The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-02

cOulU nave Deeu expeCtcO-eS MT H6 TIC cmuAS
tered jealousies between Dickinson and his fac
tion, and Marcy and his, could be conciliated in
the division of these spoils-the work has been
done. Nor have we any doubt that, after lis
tening until impatient at the wranglings Of
the cabinet with the Premier upon Schell. and
Cisco, and Hunt, and others that Gen. Pierce
himself cut short the controversy by the
schedule which has been adopted.
We cannot, then withhold our approval Of
the prudence. caution, and consistency Of pur.
pose which have thus far marked, in the main
the appointments Of General Pierce all over
the country, in view of the great object of con-
ciliating all the diverse factions, sections, and
personal interests Of the party. It may be
that mere personal interests have been carried
too fart may be that, in consulting the claims
been subsisting upon the party and the trea-
sury for half a century, the just and rightful
claims Of the younger wing Of the party have
been overlooked. We think so-and we despise
the idea Of the Bourbons, Of perpetual exclu-
sive title to the crown. We are herein, how
ever, dealing with larger issue, to wit the
prospects Of General Pierce and the democratic
party. Upon this issue we propose brief
review Of the signs Of the times.
The democratic party cannot be held toge-
ther upon the cohesive power of the public
plumber" Experience has established the fact
that the possession of the spoils is an element
of weakness and not of strength to the party
in power However judiciously divided, the
patronage will not hold out. The minority Of
the applicants are appointed. and the majority
are disappointed Of this majority there have
been, and ever will be. found sufficient
amount Of loose floating materials to
form the balance Of power in the next
succeeding general election. Witness the
elections of 40, "A. '48, and '52. In fact,
the day has gone by when even the powerful
democratic party can expect to hold the govern
ment for two successive terms, except upon
some substantial platform Of practical measures
or principles which will command the general
suffrages of the people. How is this party now
situated? 1t is in the full plenitude of power
but it is made up of discordant materials.
AnSAS VIII NC OAr0PpOlHtAACuIS, VI
venge, mutiny, and desertion. There is no
wing party with its Galphin corruptions, and
its imbecile foreign policy in Cuba and Central
America, to be supplanted. It is out; but it is
in position to re-organize, and assume the
offensive mode of warfare The democrats are
thrown upon the defensive. The enemy may
choose their points of attack; but the defence
must maintain its ground, which it cannot do
unless strongly fortified by good measures,
sound policy, wholesome reforms, and good
practical progressive platform for the sue
cession.
1t is indispensable, in the outset, to the
unity of the party, that the President should
be chief of the administration. 1t was this
simple but grand idea which gave to the
democracy. in the days of Jackson, the
irresistible force of Napoleon's army. There
was Napoleon at the head. But a head
who is not Napoleon may suffice. And
here, too, we must say that, from the develope-
ments made, General Pierce has manifested
steady and selfrelying resolution to mold his
lrston t as tie Electoral chief of the entire
democratic party. This is all the more to his
credit. inasmuch as it is well understood he has
no aspirations for the succession, and is in no
sense engaged in dividing the spoils with the
view of securing another Baltimore nomina-
ton. We believe that he has not the slightest
inclination of that kind and if he had, he might
discover, from the example Of Mr.. Polk, that
denomination is hardly possible.
This is splendid position Of power and indie
oendence and yet it is not altogether without
is dangers. The probability that in noevent
will General Pierce be candidate for the sue
session, will only make the hitherto debated
asprants the more vigilant and industrious in
twisting the administration to their OWL pur-
poses. And if any such ambitious gentlemen
IRE in the cabinet, they will, perhaps, be ound
The readiest instruments of mischiefin thwcting
The aight-forward intentions of the executive
The outside candidates will be suspicious too,
Of favortism to the insiders; and thus srt of
guerrilla warfare. within the cabinet and nth
out, will be excited, which will be very OF to
End in its dissolution. Symptoms like the, are
already discoverable in the cabinet coucils
which have occurred upon certain appointnnts;
md it is against falling into the slough hich
Gen. Taylor that Gen. Pierce eeds
most to be guarded. He must control hisabi-
act, or they will control BIN, and weaker and
lcmoralize, and destroy his administrator
The most ominous indication of an incrsing
in party politics is the presen-ush
for the spoils. 1t is ominous to the demoatic
party, though not necessarily dangero to
Gen. Pierce. He may divide the plundeand
stand his ground. But. unless he places itself
at the head of some great measures of process
or reform, he cannot stand long. He has, ow-
ever, time enough yet for this. The inmate
elements of danger are in the candidates the
Let him keep a sharp eye pon
them. There are certain indications of aon-
spiracy to use Gen. Pierce as the tool of cain
Let him stand fast. He must the !,
President or a cypher. The signs of the mes !