The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-04

hosts General Lee, General Johnston, aud
General Dick Taylor carried the proxies Of
their respective armies. There was no
necessity for treating Immediately with
the armies themsslves; the surrender of
these generals included the surrender Of all
the men whom they commanded. similar
course ought to bave been adopted in dealing
with the political problem. The Southern
people would have promptly complied with
any conditions which had received the assent
Of their recognized leaders. Instead of tue
oumbrous method, which was actually
adopted, Of dealing with the whole Southern
people as an unorganized mass Of individuals,
and operating through carpet baggers whom
they despised, and whom they would never
consent to follow, the method which suited
the circumstances was to arrange terms with
the natural leaders of the South, aud trust to
their ascendancy over their followers for bring
ing over the great body of the people. Had
this course been pursued, the controversy
might have been settled at once; confidence
and kindness would have been Immediately
restored; and the South would have had no
difficulty in borrowing the capital which was
needed for the resuseitatiOn of its PROSTATE
industry.
In war between two nations foreign to
each other, there is no delay or difficulty in
closing up the controversy after the fusl ces-
sation OF hostilities. The reason is, that
each nation considers itself bound by the ac-
ton OF its government, and the conditions to
which its rulers assent in a treaty of peace
are observed without question by all the
people. If, instead of possessing this con-
venient machinery of settlement, two nations
were completely disorganized at the close of
the war, 1t is difficult to see how controversy
between them could ever reach a stable
adjustment. II one of the two nations
should refuse to treat with the government of
the other, and undertake. to arrange a settle
meHt with the great body of its people,
the dispute would draggle on through
an era of confusion as the reconstruction
question has in this country. The reconstruc-
ton controversy could have been arranged
with nearly as much certainty and satisfsc-
tion by an understanding with the recognized
leaders of Southern opinion, as by treaty
with government, If there had been gov
eminent in the south with authority to COM
mapd the obedience of the people. By dis
1ranchisiDg, humilating, and spurning all
the men OF real influence, and attempting to
control the people through intruders whom
they detested, the South has been converted
into political chaos for a period of four
years.
II President Grant has really invited Gene
raj Lee to Washington to confer with him on
the state of affairs in Virginia, he is exhibit
ing the first CLEAN OF sense which has yet
been manifested in dealing with the recon-
structiOn question. The influence Of such
men as General Lee, the ascendancy of such
men over the party sentiment of their section,
cannot be annihilated or weakened by any
thing which the Republican party is able to
do. 1t will continue to exist and operate as q
potent political force and it depends upon the
wisdom of the Government whether it shall
be an obstruction or an aid. If President
Grant has concluded to ascertain and conform
to the best public sentiment of Virginia, he
may reasonably hope that the new State gov
erDment, when once organized, will be self
| sustaining. No government which requires
an outside military force to uphold it can be
| considered as republican. In a govern men
| truly republican, the chief sanction of the
laws is a supporting public opinion; and i
| General Grant desires to see governments o
this character in the Southern States, he mus
put himself in relations with those South
erners whose antecedents aud standing make
| them the natural leaders of the people.