The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-03
Kew of the Position"


The editor of the Philadelphia Press
FoRxEY) unfolds the plan Of Congress by
saving that the purpose OF the recess until
the third Monday in September is tolgiye
the Radical party "the key to the posi-
,ion.,, This has been the plan Of the Radi-
col party ever since the war;. Governor
rrrcurR was in Washington in .'6S, and
having known and served with the partisan
trickster CoLrsx, who has some good social
Qualities, called upon him. The Governor
approached him frankly on the subject OF
the war and restoration, and was met with
the illiberality which marks the Radical
policy. The Governor assured him of the
candor Of the, South in submitting nnre-
seryedly to the superior force Of the Gov
eminent, and the general desire for the re-
storation of the Union and q return to ma
tional peace and prosperity. CoLFAx, in
reply, was subtle and unforgiying. Disin--:
clined to any policy that failed to punish
rcbellion-didn't think the sufferings of the
South sufiicient-was not inclined TO hurry
matters, and very emphatically asserted in
substance that the party in power did not
mean to 20 ahead Of developments, but that
they meant to keep themselves in the posi-
ton to take advantage of those develop
ments. This was holding on to "'the key
Of the position" No matter how much the
national interests might suffer from the de-
lay of reconstruction, and the immense ex-
pense it entailed upon the country, this
must be done. The Radical party must be
protected against every exigency by legis-
lating cautiously and not running ahead OF
events.
In this conversation the whole policy Of
Radicalism was completely foreshadowed.
1t has been literally carried out. When
men say that if the South had adopted the
constitutional amendment the southern
States would have been admitted they
assume great deal more than the history
of Radicalism warrants. They say, indeed,
what nc one who understands Radical
policy believes. The census tables were
examined Immediately after the war, and
the naturalization of the South By Afri-
canizing it was determined upon, and
nothing could have altered that determine
ton. The Acknowledgement of portion OF
the white race-not for punishment, but to
gain power to the Radicals at the polls
and the Acknowledgement of the whole of
the negro race, it was thought would do
gave on the fourteenth article this would
have been done. ..s IN ~
And now, the key to Che situation - IS
still 10 be commanded. Congress meets i'll
September what is necessary to promote
the power of the Radicals according to
events then known will be done. The cleo
ton of GRANT the whole Radical party
press and politicians have already declared
to be 6" necessity 1t is true that it is
but Radical party necessity; but they
have all along considered the Radical party
the nation; so their logic makes it a " ma
tional necessity"
What Congress may do Cop knows. We
can hardly anticipate, and cannot be sur
prised at, anything they may do. Many
far-secing men believe that they will in
augurate system more arbitrary than
any yet adopted by them, which will make
GRANTS election certain, although the votes
of several States have to be set aside on
some pretext or other for that purpose. ii
the Radicals indicate such purpose it will
very much exasperate majority of the
people of the United States. 1t would be
quite sufficient provocation for bloody
conflict but will it lead to one? We do
not believe it win. The northern people
are too comfortable and rich to 60 to fight
ing, and they will let things take their
course. r 81 ..a-
But then this violence and lawlessness OF
Radicalism would only hasten another po-
litical juncture which, according to prece'
dent in Republics, most people believe will
sooner or later arrive in this country :itbe
usurpation of all authority by one man and
the conversion of the Republic into an EN-
pire with its Emperor. a-asx
We believe that the election of SEYMOUR
and BLAIR will put off this day and give
the Republic new lease of life. But be-
tween the present abominable misrule and
oppression and the Emperor and the En-
pire, we would infinitely prefer the latter
A bad King would be bad all over, and if
he were good the whole country would
share in the benefcence Of his administra-
ton.
Philosophically, it is time the Radical
party-that greedy and ruthless offspring
of war-were dead. It's end must be near.
1t must soon give place to truly Republic
can party or introduce upon the stage the
Dictator, and then retire. Let us hope for
the best. The signs are encouraging.