The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-04

The Black guardian OF New York Politics
II has often been said, at our elections that the
force OF scurrility and b'ackgaardism could no
farther go; but this fal We think, the politicians
have cVaf done themselves. Most assuredly never
was canvass conducted with more reckless bru-
tality, or more complete disregard of the deem
cies gd life.
Mr.. Grote, the historian OF Greece in under
taking TO Justify the character of Cleon, the great
Athenian democrat entreats us to believe that
the virulence Of " language with which ne assaii-
ed his political opponents Nicias and Percles was
well known feature of the society in which b.
lived and nowise peculiar to the tanner himself
He quotes Cleon's great enemy, Aristophanes to
prove that it was usual at Athens for politicians
70 abuse each other heartily, and accuse each
other Of the most heinous crimes; but, as the
honest lover and eulogist OF the Athenian demo
eracy, he charges himself with the duty OF show
ing that this excessive virulence and recklessness
Of party strife were not, as nigh. be supposed,
symptoms Of a low state of society, but were
relics of ride stage of civilization that was
rapidly passing away.
We fear that If Mr. Grote had had as much ex-
perienee Of American as he has had of English
politics he would have felt il less incumbent upon
him TO frame excuses for the foul-mouthed ora
tors Of the Pnyx. For, certainly, Cleon himself
would have seemed a model Of gentleness aud
dignity in comparison with some Of the speakers
who have fourished in the present canvass. The
oitterest sarcasms Of the Athenian comedies read
tamely after the highly spiced abuse Of our party
political press. They were content with warmth
like that Of good Madeira; we use the overproot
whiskey.
Take for instance the speeches that have been
delivered, and the articles that have been written,
in reference to Fernando Woods candidature for
Mayor. Why. if the man had been caught in the
act of picking pockets, or burning churches, or
committing half dozen murders, he could not
be abused in more savage language. Here sthe
Hon. John MeKeon, no less parsonage than the
United States District Attorney, who gets up in
public and talks about only abiding to such
Of the Mayors offences are felonies punishable
with State PRISON. "his resemblance to Hunting
ton the forger;' his base, black frauds and so
on, as though really Mr.. Wood had just escaped
from or was on his way to Sing Sing. Equally
violent language has abounded in papers that de-
sire to defeat Wood and elect some candidate Of
their own choosing. Another prominent charac
ter ex-Judge Whiting, who had had the advantage
of sitting on the Supreme Court Bench black
guarded, in his theatrical speeches, not only his
rivals for the Mayoralty, but all who did not
happen to think that he himself was the best man
for the Office. BlackgIarded them with coarse,
savage language, such as the rufans Of the Five
Points use, and 10 other class Of society. Yet his
audience sat still and listened.
We have seen the same spectacle in the national
contest. We have heard United States Senator's,
Congressman, and the leading men OF the South
justify, in the most uhhesitating manner, the as
sault OF Brooks on Senator Sumuer-a deed OF
which nation OF canniblls might blush. We have
heard the whole Norih abused with the ferocity
Of wild beasts, ana its leading men howed at and
hooted upon--as visiters sometimes are when
they venture inside the violent wards of insane
asylums. And this not by the mobs Of the
Southern cities, bal by Governors of States rising
politicians, leading editors, members Of Congress.
Col. Forney, the right hand man Of Mr.. Buchanan,
announces that his friends will wade in blood to
their saddle girths rather than lose Kansas Col
Brooks declares that he will march on Washing
ton ana seize the archives and the public money.
If his candidate is defeated. Meanwhile, a ]
round, but chiefly among the partisans Of Mr..
Fillmore, Colonel Fremont has been assailed
with unexamplcd malignity. We verify believe
that, in the whole course of free elections, there
can he nothing found to equal the wickedness and
the falschood and the malignity and the near:
ness aud the yillany Of the course Of the New
York EIpgess toward Colonel Fremont since h I
nomination.
What the result Of this shameful waH may
ultimately prove, it were hard TO say; assAfedly,
il operates just now to keep respectable men from
the polls.