The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-29

N@S- X
who value consistency and constitutional
liberty, should rally with enthusiasm to the
support Of the platform and nominees OF the
New York Convention"
CaImness Amid the Coming Storm.
WE are now on the eve Of national politi-
cal campaign, one which threatens to rival in
bitterness of feeling and party asperity any
which has ever before visited our country.
Judging from the evidences at hand, we see
good reason for anticipating the widest ex-
citement. The issues involved are of kind
to excite the worst passions. On them the
parties are diametrically divided. There is
no neutral ground between them. There is
no common platform on which they can stand.
Two great questions are to be settled. The
one involves the decision of the finances of
the nation. In it every man, woman, and
child is directly interested. The proposition
of one party is to rob the other of portion
of its wealth. 1t is to throw national honor
to the winds, and adopt as the rule of action
merely, whether we have the right to violate
obligations-not whether we have right on
our side. This issue alone would be sufi-
cient to cause unparalleled bitterness. The
moment a mans pocket is affected, we reach
his temper, and we therefore predict an
asperity fortunately as rare as it will be bitter.
The East and West stand opposed on this
question, and each section is again sub-divided.
Every city has the adherents of both repudia-
ton and redemption. 1t will therefore take
but little spark to provoke collision and
lead to bloodshed.
If the division of sentiment between the
East and West is of a character to threaten
difficulty, what is the nature of the issues in
the South The test question in which the
people, black and white in the reconstructed
States are called upon to settle is whether one
race has any political rights which the other is
to treat with respect. Shall the blacks of the
South be citizens or serfs? Shall they have
the ballot and freedom, or shall they be de-
prived of these dearly. bought rights, and
made helpless in the presence of their enc
mics The Democratic party propose to de-
prive the colored men of their right of suffrage.
To deprive them of suffrage is to remove from
them the great safeguard-the only safeguard
of their liberties. They do not feel a specula-
tive interest in the issue. They do not feel a
kind of semi curiosity as to what is the re-
suit. 1t is a direct personal matter with each
one of them. Whether Grant and Colfax, or
Seymour and Blair are elected, means to them
something of the deepest and most overwhelm-
ing interest. Can they be expected to look
calmly on, and not be in state almost COM
bustible? 1t will need but little provocation
"a slight additional taunt to lead from
words to blows-from the political meeting to
the personal encounter.
What, then, is the unfortunate prospect of
our nation, prospect traught with danger,
and which may lead to disastrous results in
the course of few monthsH What, then, is
the duty of all good citizens of both partiesH
We counsel all to avoid adding to the flame by
any exhibition of personal malevolence or by
incendiary speech or writing endangering that
quiet which is founded on but the frail fOun-
dation of mutual concession. We have shown
that the issues are of character to lead to
malice. The smallest conflicts may in the
condition of public feeling, lead to disastrous
results. Let US then hope that, in the discus
sion of the issues involved, there will be
brought to bear spirit of temperate investi-
cation, which will SAVIOR of the true magnitude
of the questions to be settled. 1t is a great
people meeting together at great election, to
decide on its national policy. The design is
to secure true exposition of the wishes of
the majority. Whatever that majority may
think, it is the object of the election to de-
velope. Why then should taunts and threats
be the standard political tactics of the day
Why not have calm argument and settled
actionY
When we say calm argument, we mean only
in a comparative sense. A popular argument
is calm which does not cause ill.feeling, which
does not tend towards tumult. Let the speakers
on both sides remember the state of the popu-
lar feeling, and leave to the demsgogue the
thsnkless task of ranting. 1t will be by deli
beration that votes will be won, not by bonn
bastic gesticulation, far less by incipient
tumult. In speech, action, and writing let
all remember, that far above all partisan
triumph, far above all consideration OF section
or sect stands the great crisis of national secur
ity and public peace, and whoever, by word
or act, tends towards its destruction, is a de-
magogue, whom the people should remember