The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-30
Disturbing Reconstruction.

From The ". Y. Times.
The World sends forth the Blair and Hamp-
ton poison somewhat diluted, as in this para
graph
why should reconstruction be more sacred
than anything else? The radicals have derided,
and spat upon and dsTegarded the wise and
beneficent ederal Constitution, and made IL a
thing of no account, and yet whisper against
this precious Africanizlng scheme OF recon.
struction of theirs is met by a whirlwlnd OF
frantic execratiOns. To shut off all inquiry into
its merits they bawl that 1t is q fixed fact, and
appeal to the cowardice of the people not to
disturb it. Why shouldn't it be disturbed II it
is wrong? We are practical people, aud IL
fact was fixed an hundred times over, and fixed
wrong, that is no reason but that 1T should be
fixed an hundred times more, II necessary, until
it is fixed right We want no loose ends left
hanging in this matter and it may be as we'll
Tor these gentry TO SO understand the purpose
of the people"
This is milk and water, compared with the
strong stuff of the Blair letter, the Democratic
platform, or the speeches of Southern Rebels.
1t shows that though our contemporaries flesh
is willing to 60 all lengths with and for its
party, its spirit is hesitating and weak.
For the information of this anxious inquirer,
we may remark that nobody has claimed for
reconstruction sanctity superior to all lawful
methods of change. Nobody has alleged that
it should not be disturbed ''if it is wrong"
nor has anybody that we have heard of OBJ
jected to all needful amendments, ''until it is
fixed right" We entreat the Id, there
fore, TO dispel all fears upon this head. 1t
may go forth uDarmed, and urge the eXpe-
diency of as many reforms in regard to the
working of reconstruction as experience shall
show to be necessary.
But there are two ways OF "disturbing' re-
construction, and we fear that the World, in
its desire to keep Brick Pomeroy off the
track, has lost the clear light which until re-
Gently guided its steps. Its opinion within
less than month was that any changes here
of4n L., -. Al. Al
reconstructed States must be made by and
through the people of the States themselves.
II said, for instance, not many weeks ago.
'that negro suffrage cannot be uprooted by
the Federal Government, even under Demo-
cratic control" 1t said again, that 'when the
negro Constitutions 60 into operation, the
former State Governments will be defunct."
Still later, discussing the very contingency
which the Rebel politicians threaten, it main
tanned that the local Government entitled to
call on the President for support, ''is the one
| which is recognized by Congress by the ad-
mission of Senators and representatives chosen
| under it," 1t asserted the existence of "a
complete chain of legal obligations, binding
the Federal authority to sustain the new Gov
ernments against any attempts to change them
without their consent" We might multiply
these citations, if it were necessary, to show
how fully and how justly the World under
stood the position before the nomination OF
Seymour and Blair on revolu ionary plat
form.
The World was then alive to the folly and
danger of all modes of disturbing reconstruc-
tion by Federal power, or by force, or by any
other agency than that which the new Consti-
tutions respectively indicate. Whence the
change in our contemporary views Whence
the distorted vision, the affected horror of 'the
sanctity OF reconstruction" and the timid
waveripg, and unsatisfactory by play, in behalf
OF the revolutionists ,.
We entreat our contemporary to turn foI
consolation and encouragement to its own
columns previous to the date of the New York
Convention. 1t may take few doses of physic
with decided benefit to its moral health II
may learn afresh that hencefoIward the recon
structed States have their local affairs in their
own keeping, and that if the Southern leaders
of its party attempt to interfere with the local
authorities by violence, the President will be
bound to step in and hang them. 1t will
then see why reconstruction Shouldn't be
disturbed" after Democratic fashion, even
though it be not perfect; while it will per
ceive that all needful improvements may
in due time be lawfully and peaceably intro
| duced.