The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-01

Dusenec eeoxecsed herewith. Mr.. Van buren, MAS
lssted Vise PreSidsHt on the game ticket. ard boz
anne, n consequence Of his position, tho hoiT-ap-
'arent to the mantle Of General Jasksons POPULAR
y. Mo State elections from 1882 to 1886 are rot
given In our tables because they are unnecessary TO
he calculation Of the conclusions which We wish, at
present., to rsaeh. The country was prosperous in
hose years Every interest expanded, enlarged and
grew, from 1892 to 1886, and perfect repose charac
tsri2el the whole nation The calamity which sub
sequcntlE grew out of too much paper expansion,
was then unknown. General jackson, therefore,
he'd q smooth time during his second term; and his
successor, Mr.. Van Buren,, was elected by o con-
siderable majority, in opposition to three or
four opposing candidates. In 1897, however,
an event took place which, in its culmniations,
changed the whole character Of political parties,
and gave new direction to political events. Scarce
ly had Mr.. Van Buren, taken his seat in the White
House, when the overburdened and inflated paper
system which had been encouraged during the pre-
vieus eight years, by both the great parties Of the
ceuntrJ.-the one aiding the State Banks, and the
other ne United States Bsnk-fell through, and
brought upon the country and the world, with as.
founding force the terrible revulsion Of 1887. From
that moment commenced the reaction in the ranks
of the democracy in this city and in this State,
which increased every year up to the Presiden-
tal election of lS40 when Mr.. Van Buren, was
defeated by an overwhelming majority throughout
the Union. Every one may remember the move
ment begun by . large portion of the democracy of
this city designated conservatives spread for
several years. arising entirely on financial questions
ana the dsapprobation Of Mr.. Van Buren's fnan-
cial policy This movement was the cause of all
the changes in the political action Of the two
parties up to 1S49 The policy of General Harrison
weighed as nothing in the midst Of the COM
meIcal and social success which had combined in
opposition to the policy Of Mr.. Van Buren,, through
all the commercial States, and which ultimately
overwhelmed him in the election of 1910.
Commercial and financial disasters, supposed to
have been occasioned by the democratic policy OF
Mr.. Van Buren,, caused the reaction throughout the
country which gave the whig party the formidable
triumph it attained in 1910 1t is mistake to sup
pose that the military popularity of General Har-
rison had anything to do with such q complicated
result Those causes however, which had been ac-
cumulating and increasing from 1888 up to $780, i'm
mediatey disappeared in the election of 1S4l when
tho democrats throughout the country again at
tanned mojority-although to less extent than
prcviously-in all the Southern States. The organi-
cation of the democrats has always been more COM
plete, as political party than that of the wings
and accordingly, during the years 1929 they
gradually increased their forces and power. But
during those years, new element began to appear
in the elections in the Northern States where it has
operated to vast and remarkable extent ever since
We allude to the agitation of the Southern slavery
question, begun originally in Boston and New York
by certain abolitionists, about twenty years ago
But this element had not assumed any form of
moment in the election, attempted any political
action, until 1910 and 1912. During the years in
teryening between the election of General Harrison
and that of Mr. Polk, the democratic party, as com
pared with the wing party, showed manifest ma
jority throughout the Union. But the aboitionists
began at the same time to indicate and to increase
their strength at each succeeding election, till they
had reached over sixty-two thousand il the Presi
dental election Of 1914, and by such a deduction
from the whig forces, gave the Presidency to NJ
Polk, in opposition to Mr.. Clay. The measures
and principles agitated by the two parties wef,
It'll nominally the same. although tho tariff tho
bank, and internal improvements, had become in G
great measure mere shadows Of distinction between
them. In the great contest of 1914, a new Gle
ment had been thrown into the canvass, and that
vas the annexation OF Texas. By some singular
coincidence Of thought nd &C ion, Mr.. Van Buren,
who had been a candidate-and the principal one
thought Of in the democratic party-had taken the
same ground on this question which had been adopt
ed by Mr.. Clay on the wing side. On the meeting
of the democratic convention, the position of Mr.
Van Buren,, in opposition to the acquisition o! Texas
was made one Of the strongest arguments against
him, and overwhelmed him with the Southern dele
gates. Mr.. Polk was therefore nominated, princi.
pally on the ground Of favoring the annexa.ionisi
policy, and was supported by the Southern States,
including, also, the democratic States of the North
Yet the contest was very close one and but for
the new disturbing element of abolitionism, which
distracted large vote from the wing party in New
York, it is highly probable that Mr.. Clay would
have been elected President at that period.
We now approach the Presidential election Of 1913,
in which the wings again avaied themselves of a
military man as their candidate, in the person Of
Gen. Taylor. For some years past the democratic
party still held its own in the several States with
the single exception Of the year 1S47, in which the
aggregate vote Of the wings somewhat exceeded the
aggregate popular vote of the democrats throughout
the country But at that tine the aboltionist vote
gradually began to increase; the election of 1913
came on, in which Gen. Cass the democratic can
didate, and Gen. Taylor the whg candidate. Mr. Van
Buren,, Of New York, and his friends, had concluded
upon receiAing tie nomination, in the convention
Of ls4s, in consequence OF thar submitting to the
defeat of their expectations in 1914 and of the sup
port which they then gave to Mr. Polk. They were
again. and they now resolved on salts
faction. Mr.. Van Buren, accordingly created great
detection in the democracy, by joining with the
abolitionists on the general question Of free
'oilism In that election the free soil party all
Itracted nearly three hundred thousand votes, prn
pally from the democratic party, through the inau
nee Of Mr.. Van Buren, and his friends in the
State Of New York. This detection and bolt
,aused the defeat Of the democrats and their
candidate in ls4s. But for this great move.
nent of Van Buren,, in opposition to the principles
Of his whole life cnntrarv IN fba