The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-20

i've wHler, eauinR W s"c hDcW 4Nssu'uSos INV
a prefer nce for Fillmore. The track is clear
The courfe is open. Bring out your horses
Political Results az tho Recent Elections
Necessity for . Fusion OF Parties.
The singular success which has attended every
movement Of the Know Mornings and the tri-
umphaDt manner in which they have carried
local elections throughout the country, have
naturally he'd to some general agitation among
the lodges with respect to the choice OF a can
6idste for the Presidency On one side it is
said that Sam Houston, Of Texas, has been io-
strumeDtaI in founding four or five hundred
lodges, and has, therefore, some claims upon
the patty. The name Of General Scott is freely
mentioned by others It is said that the old
soldier has likewise been diverting himself by
founding Know Nothing lodges; and his friends
assert that be oeeply regrets having allowed
himself TO be 70 far led astrsy by Mr.. Seward,
In 1852, as to compliment the Irish brogue and
the German faderland. On the naturalization
laws, be has how everted to hisformer opinions.
which were expressed n his letter of lS4l. Nor
are Mr. FillmOre's adherents idle. He, too, we
are given to understand, undertook his journey
to the South for the purpose OF founding Know
Nothing lodges, and succeeded 30 well as to
gain large body Of proselytes for the order.
These gentlemen, together with others occupy
ing less prominent stations, are now proposed
in various quarters as likely men to run for
the Presidency in 1856; and the discussion Of
their respective merits seems to be the most
notable fruit Of the recent elections in the
North.
There js want Of comprehensiveness in this
manner Of viewing the great upheavals which
have taken place during the recent elections
The victory in Massachusetts,, and the great
vote polled for Ullman, are undoubtedly very
noteworthy facts; they certainly indicate .
strength among the Know Nothings which few
people suspected; but there are many things to
be considered, many questions to be adjusted,
before 1t will be either sensible or safe to turn
our attention to the relative merits of individ-
uals. Two points are placed beyond dispute by
the late elections. In the first place, Mr.. Sc
ward is utterly shattered and overthrow. In
stead Of sweeping the State, as his friends pro-
phecied he would, full two-thirds vote was
polled against bis ticket; and the election Of his
Governor-who had the temperance vote TO
back him--is yet uncertain, though his oppo-
nent had to contend throughout the canvass
ton candidate. HMyron H. Clark had stood
On the Seward anti-Nebraska platform alone,
and had not enjoyed any temperance support;
or if Horatio Seymour had not been iden-
titled with the federal government aud
had not been suspected Of affinity for
Pierce and his cabinet, there cannot be
o question but the former would have been as
badly beaten rs Bronson. 1t is 80 clear now
that three-fourths of the people of this State
are opposed to Mr.. Seward, opposed to the
Saratoga platform. and opposed to the fncther
agitation Of the Nebraska law, that Mr..
Stewards prospects for the Presidency may be
regarded IS completely annihilated, and even
his chance Of second Senatorial term most
materially injured. This is the first moral
of the election. The second isequaIly obvious.
The elections Of 1854 have demonstrated beyond
question the utter destruction of the old whig
and democratic parties. The volcano Of native
Americanism has overwhelmed them in its last
vesuyius overwhelmed Herculaneum and Pom
peii. Both are now mere ruins and rubbish,
to be collected together and swept out Of sight
before the work Of reconstruction begins
Having got thus far--as the elections show
having completely destroyed our old idols, the
question is what images shall we set up in their
stead What rival parties are to succeed
whigism and democracy Who shall stand
upon the corpse Of Sewardf On what primo
pies can the nation be divided, so as to consti-
tute two great national parties?
These are momentous questions ques-
tions which those who pretend to direct the
public mind have as yet made little progress in
attempting to solve. It is clear that the old
principles can serve us little in the emergency.
The nation cannot be divided on the subject of
the bank, the tariff, or internal improvements.
Nor can any one of the new principles serve,
siDgly, as the basis Of general division Of po-
liticians. Anti slavery cannot, for the recens
elections-which, in fact, only. confirm the fudi-
cations given by the two last presidential con
tests-show that the abolitionists constitute
mere fraction Of the people, as contemplate in
numbers as in spirit. Temperance, or rather
total abstinence, and the principle Of prohibi-
tory law cannot for they are at best narrow,
sectarian notions, which may prevail for .
while in small localities, but Can never acquire
national Importance. Finally, native-Ameri-
capism cannot, for it does not yet possess the
mature strength required for national contests.
and if its aims were directed towards such OBJ
jects, personal rivalries would be sure to divide
its ranks and destroy ita power. 1t may, and
the chances are that it will carry most Of the
local elections this year; but for its leaders to
aim at the Presidency would be TO ruiz the
party. Not one Of these three factions can
reasonably expect, at present, to be,ome singly
q great national party, or to elect the next
President
What fhen il tho NOT rasnlk Of an ao0reOat 10