The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-07
New York, Saturday, July 2, 1s49.
present state and Prospects OF the Two
Great Political Parties of the Country.

q
tion in the valley of the dry bones Circulars, and
manifestos, and correspondence, and all sorts Of
documents, appear in the democratic newspapers
On all sides, in every grogshop, and in every eel
lar, in the omnibuses and railroad cars, at all places
Of public resort, you hear nothing but rumors of a
new, harmonious, most afiectionate and indlssolu-
BE union of the great democratic party. I'll quite
apparent that the elements opposed to the admins
tratlon are coalescng, and that prodigious effort
Is in progress organize them into compact, dis
eiplined, powerful opposition party. In these cir
eumstances, the position and prospects of both po
Hiica parties become quite an interesting and I'M
portant subject of study to the politician and PHI
losopher.
Let us first look at the position of the wing par
ty. Exlled from power and Office for long pc
Tod, this party has now obtained possession OF the
government. But this ascendency has not been
owing to the progress of those principles which
form the distinctive creed Of the whig party. The
election of General Taylor was not wing trl-
lmph. Ii was the result of great popular sentl-
ment animating the masses of the people, and lead
ing them away from that blind obedience to mere
party mandates which had to too great an extent
characterized presidential contests of late years.
Hence ii is grand mistake suppose that the party
now in power can safely calculate upon that popular
support which ght properly be looked for IN the
case of a triumph OF principle Yet this very cir
cumstance-alhough, at first sight, seemingly I'M
favorable-ought TO be regarded having d.
rectly opposite tendency in its bearing upon the
fortunes of the administration party. They are
,hus left free to modify, to change, to abandon if
need be, those principles political dogmas which
have heretofore constituted the creed of the wings;
and this is a very important element in our calcu-
lations with regard to the future conduct and des
tiny of the party now in power. Time will show
whether the members of this administration pos
the sagacity and boldness to mould their policy
aright-tha is to say, TO make ii accord with the
spirit and necessities of the time, and the interests
Of the party to which they belong.
Undoubtedly, the admins ration party posse sscs
many of the elements of success. In the first
place, the man at the head of the Executive de-
partment of the government enjoys, in extraor-
binary degree the confidence of the great body Of
the people. No doubts the integrity, the hon.
ssty, the patriotism, the pure motives of the Pre-
sident of the United States. The members of his
cabinet are gentlemen who stand well in public
estimation. Thus far, the action of the admins
tration has been generally commended by mode
rate men of all parties. 1t is true, that the busi
nees of removals and appointments, in which they
have been chiefly occupied, is not very important
business in public point Of view but still, it
affords an opportunity Of Judging TO extent of
lhe morale of an administration. With some ex-
septions, this part of the administration of the
Executive department of the government has
been characterized by moderation and Judgment.
So far as disclosed, the views of the admins
iration with regard TO great national question.
are marked by moderation. There does not ap-
pear TO be a disposition TO press any ultra mea-
sures or ultra opinions. Then, there is, throughout
The United States, large body of the intelligence
wealth, and responsibility of the country sincerely
and zeslously attached to the wing party proper
who will give TO the administration a cordial and
united support. All these things tend TO brighten
the prospects of the party in power.
ON the other hand, there can be little doubt that
The democratic party will soon be united and pre-
sent an unbroken front. The squabbles and quar-
res about the Wilmot proviso originated alto
gether in the struggle among the democratic lead
srs for sscendency in the party. Principle had little
TO do with the matter. In this State, the division
IN the democratic ranks was the result of a despe-
rate struggle between the two factions for the
power and patronage sf the State government The
defeat in the presidential conflict brought all to their
senses; and, leaving of fghting they have, Of late,
been BARGAINING and buying and selling. They
have entered into n compact analogous to that Of
the hIghwaymen Of old on Blackheath. OF course,
the transaction is nicely gilded over, in the organs
Of the party, by all the old, hghsounding hourishes
about truth, and liberty, and jefferson. and the
people, and we know not what; but the true cha
Tacter Of it is not to be concealed. The real ma
nre Of this union is transparent. In word, the
democrats out Of office, and seek TO be restored
10 il. That's ALL
But in knowledge Of the people, in common
sense, appreciation Of the spirit and impulses of
ae age, the democrats greatly superior TO their
opponents and this must not be lost sight Of for a
moment, in specializing upon the probable destinies
of the two parties. The wings do not possess adj
m,nistrative talent For many years they have been
opposed to the government. They have been in the
opposition so long, that they untaugh in the
acs of official station. In TRUTH at this moment they
are surrounded by endorsements resulting from
thsir own action as an opposition party. While
conducting their warfare against the dominant
party, the wing leaders, il would seem, never cal
sslated that they might themselves one day be in
Office. Hence their tactics in opposition were not
always the wsest; and that they will see before
next session of Congress Closes amid the rcoicings
Of wesned members and the groans Of dsconsoa;e
:, Washington tsvern-keepers. The wings, too, have
N ways Jagged behind the onward progress OF the
.n. They resst--they deFreca,e--hey strike
-, the impusive movements OF the people
~ ~. other hand, the democrats 20 with the
,,,oxsn,e, Of our busting time. They seize with
,n.,,nc,;y. bfewdness upon the popular move
.,.n,s. s,d IN. N, use them, shape them 10 their
,,li,,csl ,., osesand theis own party fortunes
u,,s. then. we n hold the two great parties en-
,.r,pg the field Of 60. ihctj one conservative, the
other piogressive; Gee ,ca"'iou' To um'dty. The
So Lold 10 c,Llqssacss. Aad atw4sl p lay d.