New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-27
BEFORE AND AFTER ELECTION.

"Why are you so Indifferent, almost j0yial,
respecting Politics since Election ?" we are
asked Before Election you talked as if the
destinies of the Country depended on the re-
suit but, now that Scott is defeated and
Pierce elected, you treat the defeat as mat
ter of no consequence. How are We to IN
'derstand YOU"
We answer
You are quite mistaken. We believe, as we
argued last Summer and Autumn, that the safe
ty, the interest, the assured prosperity of our
country demanded the election of Gen. Scott.
We believe Pierce's election was triumph of
the wrongheaded and dangerous elements in
our National POlitcs-Of those instincts and
aspirations which contemplate the acquisition
of our neighbours territories, rather than the
improvement of our own. We believe the
War spirit, the passion for lawless Adventure,
for bloody Annexation-the spirit which puts
Trade and Speculation ahead of Industry and
the Useful Arts-triumphed in Gen Pierce's
election. We believe majority of those who
spend their Sabbaths in grog-shops triumphed
in that election over majority of those whom
che Sabbath sees in churches, and we do not
think such triumph conducive to National or
Social well-being And, go long as effort could
avail, we did all we could to prevent Gen.
Pierce's election
But be is the chosen President of the Ameri-
can People. Opposition cannot possibly affect
that fact. He is our President after the 4th
of March next, though We did our best to pre-
vent his becoming such. If the evils We have
apprehended should result from his rule, We
shall feel that We have done our whole duty
in the premises, and stand discharged of all re-
sponsibility If, on the other hand, any public
or general good shall result from his rule, all
will share in it, and We, certainly, have no de-
sire to thwart it, Let us calmly and candidly
wait
Gen. Pierce stands personally silent and un.
committed with regard to several Of the most
important questions likely to occupy the pub
lie mind for the next four years. He is per-
fecty at liberty so far as regards his public
pledges, to come out aFlibustier or partisan of
Universal Annexation; but the Indications
now are that he will pursue cautious, moder-
ate, conciliatory course, except with regard to
the Offices, which he will be constrained to dis
pense as 'spoils of victory This was under
stood from the outset and, though essentially
wrong, has become so inveterate that we can
blame no particular President henceforth for
not adopting it. 1t would probably destroy
ones standing with his party to do so.
We always condemned the combination
formed against John Quincy Adams's Admins
trasiOn, before it had time to develope any
system Of policy. We viii not do with regard
to that Of Gen Pierce what the great body ofhis
elder supporters did twenty-eight years ago
with respect to that Of Mr.. Adams. Let US
wait for his Inaugural, with minds az free to
commend whatever Of good as to condemn
whatever of evil We may find in it, And if he
should then shroud his intentions in diplomatic
mystery, and copstrain US to await future and
less formal Developments of his purposes, very
well A season of Political calm will do much
to soften prejudices, smooth down asperities,
and prepare the whole People to Judge impair
TALLY the acts and aims of our rulers that are
to be. Nothing is now to be gained by stirring
up the waters Of partisan bitterness, while
much may be secured by considerate and timely
inactivity. Let Us wait
We are hardly young enough to see much
new light on politics. From boyhood, we have
earnestly resisted that party which srrogates
to itself exclusive Democracy. We have found
it, according to the Light vouchsafed us,