The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-30


SeymOui's Restraining Influence.
HoEATIo SEYMOUR declares in his speeches that
If he should be elected President, the Republi-
can majoIities in Congress would SO hamper his
administration that he would have to CON
tent himself with re-enacting the role of An
drew Johnson. The only thing he promises
is that he will "re5trsin radicalism." If thi,
statement were literally true, the people wouli
find little encouragement in the prospect of re-
newed conflicts between the Legislative and
Executive departments of the Government.
"Peace" is required at Washington as we'll as
elsewhere. The doubts and uncertainties which
originated in Johnson's antagonism to Con-
gress have cost the business interests of the
country, in hard cash, far more than the
burden of the national debt. Prudent men
feared to embark in new ventures while the
political future was overhung with tempestu-
ous clouds, and thousands of useful enter
prises have thus been arrested. At one time
Andy seemed on the point Of attempting a
coup d'lt0t. At another he was all submis-
sion. At one moment he was apparently per-
fecting his arrangements for an open war
gipg in piteous tones for forgiveness, and bend
ing ali his energies to prevent his election
from the White House. Meanwhile he was
VIGOROUSLY surrounded by the most CORFU pit
men of the country, and the influence he ex-
erted in the South was of the most baneful
nature. Horatio Seymour could not easily
present less attractive picture of his imsgi-
Presidential haf ho hoc
voluntarily drawn In his statement that he
would occupy position similar to, if not
identical with, that of the present Chief
Magistrate of the country. When Seymour
talks OF restraining radicalism, however, he
has no reference to Rebel radicalism. He
would see no evil in the radio calism which pro-
poses to torcibly extiDguish the reconstructed
governments which form the basis of settle
msnt nf tho latA Wo" a"d h" would --"t I~--
to offer serious opposition to any reasonable
movement OF his reasonable Southern sup
porters. He could only be elected President
as the representative of the most dangerous
and disorderly elements of the nation, and his
bOasted restraining influence would only be
exerted against measures designed to promote
freedom and to extend the reign of liberty and
law over the benighted South.
The election of Grant will secure the unity
OF feeling and action between the different
branches OF the Government which is impera-
lively needed to restore order and tranquility
While Seymour announces in advance his in
tention to sntagonize Congress, Grant declares
that he desires to obey the will of the people.
Seymour desires to thwart the wishes of loyal
citizens at the bidding of the Rebsls; Grant is
determined that the verdict of the war shall
be enforced, and he will yield willing ear to
the demands of the patriots who preserved
the Union.
No man can doubt, in view of the respect
universally entertained for Grant, that hi 4,
recommendations to Congress will receive the
most favorable consideration, and we hazar |
little in predicting that, as rule, his sug-
gestions will invariably be followed. Aud yet
like Lincoln, he will owe his power to his
faithful efforts to execute the public will, and
avoid the silly and stubborn efforts to thwart
it which have made Johnson at once trouble
some and ridiculous, and which Seymour de-
sires to repeat.