The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-07
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF rBR LEADING JoURNALs
UPON CURRENT ToPICs-OoMPTLBD RvKRY
DAY yoR TBB EVENING TELEGRAPH.

mipation in a letter which has all the bad
characteristics of his recent speeches. 1t
Ia loose in its statements OF fact, Jesuitical
in its reasoning, and evasive in its treatment
of the issues presented by the Democrauo
party.
The first impression produced by the letter
Ia, that its writer realizes the odium incurred
by the revolutionary programme OF his party.
This odium he seeks to break by charging
upon his opponents purposes and tendencies
which have no existence except in the minds
of his friends. "The minds of business men
are perplexed with uncertainties" as he
remarks, but it is mainly because of the
attitude assumed by the Democracy on the
subjects of finance and reconstruction. In
one case the public credit is threatened; in
the other, the new order of things in the
Southern States. The two causes are quite
sufficient to explain and justify the uneasi-
ness which pervades business circles; and
there will be no escape from it until the party
whose action excites it shall have been again
rebuked by defeat. The continued advance
in the price of gold, is an illustration of the
effect produced by the Democratic platform
upon the most sensitive indicator OF CONNER
oial opinion; and the audaciOus preparations
of the Southern leaders to overcome the au-
thority Of the new Governments by violence,
exemplifes with equal point the encourage
nent received from the New York Convention.
When MIR. Seymour does venture to be
specific in his accusations, it is at the expense
of truth. For example, referring to Congress,
he says:-
"Its acts since the adjournment of the Con-
vention show an alarm lest q change of political
power will give to the people wnat they ought
to have-a clear statement of what has been
done with the money drawn from them during
the past eight years."
The truth being that "clear statements"
have been given by Mr.. Blaine, in the House,
and more recently by Mr.. Wells in the press,
so1, oh gg,rIok lna Loo.
with the money" but that the stories put in
circulation by Democratic orators, and by few
more unwarrantably than by Mr.. Seymour
are perversions coined for the basest uses.
We are not unqualified eulogists of the finan-
cial management of the dominant party. We
know that Congress and the Treasury are
chargeable with many sins of omission and
commission, of fiscal and financial character.
We know, too, that frauds have disgraced the
administration of the Internal Revenue, the
responsibility for which must be divided be-
tween the President and the Senate. But
when Mr.. Seymour alleges that there have
been financial wrongs (which have been kept
from the public knowledge" and for which
Congress Is accountable, he INDUCES mis-
statement which partisan ardor does not
excuse.
Again, Mr.. Seymour writes:-
"The Congressional party has not only allied
Itself With & military power Which is to be
many States, but 1t also holds itself in per.
petual session, with the avowed purpose Of
making such laws as IL shall see fit, in view of
the elections which will take place within
few weeks"
The answer to the allegation that the Con-
gressional party intends to bring military
power "to bear directly upon the elections"
is, that under General Grants orders, the Dis
trict Commanders relinquished all the extra
ordinary authority conferred by the Recon-
struction acts, SO soon as the newly-formed
Governments came into operation. The fact,
then, is the opposite of Mr.. Seymour's state
ment; and for this fact the Republican party
is entitled to credit.
The intervention of the military may yet be
necessary in Louisiana, and perhaps else
where, but it will be in consequence of the
disloyal organization which is at work to dis
franchise the colored voters. If this necessity
arise some of the Southern adherents of Sey-
mour and Blair may come to grief. The cir
cumstance, if it happen, will not prove an
improper alliance between the Republican
party and the military. 1t will simply show
that there are rebellious fools who have
already forgotten the risks of rebellion, and
need be reminded anew. Mr.. Seymour must
not suppose that his friends in South Carolina
and Louisiana will be allowed to set law and
local authority at defiance. Nor must he
wonder If he and his party everywhere be
held responsible for the revolutionary utter
ances and plans of the Southern Democracy.
Mr.. Seymour's affected moderation takes
another and more amusing shape. From
untruthfulness it passes to hypocrisy. He
patronizes the conservative Republicans, and
substantially claims afiliation with them.
Their errors, he thinks, have been of the
judgment merely, and he bids them welcome
to the Democracy. "They must now see, -" he
suggests, "that the Republican party is in that
condition that it cannot carry out wise and
peaceful policy" Therefore, quoth he to the
conservatives, come and help to elect the
Democratic ticket
The Governor does not choose to remember
that conservatism in the Republican ranks
ceased its murmuring and its opposition when
Copperheadism proclaimed its continued mas
terry of the Democratic party. Such is the
case, however. The conservative Republicans
struggled a couple of years to moderate the
course of the dominant party but were uni
formly frustrated by the unprincipled parti
zanship of the Democratic members. They
contributed their full share to what
ever is extreme in reconstruction legis
lation. And when they and their party
raised the flag of resistance to law in Tam
many Hall, incorporated Wade Hampton'G
doctrine in their platform, and otherwise
afforded proof that Copperheadism is still in
the ascendant in their councils, the last pies
for conservatism, as disintegrating elemen
in the Republican ranks, vanished. The
nomination of Grant at Chicago, on platform
at once Conciliatory and just laid the founda
tion for the reunion OF all shades of Republican
opinion. The New York nominations, on {
platform of repudiation and revolution, re
moved all lingering doubts as to the course o
auty, and rendered the Republican strength
more compact than ever. Mr.. Seymour
therefore, NAV dismias tl,a bona 81 b..io g.,