The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-10


aua others returned to the democratic party
curing Van Buren's administration. While
VsD Buren, was President, the democrats who
F. pproved Of the Sub Treasury scheme were
called " conservatives" many OF whom joiued
the vbig psriy, and assisted in the election Of
Harrison and Ter.
About the year 1874, the democratic
party in the State of New York be-
came divided into two factions which
we're seyerally called " hunkers (" and
"baInbursers." The huDksrs were similar to the
conservatives of 1888, and were favorable to
banks and internal improvements. The barn
burners were also called destructives and radi-
calls, and gepeIaliy opposed banks and other
charters, ard the increase Of the debt of tue
State for internal improvements. These names
have since got out Of use, the terms free sellers
and soft shells being applied 10 the barnburpers
ard bunkers who have joined them, and the
hunkers opposed to abolition and free soil
movements being called hard shells.
We have not space to follow up the history
of parties 10 the various States. They have
generally been unimportant in their effects on
the politics of the nation. In Pennsylvani the
democrats, for some years after the year 1915
were divided into old school and new school
democrats-the former being similar to the
Clintoniars OF New York, and the latter nearly
ike the bncktails of this State. These distnc-
lions existed for some years. until parties be-
came formed for and against jackson, Van
Buren,, and other candidates for the Presi-
dency.
In Missouri, the parties which divided the
people some ten or twelve years since, we're
called hards and softs, the hards being in favor
of a specie currency, and the latter in favor of
banks A similar division has often existed in
Ohio.
We have in a former article given an account
of the rise, progress and decline of the various
parties called native American or American
republicans. The secret order of Know No
things is more extensively organized and pro-
scriptive than their predecessors in their action
against citizens of foreign birth and Catholics
There has recently been new formation Of
parties in California, the democracy being di-
vided between the supporters of David Brode-
rick for United States Senator, and those who
oppose him the latter are called the chivalry.
At recent State Convention it appears that
the chivalry section was much smaller than the
Broderick wing, and therefore bolted, much
after the fashion of the New York hards at
Syracuse last year. They passed resolutions
endorsing Pierce and the Nebraska bill; while
the Broderick men do neither. The temperance
and Maine law organizations in various States
are too well known to require explanation.
OVERTHROW OF THE CANADIAN MINISTRY
The telegraph yesterday confirmed our surmise
with respect to the fate of the Canadian minis
try. Mr.. Hincks has fallen, after having held
Office longer than any Canadian minister since
the establishment of constitutional government.
When he first rose to power, his views were
liberal, enlightened, and large. A leader of
the reform party with the present Chief Justice
Lafontaine and Judge Baldwin he stood on the
pain ground that the constitution Of 1s41
should be carried ont honestly, that the prero-
gative OF the Governor should be restrained SO
as to leave the real power in the hands
of the people, tn at the hierarchies of Upper
Canada should be deprived Of their large
benefces, and that various reforms required by
the Province should be accomplished. His oppo-
nents on the other hand endeavored to misin-
terpret and cramp the action of the constitu-
Hons' CO., snd sought to perpetuate the
supissascy % ina British settlers over the
French Canadians, 20 strengthen the hands of
the Governor, 20 maintain the estates of the
Church, and generally to resist all radical re-
form This simple statement of. the issues be-
tween the reformers and the conservatives
accounts sufficiently for the triumph and long
reign of the former If we add that their
leaders, Lafontaine, Baldwin, Blake, Cameron,
Price, and Mr.. Hlncks himself. were men of no
ordinary ability, while the conservative party
did not contain single talented chief, except
perhaps Judge Draper. it will appear still more
natural that the former should have held so
long lease of power.
Office, however, invariably destroys the
strongest ministries. One by one, the ablest re-
Ormers shelyed themselves NJ. Lafontaine re.
tired into private ife and on the death of Sir JAS
Stuart received the Chief Justiceship of Lower
Canada. Baldwin, Blake, and Caron, shelved
themselves on the bench. As usually happens,
the retormers of ls47 found in 1852 that new
body of reformers had risen up behind them,
and that they had become conservatives vice
the old draper party dissolved and defunct.
New notions about infasing the elective princi
pie more thoroughly into Canadian institutions
bad sprung up Projects OF seigniorial reform
had begun to be mooted. Other reforms were
and the Hincks' Cabinet, imbued
with the conservative turn which Office never
fails to iospire, evinced considerable reluctance
in carrying out the changes it had formerly
pledged itself to effect. Besides, the railway
mania had sprung up 10 Canada; aud most un-
fortunately for the country had been received
under the fostering care of the administration,
and become government concern. Opportu-
mites for circulating and making money were