The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-10
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPICs-ooMPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
THE TWO PARTIES.

very seldom are; but the Democrats are not
the only people in the United States although
their general line of argument is based upon
the theory that they are. To those who still
believe that it was wise thing to prevent the
South from splitting the country in twain and
to preserve the United States as a great ma
tion instead of "concourse of atoms, the
speech we reported yesterday will be found
to contain many passages of interest 1t will
be easy for the Democratic journals to abuse
General Butler, but it will not be SO easy for
them to get over his facts He sets forth
some of the grounds upon which the Repub.
lican party is entitled to the confidence and
gratitude of the people, and if Mr.. Buffers
arguments are attentively considered, they
will carry conviction to all fair-minded
readers.
No one whose means of observation are at
all varied can doubt General Buffers state
ment with reference to the growing favor in
which the Republican party is regarded by
the people. Both sides have had a good
hearing within the last few months the
Democrats especially, being in opposition,
have taken advantage of every opportunity
to put their case before the people. All that
they can urge in their own favor, and
against their antagonists, has been set forth
A. some shape or other. torrent of calumny
and vituperation has been turned upon Gene
raj Grant, and it has run off him as freely as
rain from ducks back. There are very
few crimes known to mankind of which the
President has not been accused by his De-
mocratic assailants. They can never for
give him for the part he took in
putting down the war of secession, and for
obstinately refusing to fall into the trap set
for Andrew Johnson. But what has been
the effect of this storm of obloquy2 1t has
disguised the majority of the people, who
easily OWNED the true motives of the Demo-
cratic attacks. To-day General Grant is
stronger in the country than he was before
these innumerable slanderers set to work
upon him. And this is a fact which we may
venture to bring to the attention of our ex-
cellent Vice-President, who has on several
occasions referred, in sad strain, to the dis
calumnies heaped upon them. All
that Mr. Colfax has said on this subject
is very true, but it is not the whole truth.
A man occupying prominent posi-
ton is pretty sure to receive much injustice;
but his great consolation should be that, if he
does his duty faithfully, the people will in the
end see him righted. man can make up
his mind to bear the attacks of any number
of enemies, provided he is laboring in good
cause; for he may be quite sure that the pub
lie will do Justice to his work. The President
is already finding this out. Probably he
would not deny that he has made some mis-
takes in the course of his administration, but
they have been the mistakes of an honest man
not the vicious and malignant acts of poll
tician who would at any time sacrifice country
to party. Each year brings him new and
valuable experience, and we may confidently
anticipate that the latter part of his term of
Office will be satisfactory to the party which
he represents, and to all men whose minds
are not haunted with gloomy dreams about
the sLost Cause"
The wild and excited din raised by the
Democrats cannot confuse the public mind
with regard to the ground now occupied by
the two great parties. The Republicans are
in the main laboriDg to prevent revival OF
civil war, to place the results achieved since
1861 on durable basis, assure the continued
prosperity of the country, and to break down
political corruption. The Democrats, on
the other hand, aim at objects which would
now be approved by the people. They de.
sire to extend the principles of corruption
which we see in this State to the National
Government; and the effect of their re-
turn to power would be to unsettle all oul
financial securities, whether held al
home or abroad. Even Democrats them
selves would sell any United States bonds
they happened to hold the moment their party
obtained the ascendancy in the country, fol
they know that the Pendleton theories are by
no means dead. Moreover, with every new
indication of Democratic successes, the dis
orders in the South increase. They were
never much more frequent than immediately
after the New Hampshire election. They
diminished again after the election in Con
necticut. They will revive whenever the
Democrats have another victory. Genera
Butler called the attention of his audience tt
these undeniable oircu instances, aud we hav'
often brought them to the notice of ou
readers. They carry with them their owl
moral. If the people wish once more to incu
the risks of civil strife, they will go over t.
the Democrats. If they have no desire t
make that terrible experiment, they will sti
support the Republican party-which, wit
all its faults, is sincerely patriotic in all il
aims, is a safe party to entrust with the dire'
tion of national affairs, and is entirely FIRE
from the dark stains of treason which re-
upon the Democrats.