The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-09
Where Rests the Responsibility!
,idL Advertiser,

FROM tbe ~. Il, COnlnl6TCluG AuOeTGS6T,
81 thank God that the strife of arms has
ceased, and that once more in the great cou-
vehtlons OF our party we can call through the
whole roll OF States, and find men to ans yer to
each, ,"-SeymOu1'S Speech.
Governor Seymour thanks God that all of
the States are once more represented in Ma
tional Convention. But to whom is this graft
flying result due Is it the Democratic party
which in 1864 declared in the Chicago Con-
vention, over which this same Governor Sey-
mour presided, that the war was "a failure"
and should be stopped The country was at
that time epshrouded in gloom, and the Rebel
prospects were Frightening. Then it was that
the Democratic party sOlemnly declared that
no further efforts should be made to overcome
them, In so many words it affirmed that the
prosecution of the war had been of no avail,
and that the time had come to let the insur-
gents 60 in peace and establish separate
Government OF their own.
The great and patriotic Republican organi-
ization, however which had conducted the
war to that point never thought of hesitating
or falteriDg. On the contrary, it pushed for
ward with renewed zeal and determination
and as result Wade Hampton, William Pres
ton, Napoleon Forrest, G. C Langdon, and
other Southern politicians are gathered to-day
in the city of New York 30 nominate candi-
date for the whole United States, instead of
assembling at Richmond, Charleston, or Mont.
gomery to designate Jefferson Davis, Robert L.
Lee, or John e. Breckenridge as President of
Southern COnfederacy. To the Republican
party, and that party alone, is due the fact
that the Tammany Convention to day embraces
delegates from below Mason and Dixons line.
Governor Seymours speech, which is sur
charged with passion and anger as no other
address Of his ever was, dwells much on the
vast debt, deprecated currency, and heavy
taxes of the country. But the party which he
to- day represents brought all of these ills
upon the country. When the Southern States
threatened to secede if Abraham Lincoln was
chosen President, the Democratic party of the
North encouraged their threats and menaoes.
An eX- Democratic President assured them
that he, along with others, would rush to
their rescue were any force attempted. Other
Democratic leaders, at Meriden, Connec icut
and elsewhere, declared that Northern army
would have to march over their dead bodies
before reaching Dixie. Democratic sheets,
here in the metropolis, promised a hundred
thousand defenders to the South from New
York alone in the event of war. And one of
them had Rebel flag prepared to unfurl to
the breeze opposite the way from where we
| are now writing.
Encouraged by such manifestations the
| Southern leaders inaugurated secession. A
| Democratic President, instead of crushing the
| initiatory movements, looked calmly on and
declared'that he had no power or authority to
Floyd, as Secretary OF War, stealthily con-
veyed war material from the Northern to the
| Southern arsenals, the other members of the
| Democratic Cabinet as stealthily and secretly
plotted against the nations life.
Then it was that our national burdens, over
which Governor Seymour fairly raves and
| foams, began. The Democratic party had en-
| couraged the fiery Southerner to assail the
| Government, and the Republican party has
| tened to its defense calling upon the country
| for men and money. AS the war continued
the Democratic party, as such, vigorously op-
posed it, continuing to give moral as well as
material support to the insurgents, and dis
| couragiDg enlstments.
BY thus keeping up constant fire from the
| rear on the Government, it compelled still
| greater outlays of men and material, and
| swelled the public debt State and local taxes
are now being paid all over the country be-
cause the Democratic party prevented volun-
| teeIipg, encouraged ''skedaddling," and hence
| necessitated the payment of heavy bounties.
We, here in New York, are paying taxes to-day
| for property destroyed by Governor Seymour's
| 'friends, when in the Summer of 1868 they
| rioted at will through our streets, and under
| the belief that they had his encourage
ment and sanction, plundered public and
private dwellings, and Shot down unofendiL G
men, women and children. 1t is because of
such deeds, because the Democratic party, as
such, continued disloyal until the end of the
conflict, that we are now saddled with national,
State and local burdens. Had the Democratic
party been loyal to the country, there would
have been no rebellion, no secession, and no ma
| tional debt. Had the Democratic party be-
come loyal ON the outbreak of the rebellion,
that rebellion would have been overcome years
earlier, and our national burdens would have
been correspCndipgly less.