The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-09
ME. vALLANDIGHAM,s- TACTICS.

The recent action of the Democratic Con-
vention of Ohio by which, after vote of
365 to 139, the Democrats of that State say:
I'VE recognize as accomplished facts the
three amendments to the Constitution, re-
Gently declared adopted, and consider the
same no longer political issues before the
country"-this declaration, coming from a
source from which We might reasonably have
apprehended the contrary, is a moral gain to
the whole nation, and ought to be accepted
thankfully by men of all parties.
We have no sympathy with the disposition
manifested by those Republicans who want
to see the Democrats as much in the wrong
and as little in the right as possible. On the
contrary, the nearer right both parties are,
the better for the common country. So far
as this journal has had voice to which
Democrats have been willing to accord a
respectful hearing, we have urgently
seconded the efforts of those Democratic
leaders who have been trying to rescue their
party from the control of Frank Blair and his
co-revolutionists. We have always wanted to
see the Democracy pledged to maintain,
rather than to subvert, the issues settled by
the war. We appeal to all thoughtful Repub-
licans whether 1t is not better that MIR. Val
landigham and his friends should declare the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments accom-
plished facts, than deny their validity and
demand their obliteration.
The Ohio platform, at least so far as it
relates to these amendments, will probably
be the Democratic platform for the next
Presidential campaign. 1t is wise act on
the part of our opponents to refrain from
attempting to turn back the sun upon the
dial. political party that does not keep.
step with the march of the age perishes like a
caravan lost in the sand. The Democratic
party does not want to die. But the fact that
the acknowledging Democrats of Ohio
were minority of one third shows that this
ancient party still has a powerful element
within it which is attempting its destruction.
Moreover, Mr.. Jefferson Davis and other
leaders of the lost cause, as if bent on a
second suicide, openly say that they ''Yefuse
to accept the situation;" and we believe that
Mr.. Davis represents in himself very fairly
the sentiments of about one-third of the
Democratic party of the United States.
| Nevertheless the fact that Mr.. Vallandigham
| in his own party can inaugurate political
| rebellion against its rebel chief, aud that the
| new flag waves over two-thirds of the rank
and file, is cheering to our spirits, for it
| shows that the Democratic party dares no
| longer to lift its official hand to strike the
negro.
| The sincerity of these Ohio politicians is
not subject into which we care closely to
inqune. Great parties are generally more
polite than sincere. We understand full well
| the anlInuS OF Ile iate new departure. line
Democrats want to win the next Presidential
election, if they can. They know that they
cannot, if they attempt to undo the constitu-
tional amendments. They therefore pru.
IDENTIFY agree to respect what they would more
willingly destroy. Such reasoning as this is
what undoubtedly moved many of Mr.. Val
landighams followers perhaps also Mr.. Val
landigham himself. Bnt such reasoning is,
after all, the best kind of logic, for it is the
logic of events.
The question now arises, Since the Demo-
cratic party pledges itself to abide by the
constitutional amendments, and since il
wants universal amnesty, what can individual
Democrats do by which they may better carry
out these wishes than to cooperate with those
Republicans who propose to deny to the
present administration a second term, and to
succeed President Grant with some such mar
as Horace Greeley? All the more important
issues for which the younger spirits of the
Democratic party now contend, are faithfully
represented by Mr.. Greeley. Why not there
fore let the better class of Democrats unite
with the anti-Grant Republicans, and gel
ready betimes to nominate Mr.. Greeley il
1872?