The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-25
The Sober Second Thought.


We have long contended that the time
was not far off when the Republican party
would be compelled TO abandon the exciting
issues and rancors engendered by the
war and fall back upon the practical ques-
tions affecting the real interests OF the ma
tion-its present peace and thrift, and Its
future growth and power. The realization
of this prophcsy is coming upon US fully as
rap:dly as could we'll be expected. The
Presidential election was sort of break
water for those issues and passions. They
ran on like a hcadstrong wave uEtil they
reached that event, and were there checked
and finally thrown back. They have
been gradually rcceding since, and must,
ere many months, be swallowed up in
pacific sea.
1t is impossible that this great nation can
DC kept for any long period agitated, and
torn, and laccratcd by intestine hatreds and
discords. They must be ended by the re-
storation OF peace and harmony amongst
the people, and through the people as me
source If poeoer, or they must be ended
bv the sword-the sword in the hands OF
the Enpcror-thc Emperor of the whole
Misunderstanding and restraining New
York as much as Virginia.
Governor PALMER of Illinois, who seems
to be something more than mere partisan,
or mere party trough" who, indeed,
has much of the statesman and patriot III
him, if we may judge him by few striking
passages in his recent speech to the people
of Ohio, declared in that speech that the
people would no longer sustain party on
account Of its past deeds. lie commended
that there must be something in the way OF
solid merit in principles and policies appll-
cable to the present condition and wants OF
the nation: and he went even so far as to
say that it was the duty Of the Republican
party to restore the system of Government
to its original character of tremendously
adjusted States and general Government ;
that thot party should cause each part OF
the system to move in its own orbit; "that
ito the States be left their duties under
1.-THE constitution, and that the general
Government discharge its dutics.'
Now this is rather unusual talk for a
man belonging to the predominant Rcpub-
lican party; but it is the true talk. We
must have Republican pcace-the peace OF
the Republican system, separate as pillows,
one as the sca,-or we must have the I'm
perial Government. And We must have
concord and equal rights Of people and
States to insure the Republican system.
The press of the north begin to see this.
They appreciate the importance, nay the
indispensable necessity, of turning from the
disturbing questions that have so ycXcd the
nation, and, looking to the present and the
future, above all of restoring equality to
men and States. There is no delirerance
outside Of his policy!
We have quoted many of these papers,
leading off generally with the Tribune. We
now haze the opportunity of bringing for
ward a paper of great sagacity and tact
upon the very point we are discussing-a
paper which is pure and unsupported Re-
publican organ. We mean the New York
Commercial -1ducrtiSer, edited by THuRLow
WEED, famous veteran Of the northern
press. That paper declares "a new order
of things must be inauguratcd, or the party
IRcpublcanl will be defcated.". 1t con-
tinucs The scnsclcss cry of Radicalism
= has no longer talismanic power with the
"loyal yoemen of this country. They must
''have something more substantial than
"abuse of Copperheads,' Conservatives,
land ANDY Johnson 1.-THE Commercial
might have added, "and southern crimes"
THAT sort of food is no longer palatable,
"nourishing, or stimulating. The great
questions Of the war are pretty much
"dcad issues now. They will eventually
{" be embodied i'll statutes and compacts as
sacred as the fundamental law of the
Gland"
There is undeniablc truth in all this.
Without manifestations of which these are
mere sample, we should despair of the
NtlupiAS' out my Si'S uSSu-
rance.
What is it that may hasten the consum-
nation of the end to which these views
tcnd3 The policy of President GRANT
that policy which he set forth with regard
to neutrality-suspicious. to the test-oath and
support of equality amongst the people. He
can, by wave of his hand, cause the great
tide of perfect restoration to sweep on
ward and bear down every obstacle before
it, and upon its bosom to carry the ship of
State into the harbor of safety and peace.
He can thus win all the honor and build an
imperishable name for himself. The fame
that he would thus acquire would be greater
than all his military glory.