The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-11
DOWNFALL OF RADIoALIsM.

DOWNFALL OF RADIOADlSM.
From the Harrisburg Patriot
1t has been said that the destruction Of
every political party begins by the more vio-
lent driving the more moderate into union
with their opponents. The history of the
Republican party is affording yet another
illustration of the truth of this remark. While
the Jacobins in France threw the moderate
Republicans into the party of reaction, the
happy effect of the overthrow of radicalism
in this country will be the bringing into
power of the party of the Constitution. The
very measures which the violent radicals in
Congress and the Cabinet have taken to per-
petuate their power are those which are now
Fastening their downfall.
One year after the close of the war the Re
publican party could boast of a considerable
and influential following in the Southern
States. The people, sickened with carnage,
were anxious to return to peaceful relations
with their Northern neighbors. In that
Southern Republican Convention which met
in Philadelphia in 1866 were many prominent
citizens Of the South. They had heartily
attached themselves to the Republican party
in the sincere belief that to that organization
alone must they look for the restoration of
their political rights in the Union. But
where now are these Southern Republicans?
They have been driven into the Democratic
party by violence. So great has been the re-
vulsion that the radical leaders cannot now
without difficulty count on their fingers ten
prominent Southern men, natives and ito the
manor born, who are in afiliation with them
to-day.
Not all the allurements of place and power
could tempt them to desert the cause of their
oppressed neighbors OF all that host who
were the guests of the Broad Street League
in 1866, scarcely any are now found in the
Republican party. Georgia has been recon-
structed, and reconstructed yet again and
again, and each time returns with heavier
Democratic majority each time reinforced
by acquisitions from the Republicans who
have been driven away by violence. Mode
rate, conservative Georgia furnishes proof
of the folly of attempting topin Republican
State to the earth with bayonets.
When the intention was declared of testing
some of the despotic reconstruction acts in
the Supreme Court, the radicals, in fear of
that tribunal, composed of a majority of
moderate Republicans, at once menaced its
authority and its very existence. This
assault on a coordinate branch of the Gov
eminent only alarmed the more moderate
Republicans, and threw them into opposition.
At the head of this new revolt stands the
venerable Chief Justice Chase, one of the
founders of the party, and one who contri-
buted as much to its prestige and success as
any man in the country. He and thousands
of his more moderate friends were forced by
the violent radicals into union with their
opponents, and since they have got in, they
seem to have taken a great liking to their
company.
What but the greed and selfshness of the
monopolists of the East has driven tens OF
thousands of Western Republicans into oppo-
sition? Not content with what they had al
ready acquired from a partial national legis-
lature, they rushed on rapaciously, session
after session, increasing the taxes on the
necessaries of life, under the shabby pretext
of protecting American industry, until they
provoked hostility which threatens them
with the loss of as many States in the West
as their despotic reconstruction acts have cost
them in the South Moderate political asso-
ciates who lazily voted for protective tariff
acts, without being convinced, have been
compelled to examine the question, and in
doing 80 have been converted into advocates
of free trade.
The insolent ajority which for years could
pass almost any tariff act under suspension
of the rules without permitting discussion,
will find themselves turned into minority
in the Forty second Congress. So much for
radical violence in another direction.
The fraudful processes by which the ultra
radicals secured the adoption of the15th amend
ment has caused another revolt of the mode
rate Republicans. Although they acquired
the votes of many thousands of negroes, the
desperate means to which they resorted in
forcing through their measure lost them far
more than they gained. The violence done to
the Constitution of Indiana is revenged by
| the people of that State in the election of q
Democratic Legislature. In Pennsylvania
there is Democratic Senate in defiance
of gerrymander.
Congress in passing the laws authorizing
the interference of the military in elections
is producing yet another schism which threat
ems more disaster to radicalism than any other
cause Grants obstinate resolve to consum-
mate the corrupt bargain for San Domingo,
and the support which he receives from But.
Ter, Morton, and other dangerous men of the
party, have produced a violent rupture, and
the bitter quarrel with Sumner and his friends
is but symptom of the fatal disease which
has seized hold of radicalism. What
with Buffers malignant amnesty,
| which is worse than no amnesty at all, and
! the threat of more reconstruction, accom-.
panied by another military invasion of the
South, the great Republican party is fast
sinking into violent and vindictive faction
in Congress, with a stubborn military chief.
tain, possessing no political experience, al
the head of the Government In pushing on
from one excess to another in the hope of re.
covering lost ground, the radical leaders but
illustrate the history of other violent parties
that have preceded them. They are but pur
suing their destiny. These modern Jacobins
will rush on until they, too, find their Ninth
Thermidor.
FAILURES IN ART CONSIDERED AS
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