The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-17
SPIRIT OF THE rRnss.
hotOrtRl Opinions Of the Leading Journals
Upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day iOr the Evening Telegraph.


betoken conscious strength. When a party
feels weak or doubtful, it courts alliances and
seeks outside support; but a party which is
strong, and knows itself to be strong, dsdains
to make concessions to the views or preiudices
OF any other section of the community In
Virginia the Democracy wisely threw their
weight with one of the factions into which
the Republicans of that State were divided
and turned the scale triumphantly against the
radicals The Democracy of Tennessee are
pursuing similar policy and if they succeed
IN the election, they will return Andrew
johnson to the United States Senate to be a
thorn IN the side and scourge upon the
back of the Republican party in that body
Ii they achieve this result, they will vim
dicate the wisdom of the coalition. The
Democracy of Ohio have nominated General
Rosecrans as their candidate for Governors
and if they overcome the i0, 600 majority by
which Grant carried the State last fall they
will have no reason to regret running a man
who has not been uniformly identified with
the Democratic party. The Democracy of
Pennsylvania have initiated none of these ex-
amples Feeling themselves to be strong,
they have taken no special pains to make pro-
selytes from the opposition, either in their
candidates or their platform. They are, of
course, the best judges of the strength of the
party in their own State and if they oblite-
rate the majority of 5000 10y which Grant
carried Pennsylvania last fall, the result will
Justify their confidence.
The Democracy of Pennsylvania have
many circumstances in their favor. In the
first place, General Grant has lost especially
in that State, the popularity and prestige by
which he was borne to the Presidency. He
affronted and disgusted the Republican
leaders at the very outset of his adminstra-
ton. They have neither forgotten the
insult nor forgiven it. They predicted
that the consequence would be to give the
State to the Democrats, and they are willing
that their sagacity should be Yindicated by
the fulflment OF their prediction. They
wish the President to be rebuked and
punished; they want him to be taught that
1t is not safe for him to disregard their
wishes and spurn their advice. Pennsylvania
did more for his election than any other State
in the Union, and he has made no recognition
of the service. Pennsylvania was entitled to
one of the most important seats in the Cabi-
net Nothing given her but the Navy
Department, and instead of bestowing that
upon q vigorous and efficient party leader like
MIR. Grow General Grant gave it to man of
no sort of weight or account in the party, the
imbecile Borie, whom the active party leaders
declared they did not even know by sight. He
was butt and laughing stock until public
derision compelled him to resign. On Borie' S
resignation, his place was not given to an
other citizen of Pennsylvania, although
General Grant had previously acknowledged
the title of that State to a seat in the Cabinet,
but to Robson, of New jersey State that
voted against him in the Presidential election.
The Republicans of Pennsylvania resent this
injustice Theydo not consent to be snubbed
and defied in this supercilious manner. They
will feel a secret satisfaction in seeing the
State go Democratic tbs fall; and the rebuke
of the President will be all the more signal if
the Democrats carry it without making the
shadow of a concession to the Republicans
Ahar i,,t thair 1off fbair o1r
In the next place, it is to be considered
that this is a mere State election, and, like all
State elections in the year next following a
Presidential election, it will call out but a
comparatively light vote. Of the Indifferent
voters who went to the polls last fall, great
majority were Republicans. The Democratic
party will be largely benefited in the coming
election by the stay-at-home citizens, whose
number will be increased by the sullen
l. apathy of the Republican leaders, who harbol
a spite against General Grant
The Democrats of Pennsylvania have care
fully surveyed the field; they have weighed
their advantages and their chances; and they
are convinced that they can easily carry the
State without making any concessions to theil
adversaries. They have nominated a consis
L~ tent, vigorous Democrat as their candidate fol
Governor, and have adopted a platform which
on one leading point, sets forth the wishes
! rather than the expectations of the Demo
| cratic party. III the party could prevent uni
versal negro suffrage, it would do so will
great unanimity; and so long as there is any
hope of defeating it the Democracy of Penn
sylvania cannot be complained of for reitera
ting their protest.
The practical measure to which they poin
in their platform is repeal of the ratification
of the proposed fifteenth amendment, gvel
by the Republican Legislature of Pennsylva
mia at its last session. If IfPennsylvania elect
Democratic Legislature, such repeal vii
\ be made; and it will be valid if it takes pac
before the amendment is ratisfed by three
fourths of the States. The resolution ON tn
b subject is in the following words:--
"SecOnd That the attempted ratification OF the pre-
posed fifteenth amendment TO the Federal COnstitI
tion by the radical members OF the last Legislature
and their refusal to submit the same to vote OF t
people, was deliberate breach OF their Official dut
and an outrage upon every citizen of the State;
the resolution making such ratification should
promptly repealed, and the amendment cOmmitte
to the people at the polls for acceptance or rejection
This is right in substance; but there
J something little superhuous in its recon
mendations There is surely no need of sui
mitting the proposed fifteenth amendment t
the vote of the people of the State, after tn
! ratification is rescinded by the new Legislt
H ture. The question is fully presented to th
n { people in this platform; if they elect Demo
cratic Legislature upon that platform, the
a will thereby sufficiently express their oppc
sition to the amendment. 1t would be an id
superhuity, after the repeal is rescinded,
have them vote on it again. The resolutio
which we have quoted comedies great de-
to the friends of the amendment-more tina
Is necessary and more perhaps than is uuit