The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-24
The Democratic Star in the East.

From The ". T. Times.
Mr.. Pendleton has the merit, rare among
Democrats, of preserving in political discus
sion the language and cOurtesies of gentle
man. He does not find it necessary to adopt
the style of certain of our neighbors, who
desire to prove their zeal for Seymour by the
abuse of Grant Nor is he disposed to follow
the Democratic candidate for the Vice Presi-
dency in maligning and depreciating Mr.. Col
fax. In his Bangor speech on Thursday Mr..
Pendleton declared that General Grant "has
stood the test of success" and ''has borne
himself with moderation and magnanimity in
his high Office And of Mr.. Colfax, Mr.
Pendleton said:-"He is an amiable and esti-
mable gentleman, and would perform with
dignity the duties of the high Office to which
he aspires' The slanderers who imagine
that truthfulness and justice are incompatible
with efficient party warfare, may learn from
the personal aspects of this speech that it is
possible to be Democratic and at the same time
decent.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Pendleton's candor does
not show itself in his treatment of political
questions. The philosophy ne INDUCES in re-
gard to persons forsakes him when approach
ing principles and measures. In discussing
constitutional questions, he finds it convenient
altogether to ignore the great revolution
through which the country has passed. He
bows 'in reverence to the form of government
which has bound these mighty States to-
gether," and lauds the sagacity and selfdenial
of its founders; but of the crIminality of the
Democratic leaders who would have shivered
the Union into fragments, or of the construc-
tion which their rebellion compelled the Gov
ernment to put upon its powers and duties,
he says not word. The case, as he states it,
is one of wanton, causeless violation of law and
right by the Republicans. They are arraigned
for deliberately conspiring" for the
overthrow of the constitutional system
| 30
ing for strong government. This is the
gravamen of the charge preferred and reite-
rated by Mr.. Pendleton. On this ground,
before all others, he demands the defeat of
| the Republicans. The Rebels, however he
does not mention. He takes no notice of the
fact that his Democratic friends made war
| upon the Government, and necessitated the
| rigorous exercise of power of which he COM
| plains. He has censure only for the means
employed to put down the Rebellion; the Re-
bellion itself and its authors are, by his argu-
ment, made to appear righteous and patriotic
| The greatest of Republican crimes, according
| to Mr.. Pendleton, is that of having preserved
the Union which his section of the Demo-
cracy endeavored to destroy.
The same one-sidedness of statement ex-
tends to the constitutional amendments which
have been adopted under Republican aus
pices. We quote from the Worlds report
| Twice SINCE the close of the war they have
used all the power which the possession OF the
| given them to amend the Constitution; and in
| each case the amendment has been in deroga-
tion OF the substantial, important. recognized
| amendments the power of the States over
| slavery within its limits was abolished. BY the
upon the Will not OF the States, but of Congress;
| and the exclusion of negroes from the rule
of suffrage is punished by the loss OF repre-
| sentation."
These amendments are characterized as an
"attack upon the States themselves" Here
again MIR. PendletOn's aversion to whatever
hurts the Rebels appears. His denial of the
lawfulness of strong effort on the part of the
general Government to preserve its integrity
includes emancipation, resorted to as a war
measure The right of the Rebel States to
retain control Of slavery was in his Judgment
superior to the right exercised by Mr.. Lincoln.
Everything for the Rebels, nothing for the
Union" is the sum of the Pendletonian phi
losophy. Could its expounder have had his
way, the Southern Confederacy, with slavery
as its corner stone, would now have been in
full operation. The war for the Union, and
emancipation as part of the price OF the Union,
were both Sin derogation of substantial i'm
portant, recognized rights of the States" Such
is the Copperheadism, pure and simple, which
Mr. Pendleton breaches to the applauding
Democracy of Maine.
And as he includes emancipation among
Republican sins, SO of course he condemns its
civil and political sequences. The recOgni-
tion of equality before the law, as result oil
the acquisition of freedom, he denounces as an
outrage. He would have slavery, If it were
possible. Not being possible, he would have
the millions lately in bondage still subject 10
their owners law of prescription and punish
ment They should have neither civil rights
7 nor political privileges. The former are