may be this task, we dare not
avoid the duty to say to our friends that it is
now apparent that serious mistakes have been
made. Late as it may be- even as it were upon
the very eve of the election, it is not too late
TO apply the remedy. The victory may yet
be won; triumph may still be achieved but
to effect this, all the events of the past week,
all the expressions of the real and unsel6sh
advocates of party success, all the experiences
of the wisest and best among the Democratic
and conservative host, earnestly and emphsti-
cally demand an immediate change of candi-
dates; not of one, but of both; not as con-
cession to the rapacity OF radicalism, but in
Cancellation to the vast army of conserva-
tives who oppose equally with ourselves the
excesses of radicalsm, and are willing to Join
hands with us and assure us a splendid
triumph in November over the serried phalanx
of military despots and Congressional
usurpers.
The National Executive Committee, ap-
pointed by the Convention which met in New
York in July, is authorized to make this sug-
gestiOn to their constituents. Coming from
them, the whole party will promptly fall iuto
line, and even within the few days to elapse
before the election the number of conserva-
tive recruits will be sufficient not only to COM
pensate for the desertion of recresnts,
but to insure victory. The people do
not want Democratic candidates. they
want to defeat radicalism. They are
anxious to defeat the radical party. They
desire to hurl from power those who have
abused it, aud heaped upon them intolerable
burdens. Give to them what they waut-what
they so earnestly demand-and all will yet be
well. Our candidates, selected under peculiar
circumstances at New York, have been tried.
Let the COMMITTEE DOW come together at once,
and place before the people the men who were
really the choice of that Convention-either
Chase, Hancock, Johnson, or Hendri3ks-and
the action will at once be recognized as one o
patriotic endeavor, and will be responded t
from the ST. Lawrence to the Rio Grande, ant
from the-Atlantic to the Pacific, with one uni
versal shout of joy aud triumph that shal
drown forever the voice of radicalism.
Seymour Speaking Against His Own Elec