The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-17
The Contest for the Presidency.

! OF TINS country would nave some dhculty IN
believing that there was really pending at
the present moment the serious aud impsr-
tant question of electing President to rule over
this mighty republic for ~ next four years He
could hardly reconcile the magnitude of the issue
with the complete spsthy with which the presidential
contest sregarded throughout the whole extent ofthe
Union There seems in fact, to be no excitement in
the public mind but perfect indifference as to which
of the candidates of the two great parties will be
elected to preside the affairs of this country for
the next presidential term. Frequent but fruitless
Efforts have been made ince the Baltimore nomina-
tons to create furorei in the public mind in favor Of
this or that candidate. The democratic party made
one grand demonstration to ratify the nomination Of
Gen. Pierce their candidate; but with that single
exception, all the efforts Of whig and democrat to
create an excitement, out of which to make political
capital, have been utter and ridiculous failures
The natural wonders of Niagara, and the glorious
associations connected with Lundys Lane and
| Chippewa, could not seduce men of business
from their stores, counting houses, farms and facto
res excursiOnts from the pursuit of pleasure, to
attend the wing rally within the sound ofthe roaring
of the cataract and therefore, the convocaton, on
| which such grand anticipations were founded,
TUNED out to be most miserable affair, the only
profit from which accrued to gang of pickpock.
cts, who piled their vocation among the politicians
and gobenioncheS who did assemble The democra-
tic moss meeting at Hllsborough, upi New Hamp-
shire was hardly more successful, notwithstand-
ing the Inducements held out to gourmands by
hints Of whole roast OK being provided for them.
All over the country the story is the same. No
sation no excitement, no apparent interest in the
issue Of the presidential contest; but the contra.
ny, the coolest indifference the subject prevails
among all casses of society, excepting, of course the
wranglirg politicians and Office seekers whose pres
poets and interests hinge on the election of the
nominee Of he party to which they attached
Ever since the adjournment of Congress, and the
reinforcement which it brought from both houses to
the ranks of the gassy orators and stump speakers,
no increased sensation is perceptible. The COM
bned efforts Of claptrap speakers, humbugs, and
Journalists, have not been able to dssipate the in
difference of the people Of The United States, and
rouse them to a recognition Of the Importance of
the principles at stake, and the consequences in
voved in the presidential campaign.
The reason of this aonchalance and apathy is
plain and obvious. The country is emnently pros
perous-trade, commerce, and manufactures are
fouIishing-the wealth of California permeates the
remotest districts of the country, and there
no limit assgnable to its progress. The people
know that this prosperity is not attributable TO- but
wholly independent Of, the action the President
and Congress, and that it is the natural result Of
the operation of free institutions, placed beyond
the control of the Executive or Legislative au
thorities-of the public sentiment of fidelity to the
constitutional of the great pervadng principle Of
go-aheaditiveness, characteristic ofthe Anglo-Ame-
rican race Besides, there is great public ques-
tion at issue between the contending parties. The
candidates do not represent opposite sides of any
important principle affecting the well being Of the
community. No subject Of finance, commerce, or
manufactures, is involved in the issue; no bankrupt
law, no national bank-hardly even difference Of
opinion, except among few uncomfortable specu-
lators, about tariffs and internal improvements.
There is nothing to give eca interest to the
test, except it be the contemplate squabbles of
greedy politicians and Unsuitable cormoranss, thirst
ing for share Of the spoils Of fifty two millions
year.
The strife for the Presidency is, therefore, simply
question between the contestants Of the two par
ties. With them, indeed, the struggle is fierce and
dsgraceful enough but the people generally feel
interest in it, though they occasionally look on, now
amused and now Disguised with the measures adopted
either side to deprscate the public and private
character ofthe nominees Itwould seem tina. the only
question to be decided by the people is, which of
the two candidates for the highest Office in the gift
of the country, is most eligible as being the greatest
ruian the greatest scoundrel, the greatest knave,
the greatest poltroon, the greatest ass, and tAe
greatest drunkard of those presented for their suf
frages by the two Baltimore conventions. The
whg press commenced this disgrsceful species of
tactics, by yifying the private and public character
| of the democratic nominee-the abolition Sewardte
organ Of this city-the 7ribume-being the first to
revile Gen Pierce, and brand him as a sot and o
coward, almost simultaneously with its philosophic
editor voiding his rheum on the wing platform.
Since the opening Of the campaign, the whole staple
Of editorials in the partisan journals of both sides,
has been made up Of defamatory abuse and disgrace
full and degrading controversy about the private
putation and personal habits Of the two distinguished
candidates. THERE'S, however, portion Of the Ame-
rican press which maintains its own dignity and soorns
to initiate such infamous conduct stoop to the de-
graduation Of engaging In such attacks against heper
rsona character Of either Gen. Scott or Gen. Pierce
Certain leading journals of New York, Philadelphia,
and elsewhere, have preserved themselves unsuled
by such base and dirty work, and stand above the
reproach Of having been connected with the vile
system Of vulgar abuse and vituperation But these
journals are the few among the many, and probably,
all told, do not number fifty out Of the two thou
SAND I'VE hundred newspapers published throughout
the country. The abolition party-those who sup
port John P. Hale-eaaim to be very decent In the
controversy but, Il they are 10, II d most likely be-
cause they are aware that no ONE Of common sause.
J Wv" tssu- eva Hsas SAus thinks u wwtA Will