The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-08
The Fruit of Thirty Days. Thought.

day, and on which we made some
comments a few days since, being care
fully prepared document, is one to which
popular attention cannot be too closely
directed. To impress on the minds of the
people its real object, we venture, even at
the risk Of repetition, to point out its two-fold
purpose.
After devoting thirty days to meditation, If
not to prayer, Mr.. Horstio Seymour makes
public a carefully prepared campaign docu-
ment showing the reasons why he should be
elected President of the United States Nomi-
nally the lengthy paper is letter of ac-
ceptanoe, but as he had already accepted in
person, and presided over the Convention
which gave him the nomination, some people
may think that it is rather superhuous. Under
the guise of accepting he really endeavors to
accomplish two objects. The one is to cover
up the fearful blunder made by
his colleague, General Blair, in his
letter making bid for the nomination. The
other is to attack General Grant covertly, as
he dare not do it openly. The first object is
too palpable to be for a moment concealed.
He has doubtless noticed the universal indig-
nation and general alarm caused by the recent
letter of the would be President. He
sees that it was a mistake to lay aside the
mask so soon that what would arouse great
enthusiasm among the Rebels of Missouri would
cause nothing but alarm among the people Of
the North, especially upon the conservative
portion. He therefore snubs Blair by the fol-
owing reassuring sentence:-
Re ipa vel Jva in
terested In putting some cneck upon tnis vto-
lence. 1t must be clear To every linking man
the violence of party action aud To assure tue
peace and good order of society. The election Of
cratic members 10 The House Of Repi esentatiUes
qUould not give tottdt party organization The pOOer
SerUe TO check those eTtrele measures aUiich have
been deplored by the best men Of both potiticat or
lead to that peaceful rest oration of the Union
and reestahlishment OF fraternal relationship
which the country desires"
Says Blair, the only issue is the overthrow of
the reconstructed States, if needs be at the
point of the bayonet. The election of Demo
cratic Executive would mean that and nothing
more. Says Seymour, "the election of
Democratic Executive would not give to that
party organization power to make sudden or
violent changes" How can these two be
reconciled9 The one breathes forth fire and
slaughter, the other peace and conservatism.
There is but enc way to account for these
contradictions. The letter of the Presidential
aspirant is intended for Northern cOnserVa-
tives. They are to be caught by its soft muir
murs. The letter of the Vice-Presidential
nominee is intended for Southern Rebels, and
it requires severe tones of vengeance for them,
and to him is allotted the task of doing the
dangerous for their edifcation. But this two
faced Janus will never have its temple on our
Capitol Hill.
The most evident object of this long letter is
hardly more clear than the second point aimed
at. General Grant, warned by the fatal lesson
of Executive obstinacy, in his letter of accept
ance stated that he would have no policy to
oppose to the will of the people. Against this
Mr.. Seymour makes his attack. He says:-
mo man who has weighed and measured the
duties of the Office of President OF the United
States can fail to be Impressed with The cares
and tolls of him who Is TO meet its demands.
IL not merely TO float Nth popular currents NTH
out q poLtcu or a purpose. Ga the contrary, wniie
WILL its distinguishing feature IS that il seeks to
protect the rights OF minoriIies. It's greatest
glory is that IL puts restraints upon power.
mo man can righttully enter on the duties
of the Presidential Office. unless he is not only
Wllllng TO carry out the wishes oil tue people e&-
pressed in a constitutional way, but is also pre-
pared to stand up for the rights OF miuorlttes."
There is wide difference, as Mr.. Seymour
knows full well, between bending to the de-
clared wish of the people and being ''hoated
on popular currents without a policy or a
purpose" And when he 80 pointedly en-.
deavOrs to put his opponent in false posi-
tion, he oVersteps the limits which custom
has always ordained to be the standard of pro-
priety. The idle talk of the rights of minori-
ties is pointless. If Mr.. Seymour is elected, zoe,
the Republicans, wH be the minority and Uhat
rights of ours ,OiU receive his fostering c4re (?
Now the Democracy are the minority, and we
hear loud cries for their rights. Then we will
be the minority, aud they the majority, and
the cries will have ceased.
"The Devil was sick.
The Devil Il saint would be;
The Devil got well,
And The devil saint was he."
The real effect of the letter is to falsfy
facts, and to WOO over Republican votes.
In no less than eight places do we find 1t as
serted that the Republican leaders of wisdom
and discretion are opposed to the policy of the
party in regard to reconstruction. This is
not true. The Senate, among its last acts,
passed by a strictly party vote, anti-impeach-
ers and all uniting together, the bill relative
to the Electoral Colleges of the Southern
States, and the House did exactly the same
thing. On the subject of reconstruction the
Republican party of every State stands a solid
phalanx. With consummate power of mis-
NJ II1 Ia la