The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-12


republican statesmen. But when we come to
consider that this same handful, holding so
large share of power are boasted of by the
Tribune and its radical followers as in great
part the Government ITSELF which may defy
the peoples representatives in the House and
the peoples elected Magistrate in the Bxecu-
tive chair-we realize with much greater force
to what depth of degradation radicalism is
striving to sink our republican system, and to
what sbect slavery it would reduce the intel
ligent and still Independent popular will.
There is but one way of safety, and but one
mode of redemption. The people yet have it
in their hands. How long they will retain it,
it is for themselves alone to say.
The Dying Speech and Confession of the
Radicals.
Froathe ". Y World
'The Alabama Legislature has just passed an
act removing all uisfrNnchlsemenJ for repel.
lion. The Georgia Legislature is about to do
the same thing. The Tennessee Legislature
MT cts in regular session. We hope all the
other Southern Legislatures Will In like manner
make the suffrage Impartial. We have con.
stsntly advised this inc true policy for peace.
But 1t must be confessed that the men now
the present voters TO be liberal everywhere
they deal only in threats; they declare openly
that If they regain the vote, they will use their
political power first and foremost TO dsfran-
chise men who now possess votes. Under the
circumstances, the men VINO now possess the
political power in those States cannot be
blamed II they hesitate before repeating the
dissbi ltes of those who thus threaten Them
Nelt York Evening Post.
The Legislature after due consideration, has
passed sn act removing all acknowledgements
Tor rebellion. There was not one negative vote
In The Senate, and buJthirteen against seventy
three in the House. Hencefortn there is no
diSfranchik ed class in Alabama-no person dis.
franchised unless for some non. political felony.
The chief Democratic clamor against carpet
silenced. All her people are equal in right and
law. The fourteenth amendment excludes the
leading Rebels from certain Federal offices; but
reserves TO Congress the right to remove this
disability. No one can doubt that Congress will
respect the action of the Legislature In the pre-.
misses. aDo remove every VeStige of disability,
provided the Rebels do not eek to disfranchtse
the blacks. In short, the Republicans OF Ala
of universal amnesly-Impartial suffrage And
they do not wait to bargain or exact equiva-
.esir ra sr-4T les free TO foliow MOI foiiow
ton was no less wise than bold and generous
NetO York Tribune .......
Nothing very favorable can be said of the
efficacy of a death bed repentance; but the
conscience which is aroused by the terrors of
such a situation nevertheless takes juster
view of the msdeeds of the departing sinner
than he ever acknowledged in the vigor of
health and hope. The Republican party is
in that distressing situation, and is trying the
effects OF too tardy repentance of things
which it committed without compunction
when it thought it had strong hold upon
| ule' 1uo lOIeBOlhB
| on and commencing the action of the Alabama
| Legislature in removing political disabilities
| from white citizens, are complete acknow-
| ledgment that those disabilities ought not to
| have been imposed. For, what is the ground
| on which the disfranchisement has been de-
Tended r- ........ .. ... -.- -......
Why, that the Southern leaders were SO dis
affected and disloyal that they could not be
safely trusted to exercise political rights. II
| the reason was good, the disabilities should
| have been continued until there was evidence
| of better state of mind But the radical
| organs daily declare that the Rebel leaders are
| growing constantly worse and worse-that
their attitude is bolder, is more reckless, con-
tumacious, and defiant, at the present time
than it has been before since the close of the
war. And yet this is the time selected for the
removal of the disabilities so often declared
to be an indispensable precaution against
Rebel influence If the current radical ac-
counts of the Southern temper are correct, this
precaution was never so necessary as at this
moment. Either disfranchisement and dis
abilities were never necessary, or it is absurd
to remove them nOw-that is, if there be any
truth in the radical representations of the pre-
sent condition of the Southern mind. Their
sudden removal, so soon after they were i'm
posed, is an extorted confession that one of the
main pillars OF the radical policy was rotten
from the beginning.
The 1ribune'S encomiums on the liberality
of the Alabama Legislature are preposterous.
The carpet-bag Legislatures are mere puppets
of the Northern radicals. The disabilities
are removed because the Republican leaders
have become frightened. They dare not
encounter the judgment Of the people upon
their policy in all its hideous deformity.
The pretended removal of restrictions is
piece of insulting hypocrisy. 1t is managed
in such way that the enfranehised whites
shall take no part in the Presidential election.
The same Legislature has passed an act pro-
| viding that the Presidential electors shall be
| chosen by itself, and not by popular vote.
| By this disgraceful swindle the State is made
| sure for Grant and Colfax. Instead of enfran-
| chisipg the Rebel leaders, that infamous
Legislature has DISTINGUISHED the whole body
of citizens. By giving the choice of Presden-
tial electors to the Legislature, the pretended
| boon is converted into a mockery. The only
| practical effect IL is expected or intended to
have is to reconcile the Northern people to the
carpet bag governments by false and deceit
| ful appearance of iberality. aI| I
II the disabilities were to be so soon re-
moved, why were they ever imposed But
few months have elapsed since the State Con-
stitutiOn was formed, and nothing has since
occurred within the State which has essentially
changed the posture OF affairs, or can Justify
new policy. Either the Legislature is wrong
or the constitutional convention was wrong.
A party stultifes itself, II makes itself ridi-
culous, by such sudden and complete
abandonment of policy which it so lately
aud so deiberatively adopted. But, after ali,
it maintains one kind of consistency; it is CON
1 - II