The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-18

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THE mass of the people, North and South.
have almost forgotten In 1t we have had war,
or at least remember only that we have had a
number of wars; and but for the burdens of
taxation and other iutulerable evils of NAL
administration, which the party thrown INTO
power by the last war has en- allied upon them,
their thoughts would be no more disturbed this
day by the Rebellion than 10y the war win
the past and is 100 cold in the grave OF time for
its 'pomp and circumstance TO excite the pOpu
lions on which the war was fought were settled
by the war, and being now absolutely eHete,
cisely the same ground in regard TO theih."
1t is desirable for both North and South to
escape, as quickly as possible, from the at
mosphere engendered by the Rebellion. The
establishment of perfect peace implies a
certain amount of forgetfulness on the part
of both sections, and no true friend of either
will needlessly foster irritation on account OF
subjects which events have irrevocably
settled. The difficulty just now is, that the
two great political parties differ in their esti-
mate OF the settlement, as we'll in regard to its
scope as the principles on which it has pro-
ceeded.
Had iudicious counsels so far prevailed in
the New York Convention as to secure the
nomination Of Mr.. Chase, on platform which
he could have honorably accepted, the South
ern question, in its sectional aspect, would
have been reduced to very narrow proportions.
The work of Congress would have been ac-
cepted, and the business of amending it would
have been properly handed over to the people
of the several States. In such circumstances
the discussions which prove so uupalatable to
the Southern opposition would have been di-
vested of their worst features, and founda-
tion laid for rivalry of parties on questions of
administrative reform. This course has been
rendered impossible by the action of the De-
mocracy. Its management passed into the
hands of extreme men, who reopened ques-
;,~I,t
absolutely efete, and revived the recOllec-
tions which the Richmond journalist describes
as almost extinct. For the Southern issue, in
its present shape, the Southern people may
thank the Democratic party.
Nothing could be much farther from the
| truth than the Enguirer'S remark, that, as to
questions raised by the war, ''both parties
| stand before the country on precisely the same
! ground" The ruling eemen. i'll the Demo
| cracy would not a"quiesce in this statement of
! its position. II may be true as to the single
fact OF emancipation, bnt as to the conse-
! quences OF even that measure it certainly
! Is not.
, he issue presented BY tho opposition is,
whether Congress derived from the Rebellion
a right to impose terms of readmission, Or
whether the people who rebelled retained
title to restoration vita no other conditions
than those of their own choice. On every
ground of principle, moral and political, we
believe the claim set up by Congress reason
able and just. To suppose that the people of
the South might rebel with lmpuuity-that
they might renounce the authority OF the
Union, and resume allegiance only when un-
able to offer further resistance is simply mon
strOus. They were brought back into the
Union by force, aud the power which brought
them may surely say on what conditions they
shall regain its privileges. We may doubt the
| expediency of some OF these conditions-we
may deem a portion of them harsher than a
wise generosity would have sanctioned. But
this is merely a matter OF detail. The tunda-
mental point is that Congress- by reason OF
the suppression OF the Rebellion, becam9 law
| ful master OF the situation; and that the work
of Congress must stand, subject to local pro
visions for the change of the new Constitu-
| tiOnS, and TO the Fourteenth Amendment in
respect to the political rights of the colored
population, and the future basis of repre-
septation.
On this fundamental question the Democratic
party has joined issue. 1t assails the claim
set up by Congress, and the entire work which
has been done. 1t would convert the Union
triumph into barren victory, and invest con-
queTed rebels with the substantial advantages
OF success. 1t would iguore the logical results
of emancipation by denying the freedmen civil
and political equality. 1t would bring back to
power the oligarchy of planters, and give
them control over the States they precipitated
into rebellion. The Democracy, in fact makes
1t impossible to forget the war and its lessons,
or to disregard the conduct of men now promi-
nent when the integrity of the Union was in
jeopardy.
When the Southern macontents object,
then, to the emphasis which the Republican
party places upon this issue, they ought to
remember that it is invested with its present
Importance 10y the conduct OF the party they
support. There would be need for demanding
the maintenance Of Congressional authority
over reconstruction, We're not that authority,
with all its consequences, assaied. There
would be no pTeteXC for the constant presenta-
ton OF the anti Union record of conspicuous
Democratic leaders, but that the men who
tried 10 destroy the Union now contend for
the right to manage its restoration. The con-
tToversy, irritating as it is, was not sought by
the Republicans. They are on trial before the
country, touching their reconstruction legisla-
ton; but reconstruction itself would be re-
moved from the arena of national politics If
the Democrats were content to leave TO the
States the amendment of their own laws.
The guarantees enacted to strengthen the
Union being threatened with violent de-
stIuction by the Democratic party, there can
be no forgetting the Rebellion, its issues or
Its leaders. Slavery has been killed and
the pretended right OF secession extnguished;
but other questions remain which necesstate
the exposure of the aims of Southern De-
mocracy and the insolence and disOyalty of
those who speak most authOritatively i'll its
behalf.
The two parties occupy opposite ground in
regard to the question which renders the Re.
belliOn germane to the contest as affecting
both the purposes of the controlling elements
of the Democracy and the in silica and eXu9.