The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-12
AMNESTY THE REPUBLICAN POLICY

AMNEOI1 I11E hEt ODLlOAN 1OLlO1.
From Harpers Weekly.
The Republican party, upon coming to
power in 1861, was forced to deal with the
Rebellion. How formidable the emergency
was will never be forgotten by this genera
ton, nor with what patience, valor, unbend-
ing resolution, and complete triumph the
danger was confronted and overcome. The
party maintained the Government, emanci-
pated the slaves, amended the Constitution
in the interest of equal liberty, and restored
the rebelious States to their relations within
the Union. We say the Republican party did
this; because, if the Democratic party had
controlled the Government, the power Of the
slaveholding aristocracy would have been 80
confirmed as to make national regeneration
almost hopeless. Had the Democratic party
been in power during the last ten years,
slavery would still have existed in half the
country; the national flag would have pro-
tected it in the Territories; free speech would
have been annihilated; all the great guaran-
tees of progressive liberty and civilization
would necessarily, under the dominance of
slavery, have been destroyed, and the spirit
and purpose of the Union would have been
utterly defeated.
This appalling catastrophe, not only to this
country, but to constitutional liberty every
where in the world, was avoided b. the ma
tional success of the Republican ply in the
election of 1860, and by its continued success
to the present time. Meanwhile, every mea-
sure for securing the logical results of the
war, and for confirming the equal rights
which it had established, has been obstinately
resisted by the Democratic party. AS its
theory OF State rights-vaguely and loosely
expounded and asserted in the Virginia and
Kentucky resolutions-supplied the pretense
of the Rebellion, and its protection of the OPP
preston of slavery fostered the inspiring
cause, SO it has strenuously opposed all legis-
lation that tended to remove the roots of the
difficulty from our politics, and has sedulously
encouraged hatred and contempt of the race
which we have so cruelty wronged, but whose
equal rights have been legally and formally
acknowledged.
Despite this malignant hostility, strength
ened, as the movements of incipient rebellion
were, by want of reflection upon the exact
nature of the Government, the Republican
party has carried all it's great measures of re-
construction. But the whole policy known
by that name was necessarily experimental,
| and certain of its measures were in their ma.
ture, temporary. Disfranchisement was esps-
cially one Of these. 1t was thought necessary,
| in the actual situation, to except very con-
siderable numbers of persons from any active
| part in politics. OF course those persons
were among the most intelligent of the citi-
zens of certain States, whose ability had se-
cured them the confidence and given them
| the leadership of their fellow citizens What
the result might have been had the policy
been different it is not necessary to INQUIRE.
The most conspicuous Republican who had
friendly doubts was Governor Andrew, of
Massachusetts,. But the loyal country which
had maintained the Union unquestionasly
demanded that policy and it was adopted.
The time has now come for a change. 1t is
evidently more desirable that the control of
the States which have been fully restored to
their relations in the Union should be in
trusted to all their citizens, and that the most
intelligent class should not be excluded. 1t
is also desirable that no system which, by
disfrsnchisement encourages hostility OF
classes or races, should even seem to be ia
vored by the National Government. Such a
| system is sometimes imperative as choice Of