The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-14
THE IMPENDING CRISIS.
Bv william Lloyd 0ArrlSOn.

South, the DemOcraUo parry H"u, Aot -,
a century. shown readiness to comply
with every demand of the slave oligarchy
to augment and perpetuate their power,
Indicative of an utter recreancy to the
cause Of liberty and equal rights. A
crouching vassal it had only to hear the
crack of the overseer's whip to perform any
service, however revolving to the feelings
of humanity or violative of every principle
and doctrine of genuine Democracy. Other
parties were subservient, in the same direc-
ton, to very criminal extent; yet not
without evincing some sense OF shame and
a considerable division OF sentiment in their
ranks. They were more or less troubled by
conscientious scruples, by personal indepen-
dence of mind and action, by patriotic and
lberty-loYing impulses too strong for party
trammels and so could not be relied upon
with the same certainty. But the Democratic
party never had any virtue to be tempted
any integrity to be tried, any patriotism to be
shocked, any regard for justice to be outraged
on the question of negro slavery. Hence,
it was in the hands of the slave power
as clay in the hands of the potter; and, "as
a vessel of dishonor," was constantly used for
the vilest purposes. During the Rebellion, it
left nothing unsaid or undone to encourage
the Rebel forces, short OF rising en- ntdSSe and
Joining them on the battlefield. 1t bitterly
opposed every measure of the Government for
suppressing the Rebellion; it was for giving
carte blanche to the South to secede or stay in
the Union, as she pleased; it never raised
cheer over loyal victories, but grew hopeful
and satisfied in proportion to successes; it had
no tears to shed over the perpetration Of that
awful deed which shocked the civilized world,
the assassination Of President Lincoln-for the
assassin stood in sympathy with its policy, and
removed hated object out of the way.
Neither the horrid massacre at Fort
Pillow, nor the findish treatment of
Northern prisoners at Andersonville and
in other Southern prison-hells, could eXtort
from it a word Of sympathy for the victims, or
single indignant protest against such un-
paralleled atrocities. Its heart was as hard as
adamant By its factious course it greatly pro-
longed the bloody struggle, at the cost Of tens
OF thousands of lives and hundreds of mil
lions of dollars. Since the Rebellion was sup
pressed, the Democratic party has denounced
and resisted every act of Congress impera-
lively called for to give unity to the Repub-
lie, stability to free institutions, protection to
Southern loyalty, inspiration to all industrial
interests, repose and security to the Govern
ment. It's representatives in the national
Legislature have, on all matters relating to
Southern reconstruction, voted exactly in
accordance with the wishes of the Southern
Rebels, audaciously pretending all the while
to be actuated by the highest patriotic consi-
derations and the most sacred regard for the
integrity of the Constitution. 1t has had
upon the Republican party, because of the
embodiment in that party of the loyal feelings
and purposes of the country; while its treat
ment of those who treacherously rose up in
arms against the Government has been charac-
terized by an ardent fraternity. 1t is as lack
ing in vision as it is in understanding; it is
wise to do evil, but to do good it has no
knowledge. It's tongue is as an arrow shot
out; it speaketh deceit. There is no end to its
falsifcations concerning the party it is endea-
Voring to supplant, and the expenses una
voidably incurred to preserve the Union on
the basis of universal freedom. Its recent
national convention at New York constitutes
its crowning infamy. There and then every
mask was laid aside. Treason was hailed as
loyalty, and loyalty branded as treason; trea-
son shaped the platform; treason nominated
the candidates; treason boldly announced
the determination of the party, if success
full at the coming struggle, to nullify all
that has been done by Congress in regard
to the South, to dlStranchise the entire
colored population and give them over to
the tender mercies of their former owners, to
inaugurate reign of terror in that section as
against all who maintain a loyal front, espe-
cially the so-called 'carpet baggers" from the
North, who may hope for no mercy at the
hands of the victorious Rebels, who are never
so jubilant as when burning negroes alive by
a slow fire, or barbarously lynching Northern
advocates Of equal rights. Even now, stimu-
lated beyond control by what they achieved
in Convention at New York, and before
their triumph is assured in the success of
the Democratic ticket, those red-handed
Rebels are busy in shooting down the
"carpet-baggers" aforesaid as Legitimate
game, and massacreing the helpless freed
men on the right hand and on the left.
Witness the recent slaughter of more than
sixty of this suffering class in Texas, because
they had the presumption to hold political
gathering, animated by the spirit of loyalty |!
If these things are done i'll the green tree
what will be done in the dry Every mail
from the South extends the catalogue of bloody
deeds of this nature, and the murderers walk
abroad not only with impunity, but with
pride and eXultation All other parts of the
world are open to Northern men to visit, and
reside therein, without personal opprobrium
or peril, excepting the South. In that Sec
tion they are not to be tolerated if they are
seen to possess any manhood, or avow any faith
in the world-reconcling doctrine of 'liberty,
equality, fraternity" They may remain, how
ever, on one condition-that they will curse
the Republican party, vote for the Democratic
nominees, and be in all things as servile to
rebel domination as the plantation slaves were
to their overseers and drivers. And this is
American citizenship, forsooth Outlawry in
One-half of the country, or a paddock upon the
lips When or where has the liberty o
Southern men been restrained on Northern
soil in regard to any of their views, however
distasteful2 7 When or where have they ever
been compelled to choose between death OF
conformity to Northern opinion What
claim have they to go where they please
reside where they please, speak as they
please, East or West, North or South, tha
NOrtlapu citizens