The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-28
The New York Herald on Platforms.

aid, no one can deny that it is faithful mirror
Of the opinions Of the passing hour, and true
calculator of the rise and fall of parties and coal
lions. While there appeared to be the sem
tlance Of hope Of the formation of the Great
Spells Party, bound together only by that "cohe-
sive power" 50 clearly characterized by Mr.. CAL
HouK as the chief cement of Washington coali-
tons, the Herald hoisted the CLAY and CAss
ticket.
Now when that scheme the forlorn hope Of
most forlorn politicians, (who aspired to con-
troll the country, while unable even to control
their districts) fell to the ground, the Herald
dropped it too, and jeercd the authors Of the ca
tastrophe.
Similar has been its treatment of the various
efforts made to galvanize its corpse by its de-
sparing friends, who do not know "where they
are 10 Co." since the refuge has been denied
them-by Generals who have disbanded their
forces, and privates who have no fondness for a
private station--and finding that it is thoroughly
dead, and snakes no sign" the Herald has taken
to kicking the carcase.
From the subjoined editorial, it will be seen
that the Herald is satisfied that the old parties
are as dead as the new party that was to have
been their successor, and turns its attention to-
wards the Democratic party and its platform.
Observing that the Union, shrinking from the
herculean task it had assumed of excepting both
parties alive" was combining all fits labors to the
task of preserving the vitality of one--the Her
aid thus reasons the matter with the organ
FATHER RITcME AND THE DEMOCRATIC PAR.
TY Nor DEAD YET.-The venerable old gentle
man of the Union newspaper, Mt Washington,
has walked up and, to the relief of the country,
he emphatically says "NVe repeat, the Demo-
cratic party is not dead, but sleepeth" And
then, in the fashion ofthe ardent young Virgiuian,
he calls aloud: LET it arise, and shake its inyinc
ble locksr But, in the North and in the South,
the mutinsers rise up, like Banquo and reply ::
Shake not thy CORY locks at me-" 1t is very
true, as the ancient editor confcsses, that the
slavery questions shave convulsed the old polit-
cal parties, and, for time, mixed their elements
in some States, in singular combinations" Let
us glance, for moment, at this mixing of the
elements.
In Massachusetts, the Democracy and the null
lifers have combined to secure the spoils; and
we know not which is least creditable to the
former-the association with the fanatics, or the
shutting off from the contract after the Demo-
cracy have secured their share Of the bargan.-
In New York, the little magician, Prince John
the Evening Pos, and the Albany AHas, keep
up the schsm with the bucktais Of Tammany
Hall. In Ohio, there has, Of late years, been
quite an Improvement in the tone Of fee ing be
tween Democracy and Free-soil, resulting from
the election of lS4S. In Michigan, Free-soi
holds the balance Of power, and also in Wiscon-
sin and Iowa. In Missouri the Democratic dis
ruption is complete. Nothing could be more
hostile than Benton and anti Benton. In Ais
sissippi, the ultra Southern faction has carried
off tie strength Of "the fierce Democracy" In
Georgia, the party has been destroyed upon the
issues presented by the Nashville Convention ;
and its unity has been disturbed, even In Ten
nesse and the Ola Dominion, upon the same
Blended, at present, in different quarters with
Northern nuiiiers, Missouri Wings, and South
ern ultras, completely absorbed in some States,
and hopelcssly split in Others how is the Demo-
cratic party to rise and shake itself? The thing
is incredible, if not impossible. Yet Father
Ritche jumps out upon the balcony, and calls
it arise, and shake its invincblc
locks" "The Democratic party is not dead, but
sleepeth" But it has been sleeping in the ms
of the DelilaIi of notification in the North, and
of dsunion in the South; and like Sampson,
when it shall rise to "shake its invincible locks"
it will discover that it has been shaven
Again: Upon what platform is the Demo-
=. MI Il Al. a
wake it! Can the Democracy, North and South,
unite on Cass, or Buchanan, or Woodbury., or
Houston, or any other man! Il not the old
Baltimore platform broken to pieces Will not
the campaign Of 1852 developc the strength OF
the outside factions, rather than extinguish them
There is quiet now-comparativc harmony but
it it the quiet Of the arinistice, till the next
The administration holds quite ns favorable
ground on the Compromise measures, as the
conservative branch Of the Democracy. Be.
tween them, in Presidential contest, tho ad
ministrntion, supported by Mr.. Clay, or led by
Mr.. Clay, would indeed have the advantage.
lie is the champion of the late adjustment, rs
of the Missouri and the tariff compromises
And upon what other capital than the slavery
excitement can the Democratic party rise The
VIC o@Hh, tfc fhiu OtS&flDnt'0--
the old party issues of Jackson's tme--are Get
tied or obsolete. We must have some new
platforms, or between Union Wings and con-
servative Democrats there wi be no other
ground of difference than the spoils.
The fact is, there is no use in the Democratic
party rising until they can know what is to be
done when they do rise. They had better sleep
little longer. Free farms, free soil, and the
acquisition of Cuba, Ito sav nothing Of Canada
free trade, secession, and notification, are all to
be considered as elements in the campaign Of
80 Out OF the prevailing confusion and diso-
cation OF all the old party materials, We have
bnt year in which 10 re-organize. But il is
ridiculous to rise without platform to stand
on As after tho compromise of 1920, parties
are undergoing change--transition--r
ton, a reorganization must follow it.. II old