The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-16

Is44-Present Prospects of the Candidates.
The great contest for the Presidency has been
waxing hotter and hotter every day for the last
three weeks, and the country is now laboring un-
der an excitement which we hardly anticipated on
the commencement of the campaign. At that Pc
Rod the wings were very certain of victory, and
the democrats were afflicted with much bad
temper and feverish discomfort on account Of the
nominations at Baltimore, that a degree of apa-
thetic indifference pervaded both camps, which
threatened TO deprive us Of any fun livelness,
element, or extravaganza the course of the
contest. But the whole scene is now changed
The wings have started from their lethargy, and
are putting forth tremendous efforts In some parts
of the country the excitement amongst them almost
equals that which prevailed in lS4O-the memorable
era of coon-skin and hard cider denominations.
And the democrats also very hard at work.
They are holding mass meetings al every cross
road, and newspapers for the campaign spring.
ing into existence in almost every township. The
great men of both parties--the Websters, and
Wrghts, and Choaies, and Cases, are all out and
stirring, addressing great gatherings of the people
two or three times every week. All over the land,
indeed the din and tumult Of the fray is increasing,
and every thing indicates that the present will
be one of the hardest fought if not the very hard
est fought, battles,we have yet in this country
The election returns from the various States are
daily looked for with the greatest possible anxiety.
There is of course, the usual quantity Of lying and
equivocation, and Misrepresentation, in the party
papers, about these returns. According to the
wing prints, their party is triumphing in every in
stance-no such thing as defeat has visited it. On
the other hand 1.-THE democratic presses are equally
vocferons and INSCRIPTIONS, in claiming victory
in every case. We have calmly and Impartially
surveyed the whole ground and after an at
tentive examination Of all the returns which
have, up to this moment, come TO hand, from
the various States where elections have been
held, or are in progress, we find that there Is
large, very large, and decided democratic
gain since the Harrison campaign In North Caro-
Imam Indiana-in Alabama-in Illinois-in Ken
lucky even-the increase in the democratic vote
is remarkably striking. In those States not heard
officially FROM the same result is anticipated, and
in the great influential States OF Pennsylvania,
Ohio, and New York, the struggle is expected to
be very close indeed. Pennsylvania, it is thought.
and not without some good foundation, will 90 for
the democrats. Altogether the prospects Of the
success OF the democratic party have within the
last few weeks bnghtened up amazingly, and many
az the gloemy clouds which rested on the future
sorsses OF Polk and Dallas are clearing away, like
the mls,s OF night which had wrapped up the wood
crowned SUBMITS Of the Jersey hills. fleeing before
the bright beams OF the morning sun.
But the wings have also many encouraging
omens of success. There certainly are now con-
siderably cheering evidences Of approach, at
least, to the fuIilment of the poetic prophecy
The country's risn
For Clay and Brelinghuyscn.
AS we have again and again remarked, the great
source OF danger to the wing cause was the abb
sence Of sufficient excitement to draw out all their
forces AT the outset, it cannot be denied, there
was great lack Of enthusiasm in the wing ranks.
The masses were not aroused. They were too
certain Of victory. They over-estimated the infu-