The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-07
NEW YORK HERALD.
The Next Presidency-Thc Candidates -
Their Prospects.

In spite OF all the dust and turmoil at Washing
ton and elsewhere. the philosophIc eye begins I,
discover some distinct polnts-somc clear ant
striking signs In the horizon, which exercise
most important influence in the formation OF OPT
mon with regard TO the next presidential election
We hear and see an infinite deal about tariff AN,
anti-tartt-bank and anti-bank--sub-treasur ans
antl-sub-treasury--dem hunkersm-
native Amerlcanlsm-wh iggism-and all sorts o.
things In the universe. Bnt all these matters are
but =" leather and prunela." They are but dust
thrown in the eyes Of the people, to deceive,
bewilder amuse, or lead astrey. The real ques-
ton at issue is beginning TO emerge 1t Is seen
rising above the mists of prejudice and passion,
which had concealsd it, like the Caskill Noun
tain House bright May morning.
Ii isvery evident TO all persons, whose eyes are
Invested of the scales of prejudice that, as the mat
ter now stands, the only contest will be that be
tween Henry Clay and Martin Van Buren, All
the other candidates are entirely out of the ques
ton. Mr.. Calhoun, according to all accounts
will, in short time, politely declare himself as
having abandoned the Baltimore Convention, and
left the whole field to Mr.. Van Buren,; and in thai
convention, every body knows very well that nc
one has a shadow of chance but Mr.. Van
Buren,. We, therefore, take it for granted that the
only candidates will be the two gentlemen we
have just named-Mr. Clay and Mr.. Van Buren,
Well, then, what are their prospectsl How smile
the heavens on their respective fortunes Let us
sec.
II isa fac-a very interesting and instructive
fact-a fact in political PHILOSOPHY, and political
statistics, well established in the history of the last
eight years. that in this country there is positive
aud decided majority Of ,chat called ",chig polit-
cans orerfhose ofte democracy ,chcncp there is an
excitement sufficient to BRING the whole party into the
held This remarkable fact has been demomstra-
ted again and again There is no doubt of it
Well, then, bearing this in mind, the corollary
ia unavoidable, that if during the coming year the
excitement, the political excitement, be raised to
the same point of intensity-of fever heat-of boil
ing and bubbling activity-which it reached in
1910, then the chances are decidedly in favor of
the election OF Henry Clay. Now, according to all
appearances at present within the range of our
vision, there is every probability that this agitation
will rise to a very great extent. But the posi-.
bilty OF its reaching the climax of 1910 depends
good deal on circumstances yet-to be developed.
II is evident in this contest that Mr.. Van Buren,
and his friends endeavorng, with might and
main, TO play high game for the Irish voters in
this country. The recent organizations Repeal
Associations seem to be directed to that point alto
seiher. This however, is game that may cut
both ways. This very organization of numerous
class of adopted citizens has already created
very formidable party calling themselves Amer-
cans; and the extent and influence of that organ-
zation in counterbalancing and defeating the other
may produce very unpleasant disasters in the ranks
of Mr.. Van Buren,, and introduce elements OF an
noyance, nay, even of defeat, which may be found
exceedingly troublesome. In this way Mr. Van
Buren's ingenuity may meet uncomfortable re-
ward as that Of Frankcnstein.
Again, the conduct of the democratic organs of
Mr.. Van Buren,, and of his prominent friends, to-
wards the administration, which has been organ
ized at Washington, has been bad so irapoliric,
20 outrageous, as to have invoked from thar
quarter a very decided opposition to all Mr..
Van Buren's aspirations for a re-occupancy of
the White House and restoration of the Bour-
bons Now, the influence and popularity of Mr..
Tyler and his administration may not be of vast
importance. They may not be absolutely omni-
potent. They may not be altogether sufficient to
give Mr.. Tyler much chance for the Presidency.
But, still, it might be much more comfortable for
Mr.. Van Buren, to have these elements in his ia
vor than to have them arrayed against him. The
and may perform no unmportant part in the inter-
esting drama about to be commenced.
Another circumstance which initiates against
Mr.. Van Buren, consists in the strong feeling
amongst all the mercantile, and speculative, and
other similar ciasses throughout the country--who
constitute avery important and influential portion,
indeed, Of the elements which will decide the con-
the election of Mr.. Clay would greatly
-. IL
store and increase the prosperity of the country,
and to place its commercial affairs in the same
fiourishing condition in which they existed in
1884, IS, and IS. No matter if these hopes be il
lusory. is Of no moment in the present view
that these expectations should not be realized
That these aniicipatons do exist is unquestionable
and their existence must and will have some influ-
ence in inhamng the public mind against Mr. Van
Buren,.
Taking all these Influences and considerations
into account and calmly regarding the present as
pect OF the sky without regard to any feeling in the
matter, we must say that the chances of Mr.. Clay
rising every day, and that the chances of Mr.
Van Buren, are declining in the same ratio.
PoLIcR DISCLOSURES have already alluded
TO the report the police of this city, which was
presented at the last meeting OF the Common Coun-
Gil by Mr.. Alderman Tlllou. We must now say
that this volurnefor 1t is elaborate volume en-
lending to probably 400 or 500 pages-will be found
10 contain some Of the most astounding disclosures
of the manners and morals, and vicious propens-
ties Of large city, ever put forth to the world
disclosures which will far surpass any thing to
be met with in the pages Of Eugene Sue or Dickens
as it is possible to imagine.
Only think Of one fact OVERWHELMINGLY, that
in a single ward of the city of New York there are
$50 houses of ill-fame. What terrible chapter OF
vice, iniquiy and moral desoation is presented in
this brief annuncaton of solitary fact And
what startng-amost ncredible-astoundna
commentary is conveyed by another fact, (not in
the book) that the majority of the of these
houses are respectable, worthy, moral-in some
cases pious men And it is stated, though not in