The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-25

llttCaL career uuoor oucu Disadvantages y n
very large proportion Of the Southern peo-
pie, ID is asserted, we're so strongly opposed
to the Democratic party previous to the Re-
bellion that they cannot now be induced to
Join il, ,Aor-to openly act with il. We can
readily understand the feeling which would
cause an ardent Whig Of former days to re-
coil from the Democratic, organization, even
after SO long an interval, especially when we
recall the fact that in most of its essential
features the party creed remains essentially
the same. N f.liea ra Eos OF h9Gs 40
e Another objection, strongly urged, is that
by its record, previous to aud during the war,
the Democratic party made itself permanently
Z odious to the loyal whites of the South, very
many of whom still hold it largely responsi-
BILE for the disastrous results which have
followed. They argue with much force that
! but for the sympathy and anticipated coope-
ration Of the Democrats Of the North, the
Southern leaders never could have led the
people into actual rebellion. They we're as
sured by prominent Democrats that, there
would be no actual resistance to secession,
but that after O few months of excited negotia-
tions the South would be permitted to Ego in
peace" SO widely was this delusion spread
among the Southern masses that the seces-
sion leaders were able to overcome the ap-
peals and influence of theloyal whites. It is
now asserted that those men will not ally
themselves with party which has injured
them so deeply. 4r j.
But chief among all the objections which
are urged against the Democratic party at the
South, is that it cannot hope to get the vote
of the freedmen. Southern politicians know
that class too well to indulge in any hope of
leading the negro into the Democratic ranks.
The idea would be preposterous.r The
Southern negroes avoid Democracy, almost
upon instinct. They know the party to have
been the most implacable enemy of every ex-
pedient tending to ameliorate the condition
of their race; that it steadily opposed emanci-
patton, and as steadily resisted the work of
reconstruction. 1t is folly, therefore, these
Southern conservatives assert, to expect that
the present generation Of blacks will act with
party at whose hands they have suffered so
much as from the Democracy. a2d1 oft
4 The three classes we have mentioned, in
addition to the present white Republican
vote, form majority in almost every South
ern State, and would be sure to control the
elections under ordinary circumstances. The
recent usurpations in North Carolina have
caused an exceptional election, and similar
circumstances will probably effect similar
result in Georgia, and perhaps in some of the
other States. Very soon, however, the
Southern people will discover that the ag-
| gressive policy which so exasperated them
| was not really Republican, but was forced
| upon us by radical wing of the party, which
thought more about gratifying a sectional
| prejudice than of settling national Republi.
can policy in the future. When they discover
that fact, the people of the South will proba-
bly, take up their political position regardless
| of extreme counsels on either side. Old
prejudices will gradually die away, and new
! party lines will be established at the South.
We do not believe, however, that the ex.
istipg parties will be essentially changed,
either in organization or name, for many
years to come The so-called conservative
party, which has recently been SO cautiously
organized at the South, will prove but tenn.
porary affair. 1t has already served its pur-
pose, and when the national canvass of 1872
| is fairly organized, it will be silently merged
into the Democratic party, and never again
heard off, Meanwhile, the Republican party
will doubtless lose some strength at the polls
| by its means, but only during the approach
| ing elections; afterwards it is pretty certain
that it will emerge upon broader platform,
and, with truly national policy, will continue
| to guide the policy of the country for years
| to come. or-s- .al,'.,.1-rI-
Democracy is distrusted and repudiated at
! the South because of its record. At the
same time it is undergoing transition at the
North preparatory for the new role it is about
| to take in the future. 1t is striving to cast
off the accumulated odium of decade, and
to conform to the political necessities which
| its shrewdest thinkers now see are inexorably
1 crowding upon it. The party may or may
not be brought to accept the new policy, but
we have not so poor an opinion of the Ameri
can people as to suppose that device SO OBJ
viously insincere will beguile them into OBJ
| livion Of the past or into confidence concern
| ing the future.
/