The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-09
SPIRIT or THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THB LKADIEG JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPI0s--CoMPIIRD EVERY
DAT FOB TBs EVENING TELBeRAPH.
The Democracy and the Eebt.


From the ~ y. Times
Western Democratic journals point to the
resolution adopted last Thursday by the AL
bany Convention as proof that the party, East
and West is one on the debt and greeHback
question. II must be admitted that their
exultation is not without cause. Until now the
Democratic party in this State has stood aloof
from Mr.. Pendleton and his doctrines. Mr.
Seymour, up to the very eve of his nomina-
tion, held strong ground in favor of an honor
able and honest recognition of the rights OF
the public creditor. Mr.. Hoffman, too, pre-
siding over State Convention in October, de-
olared that the honor as well as the property
of the country is pledged "to the payment of
every dollar Of the national debt, honestly and
fully, not only according to the letter but &C
oording to the spirit of the bond" Nothing
could be clearer or more emphatic, and as
Messrs. Seymour and Hoffman were so were
the other leading members of the party in
New York. On this issue they resisted the
nomination Of Pendleton, and the propositions
of which he is the consistent and conspicuous
advocate.
But the Convention which nominated Mr..
Hoffman has pledged the party in this State
to the reputation plank of the platform
adopted by the body which nominated Mr..
Seymour. The State resolution affirms the
greenback doctrine in the plainest possible
terms, thus:-
"The payment of the public obligations In
strict accordance with their terms; In gold only
when gold is nominated in the bonds, and In
the lawful currency of the country when coin
is not specified"
How Mr.. Hoffman will reconcile this dis
tinct declaration in favor of adhering to the
letter of the bonds, with his recorded respect
for the spirit of the contract, remains to be
seen. The personal aspect of the question,
however, is of minor Importance compared
with the fact that by the action of the Albany
Convention, the dividing line between the
Eastern and Western Democracy on financial
questions is ebliterated. The party is now
unit in support of the policy of repudiation;
and the Western organs eXult in the victory.
The New York World has succumbed to the
Chicago Times, which announces that the re-
solution we have quoted, "sets at rest all
doubt of any difference within the Democratic
party as to its financial measures"
Encouraged, apparently, by the victory over
its Eastern allies on the bond question, the
Western Democracy is preparing to push its
demands for more currency. The two meas
ures 60 together. The only pretext for in
creasipg the issue of greenbacks is their use
for the redemption of bonds; and 0ice versa,
the redemption of bonds with currency neces-
sitates the circulation of more greenbacks.
In this way reputation and initiation are in
separable. Mr.. Pendleton, it is true, address,
ing Eastern audiences, has recently attempted
to show that his plan does not necessarily in
fVlf6 iuudtl0u' DuI Iuo W6SI nOluS 10 his
original view, and calls for more currency as
an essential sequence to the Democratic policy
on the debt. The Louisville Journal has
presented this version Of the case strongly,
and the Chicago Times insists that the circula-
tion be raised to a thousand millions forthwith.
Some large increase would assuredly follow a
Democratic victory. The same influences
which have controlled the July Convention,
and which have compelled the Democracy OF
this State to indorse the principle of repudia-
tion, would fasten upon the party the policy of
initiation. There would be no escape from it if
that party were in power.
In assuming this position, the party cham
pioned by Mr.. Seymour makes itself the
enemy of the trade, the industry, the thrift of
the country, as well as of its bondholders. We
have but to turn to his speech at Tweddle
Hall, in March last, for an exposition of the
mischief which the Pendleton plan would en-
tail upon provident institutions, whose main
tenance is so essential to the welfare of mil
lions. On that occasion Mr.. Seymour showed
that the interests of the workingman and the
bondholder are Identical and that the results
of tampering with the public credit would fall
most heavily upon the classes least able to
bear disaster. The orator has since trampled
on his own argument, but its force and Justice
remain unextinguished. And the party whose
standard-bearer dexterous duplicity has ena-
bled him to become, in indorsing the heresy
ne denounced, arrays tseI against the well
fare of the people. The certainty that imitation
would follow its policy on the debt renders it
still more obnoxious to every solvent business
man, and Indeed to every man interested in
the industrial and commercial growth and
prosperity of the country.
The Sulphur Springs Correspondence
General Lee.
From the ". Y. World.
Rosecrans and Lee were alike educated at
West Point at the expense OF that Union, alike
taking q solemn oath of fidelity TO Jiat Union.
That oath, General Lee deliberately broke, to
plunge Into rebellion for which he at the time
declared in letter to his sister. that there was
no Justification. He persisted in that Rebellion
till more than half d million of his countrymen
had lost their lives by it, while nearly equal
least five billions worth of American property
were sacrificed in that wanton, therefore,
wicked Rebellion. Lee fought for IL till he and
his army were taken prisoners, and could fight
having done so General Rosecrans fought on
the other side. And now r. secrans volunteers
q certificate that he has unqualified conf.
dence" in Lees purity and PATRIOTISM" and in
his reverence and regard for the Union, the
Constitution, and the welfare of the country"
Such being the case, IL is very natural that
and restore the Government OF our country to
Lee and his confederates. His White sulphur
mission had that express bect-N. Y. Tribune.
Now that the war is so long over and the
country yearhs for peace, we cannot see the
advantage or the decency of these constant
1nVectves against General Lee. To assail a
man whom the Southern people esteem has no
tendency to soothe old irritations III the
favorite phrase of the Republicans, "Let us
have peace, " be anything more than an empty
cry, why do they tear open old sores. and