The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-21
The Election and the Candidates.

The Election and the Candidates.
The Presidential election is now fairly begun
The two leading parties have made their nomina-
tons, and with some local exceptions, the news
papers attached to these organized masses, have
very generally come out for the persons nominated.
The democratic journals, as they call themselves,
with few exceptions in New York, rally at the
tap of the drum to the name of General Cass.--
The wing journals, as they also, call themselves,
perform the same evolution at the name of Gene
raj Taylor, setting aside exceptions, also, in
this city.
In some respects, this is a novel election; it
differs from any similar contest which has
taken place for many years past The two great
leading candidates have been taken up by the
more energetic and younger portions of the differ
ent masses who support them; leaving out of ac
count, and in the back ground, those old hacks
that have been so long contending for the mastery.
. Gen Cass may be said to be the candidate of the
youthful and more energetic portion OF the demo-
cratic party, as Gen. Taylor is of the like kind in
opposition attached to the wing ranks. Mr.. Van Bu
rem and his corrupt adherents savage against
the democratic nominee and his friends, as Mr.. Clay
and his partlsans are against the other 1t is there
fore, very odd very queer and very strange cleo
ton; sort of fight within fight, and even fight
within these.
There is one point of view In which this election
may be examined which augurs well for the pub
lie morals of the people, as well as the press For
many years past these controversies, as conducted
by the politicians and political journals, have been
utterly disgraceful and discreditable to the country
All kinds of personal abuse, without the slightest
Gov baa hos Tho
didaes by each of the factions which opposed
them. The moral sense of the American people
has often revoed at these disgraceful exhibitions;
but the want of liberal, intelligent, and indepen-
dent newspaper press prevented the moral feeling
of the people from having proper sway. There ex-
lists now, however, anewspaper press IN this coun-
try, published too in large cities, competent-inde-
pendent of political hacks and political partles-and
capable of welding, for the honor Of the country,
those weapons with propriety, which may produce,
in time, an entire revolution in the character of
these elections
Already are these party journals, on both sides,
beginning to show the old symptoms, which have
disgraced them in previous years: Some OF the
more violent of the wing journals seem TO accuse
General Cass of wearing "black cockade," some
time near the close of the last century. This must
be terrific offence for one TO have committed,
who wishes to occupy the White House. Can't
the same antiquarians tell, also, the color of Gene
raj Cass's breeches, in 1899, the peculiar cut of
his coat, and what sort of vest he wore when
he travelled over the Allegheny mountains, TO
Michiganl On the other side, the same dlscredita-
bic attempts are made against the sublime SIM
plicity which characteristics General Taylor. Some
,f, alr advI eU " IN a.
biity ofwritng letter. others that he is vulgar and
ignorant man; and further, that in the midst of "a
fight, when he is crossed he swears like trooper.
No doubt but if many of these accusers had been
on the battle field at Buena Vista, position SINH
lar to that which Gen. Taylor occupied, we should
never have had to accuse any of them of swearing
they would have run away, and thus saved the pro-
fame language, but dlsgraced their country and their
country's flag.
Now this mode of conducting the Presidential
election, shall receive no favor from our hands.
We mean TO take up the subject seriously and de-
liberately, and TO show the American people the
utter selshness, folly, vulgarity, and blackguard-
ism of the party press on both sides Gen. Cass
is as good as pure, and amlable a man-also as
honest and honorable in all his dealings Cen
Taylor and Gen. Taylor has all those qualities as
well as Gen. Cass, with some additional traits OF
character that few others have Either of these
distinguished men will do honor at the White
House, and credit to the country Their private,
personal and political characters, far as princi
pies and morals are concerned, are beyond re-
proach and can furnish no grounds for attack on
that score, by any ciigues of office-seeklng
scoundrels in the country.
,la gc,, -. ho
only Just and honorable mode which the American
people have for deciding the contest between the
two great and leading candidates for the Presi-
dency is, to study the national and political con-
sequences which may accrue to the country from
the election of either of those distinguished men
Gen. Cass has been long known as public man,
and creditably so. He is identified with party and
public measures of great Importance, both by his
conduct as public man, and by his votes, as well
as by his correspondence. These channels and
sources of information should constitute the mate
rails from which the American people ought "a
draw their reasons for preferrlng or opposing Cen
Cass On the other hand, Gen. Taylor, though
less known as a pTac tica politician through the
country, has yet made such Developments oil
his views on certain great points as will satisfy
any reasonable man, who believes that distinguish
ed military hero to be honest, well lntentoned, and
intelligent, as he must be. General Taylor has
been military man during his whole life, and only
of late has he been called TO turn his attention TO
public questions in consequence OF the means
adopted to bring his name before the country. He
is an involuntary candidate; he has never intrigued,
or made any efforts for the nomination, and consi-
ders himself no party candidate; and will, If
slecIsd. be under the influence Of no party, or