The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-09
The Fight in the Fifth.

Mr.. Dana has the floor. General Butler
neither stands alone nor runs alone. His
offer of tempting reward, so strictly in keep
ipg.with his usual detective habit, has not
suficed to frighten back dissentient radicals to
their corners and their holes. The sword of
the commander has lost its edge, and been
blunted at its point. A David has stepped
forth with his little sling, and declares that he
is ready to smite this modern Goliath in the
very centre of his forefront. That the new
candidate for radical honors in the Fifth Dis
trict thinks this work big one, is easily dis
coverable from the turn of his metaphors.
He likens his opponents to whole regiments of
British red-coats, marching up the hill. He
snatches laurels from the very defeat he fears,
by comparing himself to the revolutionary
yeomen under Prescott and Putnam. He
means to make a noisy fight of 1t, for he tells
as so; but he has mortal dread OF what may
happen when the regular opponent gets back
home, for his phrases rattle together in the
mouth that speaks them.
The Fifth District wears an interesting look
A great advance has been made into the radical
sentiment there, when part of the leaders
confess to a sense of indignation at being called
''rebels'' and ORATORS" That they "can't
abear.' 1t is all very nice to hurl that sized
epithet at honest Democrats and conservatives,
including the brave men who went to the field
to vindicate their faith in constitutional gov
eminent; but it hurts their heads dreadfully,
when it is aimed 80 as to hit square at home.
They stood by and heard Butler call others by
those outrageous names, and their gorge did
not rise an inch; but when they feel his
boomerang whizzing about their own ears,
they throw up their arms and call on their fell
low. citizens of every conceivable persuasion
to come quick to their rescue. They ought to
show themselves better philosophers. They
should know that those who are always
prompt to administer the hemlock ought to
have the fortitude to swallow their own dose
without wry face or a groan. Who would
have thought that Butler was made a doctor
that he might give such medicine as this
1t is laughable to see them arraign him for
being false to the Chicago platform in the
matter of the finances. How is Senator Nor
ton How was Thaddeus Stevens How is
Senator Sherman And how are handful
more of radical leaders on this identical sub
ject? AS for charging him with "repudia-
ton" because he moved to tax the income oi
all Government bonds ten per cent, let them
consider that he was supported in it by the
vote of a majority of his party in the House
of Representatives; let them remember that
the address of the radical State Central Com
mittee was written by one who in letter to
the Springfield Republican, hooted at this
nightmare of 'repudiation," and said that
| the people of New Eng were no longer tC
|
| fore found it convenient to call only Demo
Gratis repudiators, as well as Rebels; now LEI
them take the title home to their own bosoms
and make the most they can out of the fellow
ship.
When Bombas'es returns from his "soger
ing" in Pennsylvania, there will be revived
animation among the dry bones of the Fiftl
district. We would suggest to the friend
of Mr. Dana that there is one argument lef
which they appear not to have thought to us
against General Butler, viz, that he is not
resident of the district Governor Bul 'ock'
certificate, to be sure, is worth something
more than the sealing-wax that gives it oficia
authority but that is an old affair now; anC
his Excellency is going down in the West
But as between the two wings of the radica
army in the valiant Fifth there is an open
ing for sound conservative candidate,
real resident, of whose invitation the people
may now successfully avail themselves. |
would be full compensation, in the publ
mind, for Buffers defeat Dana expects to b.
defeated himselD If good Democrat ooul'
be sent to Congress to faithfully represen
the interests of the district and the senti
ment of the people on constitutional govern
| ment.