The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-02
Our October State Elections-The Pennsylva-
MIA Contest.

vania, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota, and
they will be followed in November by Massachu-
setts, New York, New Jersey and Illinois. These
great national struggle of 1860, are regarded by
the managers and interested politicians Of all
parties as involving very momentous results to
parties and party leaders, in view Of the Presi-
dental succession.
Thus, should the republicans fail to carry our
November election, the result will be regarded
as a death blow to the Presidential aspirations
of W. II. Seward; and the same view will apply
to Mr.. Banks and his party in Massachusetts,, to
Gov. Chase and his party in Ohio, to Mr.. Bright
and his party in Indiana, and last, though no.
least, to Mr.. Douglas and his party in Illinois.
But in addition to the pressure which will thus
be brought to bear by aspiring party leaders and
politicians, all these approaching elections will
DE accepted as involving preliminary trial Of
strength between the democracy and the opposi-
ton in reference to 1860, although in many
places this trial will be seriously embarrassed by
local factions and personal squabbles.
Turning our attention especially to Pennsyl-
vania, she appears to be just now in very in
teresting transition state. After the tremendous
struggle of the democracy to secure her vote,
and the decisive influence of her vote in behalf
of Mr. Buchanan's election, the party there in
stantly sunk into condition of apparently help
less exhaustion. And just at this crisis that
vigilant and able politician, General Simon
Cameron, diligently set to work to appropriate
the favoring opportunity for rupture in the
democratic camp. Awaiting himself of the ge-
nervous partiality of Mr.. Buchanan for Forney
General Cameron encouraged the movement in
the Pennsylvania Legislature in behalf of Forney
for the United States Senate, being thoroughly
apprised Of the weak places in the cable
He knew that with such candidate as Judge
Black the democratic members of the Legislature
would be unit but he knew that there was a
fatal prejudice existing against Forney, which
not even the generous confidence Of Mr. Bu-
chanan could remove. Forney was put to the
test-was defeated; and Cameron the active head
and front Of the Pennsylvania opposition forces,
was elected with the aid of democratic votes.
Since that disastrous day to poor. Forney,
whatever may have been his habits before, he
drunken vagabond, charging upon the admins |
traton his fall from grace place and respectable
lity the consequences Of his own inordinate
vanity and folly. Since that day, too, upon the
Kansas issue and upon paltry questions of favo-
ritism, patronage and plumber the Pennsylvania
democracy, exhausted from their prosirating la
bors of 1856, have become more or less demo-
rallied and disorganized, from Philadelphia to
Pittsburg while Gen. Cameron has been actively
pursuing his important triumph at Harrisburg in
practical fusion of the opposition forces of the
State for this October election. We shall not.
therefore, be surprised should this election re-
suit in the inglorious defeat Of the democracy;
and the moral effect Of their defeat will be to
place General Cameron at once head and
shoulders above Seward, Banks, Chase, Critten-
den, Bell and all the other aspiring opposition
candidates for the next Presidency.
That the democracy in Pennsylvania will
he defeated is thus pretty conclusiycly
forcshadowcd from their present disordered
condition, as contrasted with the comparative
harmony and confidence Of the united opposi-
ton. We must also remember that In 1856 State
date for the Presidency, had powerful influence
over the popular mind Of the State: and that
since Mr.. Buchanan's election this influence has
been lost to the democracy, the object in view
having been achieved. We must also bear in
mind that as Mr.. Buchanan is not a candidate for
1850, and viii not be, the intriguing politicians
Of the party are somewhat adrift but more in
cess Of the administration. We apprehend.
then, that If the united opposition do not carry
the Pennsylvania October election, the result
will he somewhat astonishing to all parties con-
cernod; and that If the opposition do carry it.
Mesrs. Seward, Banks, Chase &c. will have to
yield the front seat to Gen Cameron the availa-
BILE candidate Of the important State Of Pennsyl-
yania
And yet. from the impossbity Of mixing on
ti-Popery and anti-slavery. Southern rights and
Northern principles upon any common opposition
platform In 1860, the various opposition sections
and factions may then he compelled to fall back
upon man whose name, and fame. and public
character, and unrequited public services will be
a sufficient platform for all the opposition odds
and ends Of the whole Union. In this view, the
incessant labors Of Seward and his clique. Of
Banks and his partizans, Of Crittenden and his
friends and even the success of Cameron in
Pennsylvania in behalf Of fusion, may eliminate
IN the nomination Of Gen. Scott. In the mean
time our October ard November elections will, 10
a considerable extent. foreshadow the reconstruc-
ton Of parties and the schemes and prospects Of |
aspiring politicians for the succession.
TUE TARIFF AND THE POiLrTCtANs-wc see |
that some OF the party journals are end avor. |
ing TO galyanzc The old tariff issue Protection
to home manufactures and so on. Tlis ilca of |
warming up exploded questions IL all humbuc. |