The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-10
TIE Shiftings anu Dsifsinss of our Palitics
Parsiss-Gep. scnss the Only Hope OF tn.
Opposition for IsfO.

The Sn1te1nge anu Dint1n8D az our f0ifucai
Parsies-GeD. scuss the Only Hope os the
OPPOSITION for IsGO.
The political parties Of the country, in the
aggregate and in detail, present at this time a
most extraordinary spectacle Of discordant ele-
ments, sections factions and cliqucs-of demo.
ralizatiop, disruption and confusion. In ILL
nos the Douglas democratic rebellion will
probably eliminate in the occupation of that
State by the black republicans and, while in
the South the secession democratic ultras are
at work in the organization Of an ultraSouthern
disunion faction, the "uutcrrifed" in New York
are still squabbliDg over the spoils Of our Gus
tom House. And yet, notwithstanding all these
draw backs, the general prospect for the demo
cratic party has so very materially improved
within the last few weeks-nay, within the last
few dsy'-ibat they have now not only visi-
tile opening for 1860. but every encouragement
for a vigorous effort TO secure a working majo-
rity in tie next Congress
The defeat Of Blair in the St. Louis district
a district from which he could have been re-
turned to Congress by four thousand majority,
bad the opposition elements therein been united
upon him-is a crushing blow to the estimates
Of our hitherto enthusiastic black republican
ariibmeticans. In this election we are furnish
ed with two important facts first, that the
Karsas agitation has been played out; and Sc
condly, that the difficulties Of combining the
republican and Know Nothing elements Of the
Union into a general homogeneous and eiec-
tive opposition party are almost, II not alb.
solutely insurmountable.
The st. Louis election may be safely accept
cd as the initiative experiment upon the Sew
ard abti-slavery platform for the next Congress
ard the next Presidency. II has signally failed;
and the plea that II has failed because of the
intrsctable bigotry Of the Know Nothings, in
svesd Of mcnding, only makes the matter
worse. The same spirit Of intractable adhesion
TO the intolerant aod repulsive principles Of the
dark lantern is quite as perceptible, too, among
the Know Nothing Order Of this State as in
Missouri. On this and other accounts, such AZ
Temperance and freedom" the present position
Of W. II. Seward in this State in refe-
renee to 1860, is infinitely wore than
that of Douglas in Illinois. The squabbe
here among the republican leaders and
orQaps upon the question of their policy
towards the Know NothiDgs promises any
tbirg but u cordial settlement even in the re-
publican camp. These facts In connection with
the still more important fact that The public
mind Of the State, in regard to free Kansas"
has settled down from wild and headloDg ex
citement into perfect apathy and Indifference,
leaving Seward and bis party In New York In
very gloomy and unpromising situation
Nevertheless, in the face Of all these facts and
warnings, Thurlow Weed, Of the Albany Journal,
the telfstyltd Warwick Of the Seward camp
boldly proclaims that there can be no other re-
pabAcan platform than the anti-slayery uln-