The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-03

EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPIos-ooMPILED EVERY
DAY FOB THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
POLITICAL PROSPECTS.


party is not unanimous, and certainly not
hearty. MIR. Vallandighams resolutions were
those of county convention, not of his party
in the State of Ohio, and they were not
warmly received by the party organs In the
Pennsylvania Democratic Convention reso-
luton to recognize all existing provisions of
the Constitution was adopted, by vote of
seventy-six to fifty-three, after an angry de-
bate. This is what is called elsewhere
''hedging." Probably there is no intelligent
political observer in the country who does
not know that if the Democratic party had
carried Connecticut, as it did New Hamp-
shire, the election of 1872 would have been
disputed by it upon the question of
the validity of the amendments. But
the sentiment of the country is so pro-
nounced upon that subject that the hopeless
ness of such contest seems to be foreseen
by some of the Democratic leaders, and they
are anxious to abandon q position which has
become untenable. But the abandonment is
fatal. If, as the last Democratic Convention
declared in 1868, the Republican reconstruc-
ton of the Union is unconstitutional, revolu-
tionary, and void, what has made it constitu-
tional and binding In 1872? If void then
not unwise or even unconstitutional, but void
what has made it valid new? Does party
which processes such peculiar and profound
respect for the Constitution intend to ask the
buppOIt VI tu0 COuhbiy upOh Ju0 SIOhnu JuhI
it acauiesces in the overthrow of the Consti-
tuition and in revolutionary usurpation?
If, however, the absurdity be concealed
under the plea of accepting accomplished
facts, and the Democratic party withdraws
its protest against the Republican settlement,
and promises a faithful enforcement of the
"usurpation," its claim to popular confidence
must rest upon the probability of more
honest and able administration of ssthe Gov
eminent by that party than by the Republi-
can. What, then, is the ground of such
probability? In the State of New York the
Democratic party is in power. In the city of
New York its dominance is supreme. What
are the characteristics of its action? The
elevation to Office of men of no character
whatever; the most universal and unblushing
corruption; Legislature which is by-word
of contempt consequent legislation which
virtually abolishes popular government in the
city in favor of an oligarchy of four men, not
one of whom enjoys the respect of the COM
munity the infamies of Erie bills and of the
amended code, authorizing corrupt judges to
crush the freedom of the press: in one word,
vast and skilful system Of plunder, with
profound contempt and disregard of the
principles and the defenses of free popular
government.
This is the aspect of Democratic ascend
ancy where the party is best organized, most
ably led, and of practically unchallenged su-
premacy And against this regime there is
no audible protest in the Democratic party.
In New York the Tammany leadership is om-
nipotent In other States there is no word
of dissent A Democratic victory in the
election of 1872 will be the triumph of this
% spirit, not because every Democrat individu-
ally approves it, but because its ascendanoy
is indisputable, and its discipline remorseless.
Now we ask any Republican at the West or
the East, in the North or the South, is it any
excuse for conniving in any way at the sue
Mr. Tweed and the Tammany leaders are no
worse than Mr.. Cameron and Mr.. Chandler,
and Mr.. Morton and General Butler? Grant
ing what is often felt and urged in regard to
the character and leadership of these gentle
D men, is it matter of indifference whether a
party of the general character and principles
of the Republican, or of the general character
and tendencies of the Democratic, controls
the Government? If certain leaders upor
both sides are not to be respected nor trusted
it is only wise to look further into the party
Now every element of hatred of the Govern
ment, of disbelief in its principles, the grea
mass of ignorance, the subservience to eccle
siastical dictation--the most doubtful ant
pernicious elements in system like ours
are all combined in the Democratic party
The general intelligence, the true conserva
tism Of industry, faith in liberty and educa
tion-in word, the moral forces of the coun
try, are with the Republicans. Is this con
sideration of little weight?
Moreover, if there is irregularity in man
of the details of administration, if the coun
sells which prevail in its general policy are NO
always such as honorable men approve, ther
are two points to consider-hrst, that t
recall to power the party to which we owe th
corruptions of political methods will hardl
remedy the difficulty; and second, that Will
in that party there is really no protest, ther
is in the Republican party a protest so ster
that it constantly mo1ifes what are regarde
as baneful counsels In the State of Ne
York the Democratic voice that was raise
against the despotism of Tammany was sun
marily silenced, and with very few exceI
tions there has been no resolute Democrat
protest urged against the alarming tyrann
of the amended code. But it was the stead
Republican remonstrance that modified til
San Domingo policy, which the Republica
leaders already named strongly supporteC
and the commissions appointed for the il
vestigation of that subject and for the neg
tiation of the English treaty certainly wei
not due to influences which any honest II
publican doubts or would disclaim.
There is, therefore, no probability wha
ever, upon any theory, that a Democrat
administration would be purer or more ef
cient or wiser than the Republican. Even
the Democratic Convention of 1872 shou
unanimously eat its words of 1868, would tn
performance really inspire any Republics
with greater confidence in Democratic ascen
encyf Would any Republican vote mo
willingly for MIR. Yallandigham now than la
year? Are there no such things as charact
and principle and conviction in polite
Are there no plainly distinguishable tende
cies in public affairs which are little aff cot
nv the personalitv of Leaders, II in 18H