The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-06
Degradation OF tho Party Orators.

Degradation or the Party Orators.
We have already laid before our readers
samples of the tone in which the Washington
Union, the Boston Post, the Richmond En-
quirey, and the Cincinnati Inquirer are ac-
customed 10 conduct personal controversy.
1t has long been an established practice of one
journal in this city to call'a man "a scoundrel'
when nothing more is meant than that the
editor differs from him on some point of politics;
and to assert that statesman is ''drunkard
aud a gambler" when the meaning intended to
be conveyed is only that he would make worse
President than some one else. But until re-
Gently, these peculiarities have been confined
to the party press and have been generally re-
garded as among the most unfailing tokens of
its ruin and decay. Now, it seems, the speakers
have caught the infection. Party orators as
well as party writers have ceased to conde-
scend to debate on principles: the most success
ful to-day is he who can dive the deepest into
the weaknesses of private life, and lay bare do
nestle sores with most unfinching hand. Calm
discussions on the questions in which the coun-
try's good is involved have lost their charm;
the poisoned palate Of party audience requires
the spice Of personal calumny. and has acquired
a relish for indecent revelations.
Such is at least the natural inference from
the recent speeches of Rynders, John Van Blu
rem. Cooley, and others. Of the two speeches
recently delivered by Prince John, the first has
been published az campaign tracts" and, as
there seems to be party which places great
q Ia arth
while to examine it more closely than the 9TH
ers 1t is not an easy matter to analyze it: but
We can try.
Prince John begins by stating that : it has
been deemed important to assail him person
ally" We were not aware OF the fact; and In
presence Of the fearful crisis which the country
is approaching, we think the Princes sorrows
might possibly have waited a short time for re-
dress But no matter. lie has been attacked,
to wit. by Brady, Cooley. Sickles. Chauncey
Burr, and Bronson and in true lawyer-like
style, he quotes the attacks, chapter and verse.
Instead of replying, however, he abuses some
other men, praises couple OF butchers, and
adds-"james Irwin is man of property and
if my friend Edwin Croswell will pay back the
money he took from the Canal Bank, Jim Irwin
cen buy ard sell him twice over.' He passes
gracefully from the butchers to az 'old brass
gun" that has been everywhere-a "bucktail
gun"-a regular gun''-a gun that never
bolts'-but leaves rs somewhat in the dark as
to the practical application Of the gun parable.
This inscrutable feld-piece is succeeded by
the ladies' parlor at the Globe Hotel
which is minutely, and we have no doubt ac-
cuIately, described; and after casual allusion
to Martin Growers shirt, we come at length TO
something which promises to be 8 serious ac-
count Of the attempt to patch up the two div
sions of the democratic party in lS49. A few
paragraphs containing catalogues Of committee
men and State electors, We pass over as per-
haps necessary preliminares; but what shall
we say when we find that the sequel contains
nothing Of higher aim or more practical point
We are told what Mr.. Dickinson did and what
he didn't: what Cutting said. and what he
wouldn't say; what resolutions Cass commit
tees adopted, and what counter-resolgtions
We are further favored with full lists Of the va
rous State tickets put forward by these COM
mittees, which are really very entertaining
matter for iireside reading. Finally-and it is
the frst time for many paragraph that the
orator has shown any feeling-a ferocious ut
tack Is made upon Sickles and the Castle Gar
den Committee, for their treason to the party"
whereby, says Prince John. with y bitterness
that can well DC appreciated many Of our can
didates were defeated and good democrats left
10 starye All this history Of the movement Of
is49 il summed up in a groan over tue lost
spells. Not a word, anywhere, Of principle,
patriotism, Of the country's good.
aBut'' he adds, the danger to The Union
from agitation OF the slavery question is imagi-
nary SO astounding statement required
at least some little reasoning in its support.
All abstract questions OF right and wrong
apart-es nine men out OF every ten believe the
ycrv contrary of the orators assertion COMMON
respect to his audience ought to have induced
Prince John to enlarge upon the point. In
stead Of attempting IL, however, nc Judiciousiy
tests about Mr. Wood and General Scott. and
seeks relief in an allusion to his "wifs and
CIlIu.' ~ WUTh - pun ia III AsS 7~@'~"f "s ""'Nn
the last mentioned interesting creature Is
taught to read. but not shadow OF q resson to
shaw Why an agitation to destroy the fanda-
mental institution Of tho Sossh should not en-
danger the Union.
The balance Of the speech. like the beginning,
Is q mere Tissue Of scandal about public men TO
whom Prince John IS opposed Croswcll is first
abused has been i says John :" sold to
George Law, at cheap bargain. ! Next batch
OF canal contractors come in for share of ridi-
culc Then Bronson passes under review. As
distinguished member of John Van Buron's
profession, man OF uBilnpeached character
and an ex Judge ofAppeals il might be expected
That he differences Of opinion between hin and
The orator would be discussed with propriety
and digutfpl m r1noea Far from IL We arc