The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-13


their notification and secession ideas very sorry
speculation.
Ii Buchanan's Political Position a Source Of
Strength
1t is usually said by Mr. Buchanan's friends
that one Of the chief reasons why he is certain Of
victory is his strength with the politicians He
is, they say. 50 old politician that everybody
knows him. and for an old acquaintance like him
men viii turn out to vote who would stay away
from the polls on any other occasion. And, on
the orneI in.r~, .hay .-s-c that Fremont, who is
unknown in politics, has no chance Of any favor
or particular exertions from those politicians to
whom he is in fact stranger.
The facts here alleged are correct. Mr.. Blu
chanan is known to every politician in the United
States. Mr. Fremont no one knows except asan
explorer, man Of learning, energy and genius
Yet the proper inference from these facts is the
very reverse of the one which Mr.. Buchanan's
friends have drawn. His large political &C
quaintance is an injury: Fremont's compare
tive isolation a stupendous advantage. For
the very fact Of Mr.. Buchanan's long politi-
cal career has settled bis position and organized
his clique in his party. For twelve years he has
been before the country as candidate for the
nomination for the Presidency: during that time,
cliques have been formed in every State for the
purpose Of furthering his advancement and Sc
curing his nomination. These cliques have ne
cessarily been hostile to the friends of Cass, Van
Buren,, Pierce, Polk, Marcy, Dickinson, Douglas
and every other Presidential aspirant. Here isa
crop Of foes at once sown. Nor is this all. Mr..
Buchanan owes a debt to the friends who have
supported him SO long. He has special friends
in every State, whom he must repay, and cannot
dsoblige. He not free to repulse man who
has fought for him for twelve years, for new
though better man, who has only just joined his
ranks. And the new man knows this. He does
not expect it. He knows that if Mr.. Buchanan is
elected, he must first reward his old friends his
special clique; and if modestly, still not harm
lessly, the new man stands aside.
These new men constitute four-ifths Of the ac-
tive members of the democratic party. The
other fifth belongs to Mr.. Buchanan, and will
work for him, with certainty of reward in case
of bis success; but the four-ffths who feel, who
know that they have no claim on the loaves and
fishes, actual interest in the election, will stay
at home quietly, and let it go as pleases Provi-
dence.
And the most fatal feature of this danger is
that il i unseen, unheard, unRoticed, till the day
Of election, when the absence Of the expected
votes reveals H.
Now, with Fremont the case IL different No
clique Of the opposition party which have nomi-
mated him can claim him as their own. No
paramount claims 10 his gratitude. He has
given 10 pledges, incurred no obligations Every
politician Of that party, can therefore plausibly
expect TO be the man be will select for reward.
There is rot man in all the country who can
say TO himself in respect to Fremont-as four
ffths Of The working democrats must say with
regard TO Buchanan-"there's no use my giving
myself any trouble, he won't want me when the
inc comes TO distribute the spoils.'
This principle-the superiority Of new men,
without political friendships, ties or pledges over
old party leaders--is well illustrated in some Of
with no clique out Of his own State; Adams was
a well known leader, on the contrary who had
hs pet politicians in every State. Cas-, again,
was an old party leader who had his friends in
every State, with, 20 TO speak, acquired rights
upon his gratitude: and there was no difficulty
whatever in breaking up his party and defeating
him. AZ much as anything because SO many of
the democrats knew that they had nothing TO
hope from him. and saw him slain without per-
sonal regret. On the other hand, when the demo
1914 whom did they choose az their standard
bearer? An old, venerated statesman. known to
al the country, such as they bad six or eight Of
at least! No. they picked out Mr.. Polk, an UNI
known man, who lad no friends beyond bis State,
and no cliques; and the consequence was that
tie democrats throughout the country, each
hcpirg 70 be the recipient Of his fayors, rallied
to bis support. ard elected him triumphanty
They repeated tic operation in 1852. They
chose Mr.. Franklin Pierce, who had not friend
outside New Hampshire; and The same doubt
operating in bis favor. all the democrats calcu-
latirg 10 be the lucky favorites, he, too, was
ol.cled " an immense majority.
Il might have been well for the democrats
lad hey adhered TO this sagaciOus policy. We
see already evidences Of lukewarmness among
Buohansn's supporters. while all Is enthusiasm
among the friends Of Fremont If they are not
looked 10, Mr.. Buchsnan's friends will be the
death Of him.
CTN WrBB AND hrs DrSSERs-Hrs LAST Ex-