The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-11

Acting upon a shallow and deceptive interpre-
tation of the late October and November State
elections the political managers In the interest
ofw. H. Seward would have us believe that the
candidate and the issues of the republican party
for 1860 are pretty definitely determined; that
Mr.. Seward must be the man, and his new anti
slavery programme the overwhelming matter Of
the canvass. On the other hand, the peculiar
democratic disciples Of Mr.. Douglas, with an in
faiuation which despises the slow coach Of COM
mon sense. have accepted the late results in Illi
nois in reference TO the reelection Of Mr. Douglas
to the Senate as equivalent to his nomination at
Charleston two years hence, and his election TO
the Presidency.
We have undertaken to show that all such cal
culations at this day on either side, are exceed
ingly uncertain. intangible and delusive; that
so far are the results Of the late elections from
having improved the chances OF either Seward or
Douglas for the Presidency, that the great agi-
tator and the Little Giant have thus been
farther removed from the goal OF their am
bition than ever they were before. Even I'M
der the favoring circumstances Of a well Or
ganizcd compact and harmonious party on either
side IL would be a somewhat over hasty pro-
cceding TO assume that nothing could happen in
the importan, interval to 1850 to change the ex-
iStng state Of things in our political market But
when We have not only the prospect before us Of
the Introduction Of new issues which will super
scde the slavery agitation. but when all the exist
ing parties. sections and factions Of tho day are
In a condition Of inexplcablc Generalization and
confusion IL l. the very excess Of folly TO pin our
faith TO the skirts Of any politician whose preten-
sions for the Presidency are limited to the slave
nv agitation or to the side issues which have
original humbug Of popular sovereignty" the
Kansas Nebraska bill.
Apart from the dCmoralizations Of the de-
mocracy, and the DISCRIMINATION Of the opposi-
ton. the late elections have settled nothing. II
anything else has been affirmed II Is that infalli-
bic dogma. that Territorial population which
has been deemed in the case Of Kansas a suffi-
cient basis for slave State shall be sufficient for
free State. But, as upon this popular verdict,
We have no doubt o. the early admission Of Kan
sas, the question rccurs. what will become
Of this anti-Lccompton democratic element
in the late elections, when The cause
which has developed IL shall have
ceased TO exist. What next will become Of the
great republican pariy-founded and erected
upon the Kansas agitaton--when Kansas shall
have been admitted into the Union under free
constitution? Mr.. Seward has indicated new
departure, upon the broader and more sharply
defined sectional issue Of no slavery and no slave
States; but this proclamation has fallen like a
deadly chill upon bis more prudent anti-slavcry
co-laborers, and any attempt to enforce the abo-
ltion programme viii reduce the republican
party TO the standard Of the Birney faction Of
Al, or the Van Buren, faction Of AZ.
At this moment IL Is much easier 10 define the
weakness than the strength Of the republican
party. In the Pennsylvania October election it
vas merged in that heterogeneous and cphcmc-