The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-02

cated. cannon ana Day0net had restored the |
South to the Union, but had not solved the |
question of the social condition of the two |
classes Of the Southern people, the late
masters and the late slaves. This problem
has now been solved by the enforcement,
though imperfectly, of the Reconstruction
laws, the virtual impeachment of their great
adversary, the readmission of most of the
Southern States to the Union on the basis of
equal rights for all men, and the election on
the came platform of Grant aud Coltax. While |
the Southern Rebels hoped to return to the
Union on the basis of caste and the renewed
subjugation of the black race, a large share of
the Northern Democracy hoped to punish by
repudiation the leaders whose wealth had
bought our victory. This heresy also is dead.
Looking back on these signal victories of
justice and TRUTH they seem of such import
ance and benefcence as those now living may
never hope perhaps again TO see crowded into
a single year. These transition epochs in
which ancient strata are broken up aud new
foundations laid, are too destructive to come
often, and too far reaching and permanently
salutary in their effects to be often needed.
The revolutions of the past eight years are
like the upheaval of Europe under Napoleon
or of England under Cromwell We have the
guarantee of internal peace for the remainder
of the nineteenth century, in the fact that the
whole of that period will be required to re-
cover from the exhaustion of this conflict aud
to accumulate forces for another. The moral
and physical courage with which the cause of
truth and justice has been sustained during
the past year has insured US peace Tor the
next half century.
Had the South been restored with all politi-
cal power in the hands of the whites, the
| political subsection of the negro would have
! soon restored him to personal slavery.
Slavery of the negro would have quenched
! freedom, education, discussion, religion, and
progress for all classes. We should again
| loI IaE aud ~, haAS SN1f vi lad
North, reputation, secession, new rebellion,
and this time successful one.
Had Congress yielded to the u;urpations Il; of
a President determined to reconstruct the
South and reGeet himself on the single basis
of scoIn for the negro, regardless OF law and
of the law making power, our Government
would have become an autOcraoy. Never
without bloody revolution could the Chief
Executive have been compelled to obey ths
law. We believe that justice, Law, and states
manship demanded the conviction as we'll as
the mere impeachment of Andrew Johnson.
1t would have saved a thousand lives in
the Southern States which have been sayri-
feed since his acquittal, in the sane hops to
give success to bis political folly. In our judg-
ment the blood of a thousand Southern Union.
lists, crying to H. eayen, ii not for vengeance,
at least for protection and peace is OF more
account than robes OF Office which have been
so stained by deceit and polluted by vice that
we doubt whether they most deserve abhor-
renee or contempt. For the sake of the past
we wish this bundle of treacheries had been
removed. But tue effect of the precedent
on the future will be hardly less valuable than
if his impeachment had resulted ia conviction.
For the first time in the worlds history, the
chief executive officer of great empire, com,
msndiDg the army and navy, was calmly tried
at the bar of the Senate, on the charge of the
Representatives OF the people, for disobe-
dience of q statute. He appeared by counsel,
bowed to the Jurisdiction, and, through couu-
sci, hiegled "shystered," begged, pleaded,
twisted, and wriggled for days and weeks, and
at last, by majority lacking only one of being
two.thirds of the Senate, he was morally, vir-
tually, aud historically convicted though
technically acquitted. The principle is vindi.
Gated that the President is responsible to Con-
, gress for his obedience to the law, and this
was as important as to vindicate the sove.
reignty of the Union over the States.
The discussion in what mode the Southern
States shall return to the Union is nobly and
( happily ended. All rights for all men are
essential to the highest prosperity of the South
as we'll as the safety OF the country. The
, Southern States will enter on the practical
enjoyment of these rights on the fourth day Of
: next March. In the turmoil of the past three
years industry at the South has nearly held
its own, and nothing more serious than
poverty has resulted even to the suffering class
From the present year the South, as a whole,
comes out better than in many former years
OF peace. Having raised all its own food, il
has not consumed the cotton crop In advance,
3 as formerly, but will net substantial profit or
) the years industry. better condition of the
3 South than was ever before known will be- in
= augurated dul ing the comiDgiyear. Our incom
ing President, in the course of his four years
; tour through the Southern States, won the
) respect, though he did not enjoy the hospital.
ity, OF the Southern people. We believe h,
will continue to deserve it. Freedom, peace
r and that security to capital and prosperity to
industry which result therefrom, will speedily
3 cover the wasted fields of Virginia with th
= | cultivation and wealth of New York, anC
A make of Georgia a more genial and sunny
: Ohio. Texas will arise from her rags anC
: vermin and bound forward like the young an,
4 giant Iowa of the Northwest, and the noun
I taiDs of Tennessee will form the Pennsylvania
Y of the South. These great changes are not t,
9 be the slow growth of years No moss will
. gather in the path of the great march Of emil
4 grafton southwark. Heads now grey will lv
!. to see the South not only as loyal but as pros
/ porous and wealthy as the North
d The prosperity of industry at the Mort
J. during the war and up TO the present time hs
J. formed one of the marvels of history. Banker
g and economists tried for time to warn tn
"a people that this prosperity was unreal an
II delusive; but as every body made money, bull
70 houses, paid their debts, enlarged their bus
y ness, lessened their labors, and increased the
t.. comforts the cry became stale. These visib
ID and tangible results are certainly sound. w
ID have instead Of currency redeemable
1, specie at par, one which is redeem able
III snecia at abOut rs cents per dollar, We haV