The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-30

The Philosophy Of Politics
A very brief period of time has elapsed since the
great presidential contest which shook and agita
ted the country from one extremity to the other
terminated in the election of the Democratic candi
date but already we the fierce struggle be.
tween the contending parties resumed, and in al
directions the opposing elements are again at work
The old que In both partiesare active ever, ard
new ciiques are rapidly forming. A fresh game has
been commenced, and on the great political chess
board the players make with more or less cautious
ness and skill, the movements which result at
the end ofanother four years the ruin for the time
OF one or other OF the parties What is the great
object of all these movements Of cliques
and partes-these mutterings of discomfort
these clamorous appeals to the administration
these cunning and far-reachng manGuvres
of aspiring party leaders A briet glance at the
philosophy of the politics of the United States will
render the whole matter clear and Ineligible so that
he that runs may read
Political movements in this country, in the State
Legislatures and in the General Government, exhi-
bit constant series Of struggles between two great
parties, who are in reality the government, and con
troll and direct the destinies of the republic. One
party represents the strong popular impuses-the de-
mocratlc, onward, ultra tendencies, sentiments and
opinions OF the people and the tme-the other, the
more subdued and restricted views and opinions of
particular and powerful interests and classes,
embodying much of the educated intelligence
and acquired wealth of the community. These
two great parties-the democrats and wings
must always of necessity exercise the prepondera-
ting influence in political affairs. Third parties
may ever and anon, in time past, spring up found
ed on particular idea, and acquiring varying
degrees of strength and importance, but only giving
the slightest direction to the great machinery of
government, when by reason of the exceeding
closeness of the contest between the two great
antagonists in the field, a comparatively trifing
influence employed one way or the other, may de-
termine the issue. In this category ranks the
liberty" party, and in it also we have the "na-
tives." The latter hardly raised ripple on the
broad ocean of politics, and their party number
ed amongst the things that were. Shrieking APP
peals may indeed still be made to the prejudices
and bigories of ignorant and malignant natures
Levins may blaspheme the memories of martyred
patriots by bowling over their very graves, and in
sight of monument raised in honor of their glorious
Deeds frantic TRADES against the first and best prn-
cipes of that civil and religious liberty in defence Of
which they shed their blood-but for all that" nativ-
ty" party, the little influence which circumstances
gave to it, is fast declining, and it cannot be at all
included in any philosophical estimate of the ele-
ments which operate with controlling potency in the
world Of politics.
Thus, them the empire is divided between the two
great parties-whig and democratic. And they, as
we have SAID, are virtually the government of the
country. The civil government OF the United States
was framed on the same fictitious theory as
that on which the British Constitution has been
founded The President, Senate, and House
ofRepresentatives, were supposed to be analogous
to the King, Lord and Commons Of Great Britain
the one operating a check upon the other. In
England, where the House of Peers is composed Of
the great landed propretors, occupying their seats
by hereditary title and the highest dgntaries of the
church, whilst the House of Commons is composed
of representatives taken from the people, this
theory, certain extent, holds good in practice
But here it is perfect fiction. In this country it
in the constant antagonism of the two great poltca
parties that we find the check which effectuay pre-
vents any continued course ofegislation injurious
the interests of the whole people. 1t is this, in
deed, which constitutes one of the surest safe
guards Of the prosperity and perpetuity of thu
republic. so long as the two predominant partie
retain, and from the nature of things they must re
tain their present nicely balanced relative degree
of strength and influence, the most wholesome ant
salutary check which the wisest statesman or Con
stitutonmG niger could devise, exists in the practca
admir- israton of the different branches of the gov
eminent. The very vastness of the territorial limits
within which this system of government is in ope
ration we may also here add as one of the most es
sential elements of its success and permanence.-
Over SO extended dominion, individual sway ne
yer can be exercised; and the wider il be extended
the greater the necessity of union for the securi
" Iof the mutual interests of all. 1t is il
this view Of the action and influence OF politica
parties, that all the movements OF each becom
invested with peculiar dignity and interest Re
garded in this light, these movements cease to
the mere squabbles of factions, contending for Il,
"spoils'' of office, or the patry struggles Of amb
tous and selfish demagogues. Everygreat measul
involving materially the interests Of the country,
affes. ID in greater or less degree by these part
movements. The foreign relations of the republic
Its internal prosperty-its trade its agriculture, i
manufactures ts financial affairs, its civil instt
tions-the administration OF government and II
Iaws--may be all affected by the issue OF strugg
between the two parties, about some comparative
trivial subject Nay, even the facon-fght of tw
oliqmes OF the same party, may have bound up in
issue, results Of the most momentous importance.
Hence il is, that TO the philosophc and indepe
dent observer, the movements now in progress
the country, significant and so full
interest To what do all these movements tenc
They have all one common obiect-one bearil
and tendency-and that is " the succession" i
one presidential election is over, the prep
rations for the next begin The antagonism b
tween the two opposing forces never ceases.
this moment, the various contending cirques in d
democratic party are just keenly engaged
playing their respective parts in the great gan
as the were before the nomination of Mr. Pc
united them in the common struggle. So also vii