The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-29
Return of the Rebels to Power.

From the ~. Y. Times.
A dread of the return of the Rebels to power
is to-day the dominant feeling of the Northern
masses. 1t is that which gives vigor aud
earnestness to the Republican movement. 1t
overrides all cavil about the wisdom OF Re-
publican rule, and silences all complaint
about the unconstitutionality of radical action.
Grant the justice of all these charges; let it be
conceded that Congress has been Just as ultra
and unreasonable as is alleged-acknowledge
the truth of whatever the Democratic organs
see fit to say about military despotism, ruin
these evils are felt to be infinitely less than
that involved in giving the Rebels renewed
ascendancy in the councils Of the nation.
Nor is it at all surprising that this should
be so. What these men did when they had
power before is a good criterion of what they
would do should they get it again. They had
power without stint, down to 1860; and the
use they made of it plunged the nation into
war. The Rebellion was the direct and inevi-
table result of their ascendancy. They sought
to perpetuate their sway; aud when they
found it had come to an end, they tried to
break up the nation they could no longer rule.
If they were again to get the power they had
before, they would again use it for the same
ends. They would again put the national ex-
istence in jeopardy, rather than share political
power with any other class of citizens, or
accept the principles which the war has esta-
blished.
Until the meeting of the Democratic National
Convention their purposes were vague and
their plans indefinite. But the place assigned
them in that Convention made them bold.
The certainty that they would have the alli-
ance and support of the whole Democratic
party made them reckless; and they pro-
claimed openly the means by which they would
seek restoration of power and the objects for
which they would use it.
They intend to overthrow and "dsperse"
the local governments newly established in
the Southern States. They intend to to break
up their Legislatures-to drive their Cover
nors, elected by their people, out of ofioe-to
silence their courts of justice, to nullify their
laws, and sweep away every vestige of the
civil authority they have established. And
then they intend to establish new govern
ments, to elect new officers, and to make new
laws to suit themselves. And all this they
intend to do by the action of the President
whom they hope to elect-by compelling him,
as their party representative and tool, to use
the army for this purpose, and to force the
acquiescence of Congress in this violent over
throw OF governments which have been estab-
lished and are now in active, effective opera
tion under the sanction of the national autho-
rity.
What is this but revolution Even II the
Southern State Governments were not created
III Accoruahoe WIN oohsIltutonal forms, tney
are still de tdcto governments, erected in ac-
cordance with the will of the people, and by
the direct action Of the people themselves
They are dischargiDg all the functions OF gov
ernment, and are performing, with more or
less success, all its duties. II the Democrats
seek to change them, let them do it in the
regular, peaceful mode provided by the Con-
stitution-by the action of the people them
selves. Let them appeal to the Supreme Court
verdict in their favor from those tribunals
they will have no difficulty in carrying it into
effect. But If they discard them and attempt
to carry their point by resort to violence aud
force, they will again encounter, in their
second attempt at revolution, as they did in