The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-22

slowly, and will never disappear except under
the influence of general Improvement In
Southern society, which is another way of
saying that, when individual Southefners are
more intelligent, industrious, and humane
than they now are, the weaker members of
the community will be better off.
MR.. CASSIUS M. CLAY AS 1HE MODERN
PERSEUS.
FROM the ~ Y. Times
If anything could make us sympathize with
''poor Cuba" more thoroughly than we have
hitherto done, it would be the conduct of her
avowed champions. They fall upon her neck
in pretended friendship, only to give her a
secret stab in the back. AS we cordially wish
to see the independence party succeed, we
entreat it to get rid of nearly all its present
advocates. One set persists in throwing mud
at the Secretary of State, and in muinbling
over a stupid series of slanders on his family
connections-slanders which have no wit or
novelty to recommend them, and which, as
everybody knows, have been unanswerably
disproved. What is the effect of this
Naturally to create astonishment that the
Cubans should be SO sharnefully unscru-
pulous in choosing their instruments.
But still greater wrongs have been done
to the insurgents Public meetings have
been called in their name, and every
true friend of Cuba has been covered with
modification to witness the result The pu b.
lie have held aloof. Leading men of all
classes have naturally initiated their example.
What miserable infatuation was it which led
to repetition Of the farce on Wednesday
night? People know all about it by this
time, and only one new actor appeared to
give variety to the melancholy performance.
There is Cuba, bound to the rock, while the
Spanish dragon prepares to swallow her at a
mouthful. We hold our breath with ex-
pectation. Is there no one to save her? We
are told to go to Cooper Institute, and the Sc
crets of fate shall be revealed to us. OF
course, we repair to the abode of the oracle,
and what do we behold A well-known
journalist in the chair, like the seraph that
sits up aloft, and Mr.. Cassius M. Clay
painting with eagerness to distinguish HIM
self as the Perseus of the nineteenth century.
We must say for the Chairman that he evi-
| IDENTIFY meant to do no harm. His remarks
were of an artless and innocent character, and
except that he has taught us elsewhere that
it is very wicked to differ in any respect from
any member of the administration, we should
admire his frmness in proclaiming the prin
ciple that it is ''the privilege and right of the
American people to instruct their Govern
ment'-except, we suppose, on financial sub
jects. But after the lamb there enters the
lion. MIR. Cassius M. Clay is the most for
midable friend any cause could we'll have
Need we say that he began his speech upor
Cuba by giving the audience a complete re
Prospect Of his past life 4? That is the newt
able overture to performance by Mr. Cassiu
M. Clay the ''terror Of princes" Has he no
cast proud defiance at the despots of the uni
verse? He has been absent eight years
What change does he find? Why, 18th,
image of King George has been removed, an(
the portrait of George Washington hangs a
the door And that metamorphosis has beer
effected in eight years, period during whicl
Mr. Clay modestly declares that he ha
grown colder if not wiser" 1t is the com
mon lot. Comparatively few people do groy
wiser as they grow Older and therefore Mr.
Clay need not think that he is sitting alone OF
the stool of repentance.
What is the first topic to discuss when
man has to make a speech on Cuba? Mani
festly the perfidy of England and the incom
potency of Mr. Seward. considered in thei
connection with Mr.. Cassius n. Clay's unps
ralleled services to his countrymen and thei
ingratitude towards him. There we have
fine field for thought. The first step toward
the deliverance of the Cuban Andromeda
the canonization of her Kentucky Perseus
Does any one want to hear Mr. Clay's ''case
in few words Here it is, quoted LITERAL
from the Tribune why, sir, 1 recall
most illustrious passage in English history
the iberating of the slaves, and now, whe
following under our leadership and advice
it has been again in season and out of season
That, fellow-citizens, is my Defense if tina
be a defense" There is no ''if" in the ma
ter. What Mr., Clay means we have not tn
| faintest idea, but we are quite willing to Gel
tify that he is not guilty.
The removal of King Georges statue is nc
, the only event of the past eight years. Pre-
, sident Grant has disappeared. 81 have here
sir, said Mr.. Cassius NJ Clay, 'an extrat
from the late President Grants message
! The audience laughed-so did the peopl
when rip Van Winkle" came back to h
2 native place. But presently the audienc
: began to hiss, as well as laugh, and unde
: that trial Mr. Clay lost his presence of mind
} if it be not profane to suppose such thin
D possible He touched subject after subjeo
: but the company would not listen. The
wanted to hear something about Cuba. I'll
I | reason of their discomfort We need hardl