Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-06

p6- The Albany Argus is somewhat annoyed
at our applying to the Sofs of New York the
name Of Democrats, in the enumeration we
made, some week or two since, of the various
political divisions and subdivisions of the En-
pire State. That excellent journal laments
that it is impossible for people outside of New
York correctly to understand New York politics.
If SO, we would respectfully suggest that the fact
is more discreditable to the politicians of that
State than to the strangers who endeavor to
get an insight into the subject. Political priu-
ciples are plain and palpable. In this country,
where men are accustomed from their earliest
years to bestow attention upon them, they are
pretty generally and pretty accurately under.
stood. They are as plain in New York as in
Pennsylvania or Virginia. The great difficulty
in New York politics is not in the principles
themselves but in the twists, turns, contortions,
and involutions Of the politicians. But even
these may be easily mastered BY an intelli-
gent observer. However, we do not design
writing an essay on that much-hackneyed sub
ject-New York politics.
In speaking of the divisions in the Wing
party, we classified them into Silver Greys and
Woolly Heads; in speaking of the Democratic
divisions, we classified them as Hards and
sohs-adopting the peculiar nomenclature Of
that State. We are met on the threshold by
the Argus, which promptly and peremptorily
informs US that there are no such Wings in
New York as Silver Greys, and that we com.
nit an error in supposing that the Softs are
Democrats. That there we're such Wings as
Silver Greys cannot be questioned. There is
ample evidence Of their having lived, moved,
and had their being. They were rcckoned the
conservative and constitutional wing Of the
Wing party. If they have suddenly disap-
peared, it mast have been owing to one OF those
magical and mysterious political changes that
can only occur in New York.
Bat it seems that they have been swallowed
up by he great fusion, just as we are told
islands are sometimes swallowed up by the
great ocean. Judging from the manner in
which they are ignored, we are somewhat ap-
prehensive that there are not even any fossil
remains of them.
In regard to the Sohs we doubtless will not be
contradicted when we assert that they voted the
Democratic ticket in the last Presidential cleo.
ton. They were thus attached TO the Demo.
cratic party. 1t was this and this only that we
meant, when we characterized them as q divi.
sion Of the Democratic party. We did not
mean to certify and endorse them rs the pure
and unde6led Democracy. We did not mean
to give them precedence over the Hards. We
did not mean that they deserved the name Of
Democrats. Our opinion Of the Softs has not
in the slightest degree changed. We think Of
them as we have all along thought Of them.
Our object in the article to which the Argus
refers, was merely 10 designate them, and we
adopted the most convenient and the most in
telligible mode Of doing so.
But the argus IS mistaken in supposing that
New York politics and politicians are not un-
derstood beyond the limits Of New York. They
are perhaps more correctly understood and more
properly appreciated without, than within that
s,ate--for they are viewed by persons outside,
without the prejudice, the passion and the ran
cor that discolor the views Of those resident in
it. The former have no personal acerbities nc
rivalries, no ambitions, and no disappointment
to affect their estimates. Moreover, they have
! access 10 the same sources Of information