The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-15

llHc. Freishu were stu Inactive and engagements mo
deraie, without change of mouent
The Old and New Party Orsani1.sions-
Power or the Conservative Element.
! 1t is evident to every calm observer Of the
ocean of politics that new tides are already SET
ting In amid its waters, and that both principles
and men are tending toward other directions
than have marked their past history.
The late Presidential campaign swept sway
the last of the party landmarks that formed the
old divisions into democratic and whig orgsniza-
tions and the present incumbents were carried
into power by the direct and indirect efforts of
many who had opposed their policy and disap-
| proved their acts for long series of years.
| The wing party preceded by short time only its
ancient opponents dissolution. All the old issues
are dead; the ioancisl policy of the country lie
settled its course in domestic affairs is establish
ed upon the non Intervention principle so far as
regards internal improvements, protection to
class industry and the like; and in its foreign
policy there are no issues or only such of minor
Importance, to call for conflict of opinion
in the public mind. But the necessity
Of all political life is action, for repOse is retro
cession, and in obedience to the natural law of
their existence the extremists are the first to
move.
Thus we zee parity of movement among the
ultraists at the North and at the South, in the
attempt to form new political organizations
Here we have the emancipationists mounting
their hobby of the abolition of slavery, and ssu
ing call for a national convention to take into
consideration the means Of attaining their aims
There we have an attempted movement against
Mr.. Buchanan and the party now in power for
the purpose Of furthering the views of JEFF. d.
Wis and few other ambitious and disappointed
leaders 1t lie a curious fact in the political phi
losophy of the times that each of these extreme
parties is acting upon precisely the same princi-
pies Abandoning the true theory and law of
self-government, that communities possessing
that right cannot interfere with the domestic ac-
ton Of each other, the governing principle with
both is an interference in matters entirely out
side of and beyond their respective jurisdiction
The political life of the emancipationists is made
to depend upon squestion not affecting themselves
but others, who have as much the right of self
government as they have. In the same manner
tRe oOulncfu uitT0ste ucbtre 10 IOrCt Lner eOC1al
theories upon other communities, whether those
communities are willing to self-impose them or
not.
The natural result Of this extreme tendency
North and South will be to unite all the stable and
conservative elements Of the country in oppoai-
ton to their wild vagaries and crude theories.
As we advance in population and wealth, these
elements increase in number, weight and power.
Taking as basis the tables of the last census, we
may estimate that the seven millions of males
over fifteen years of age now contained in our
population, may be classed approximately as fol-
lows -Agriculturists not including laborers,
three and quarter millions merchants, manu-.
facturers and the liberal professions, one million
and quarter (; mechanics and skilled laborers
one million and quarter, and common lsborers
the same number
are from proclivity and interest essentially
opposed to great social or political changes
They are slow to act, and are only brought into
active party movements when some great national
necessity exists for political change. Then they
sweep away the corrupt political parties that
have degenerated through long retention Of
power Commerce is intimately connected with
agriculture and now that questions of banking
and TARIFF have ceased to divide the mercantile
classes, the merchants, as a class, must be ranked
with the conservative interests. The other clas-
sifcations we have enumerated may be divided
between those who are conservative and those
who seek progress through change, or advance
ment through political agitation In these sta.
tistics II will be seen how greatly the elements of
new conservative party preponderate over
thoee available to the ultra agitstionists. If we
were to 90 into an analysis of the conservative
elements that have grown up throughout the
whole country by the increase Of material pros
perity and individual wealth, the proportion
would be even greater than that which we have
shown To exist in the elements of our population
But there Is no peed Of doing this. As we
have said at first, whoever will calmly observe
the changes In political thought within the circle
Of his immediate acquaintance cannot fail to no.
tice the new currents that are beginning to set in
the tides of popular opinion But there IL In the
moral world another change that will not be
without it's eject upon those parties in this coun-
try that wish to make extraneous social in
reference the groundwork Of their party Or
ganzation- The practical mind of England Is
beginning 10 awaken TO the dangers involved In
the interference Of legislation with social organi-
cation in mass This feeling Is exhibited there in
the new policy that is beginning to be developed