The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-09
NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1853

democratic party supporting it were annihilated
by this Illinois election there would be some de
gree Of plausibility in these Douglas reioicings.
But, in point of fact, all that Mr. Douglas has
gained if he has gained even this) il his re-elcc-
ton to the Senate. The important issue whether
he or the administration is the head Of the
democratic party of the Union remains as be-
fore the side of the administration. Nor can
we imagine how factious rebellion, which has
given every Northern State to the opposition,
including even Illinois upon her State ticket
rebellion which has hopelessly distracted the
democratic party in the North, and a most hope
lessly demoralized its leaders in the South can
be considered as involving, in the reelection OF
Douglas to the Senate, the union of the democra-
cy upon this mantle head Of this rebellion
as their inevitable and only available candidate
for the next Presidency.
The idea that the individual success Of Mr.
Douglas in local election atones for the univer
cal divisions and disasters which his factious
course has brought upon his party is not more
absurd upon its face than the opinion that the
prime agent of all these discords ana disasters is
the only man who can restore peace in the
family. No man who has thus divided, dis
tracted and damaged his party can ever expect
to be made the basis of its reunion and reorgani-
cation. Mr.. Douglas may be competent to COM
mand the vote of his own State, but we would
admonish him that while Mr.. Calhoun WAS all
powerful in South Carolina, he was utterly
powerless against the administration Of General
Jackson. Martin Van Buren,, too in assuming
to control the vote of New York to his own per-
fonal ends, regardless of party discipline, was
politically Frustrated, never to rise again.
And thus We apprehend that the defeat of
Douglas in Illinois would have been better for
him, as democrat, than his success His sue
cess encourages the rebellion and the discords
which he has created in the party camp; but not
Stanton, Forney Clark and Haskin shall have
risen to the position of leaders Of the harmonized
democracy, will Douglas be restored to the posi-
ton which he has lost He is further off from
the Presidency than ever before, am all attempts
to thrust him forward for the succession. instead
of healing, will only aggravate the dissensions in
the camp which he has already produced.
The same may be said of W. ii. Seward. The
election of Morgan is delusion, il accepted as
an infallible test Of Stewards popularity. The
popular vote of the State is against him, and his
late brutal and bloody abolition manifesto cuts
off from his support the balance of power in al
most every other Northern State. lie has, like
Douglas, permitted his ambition to overlap it.
self, and is as clearly out Of the line of availa-
bles for the next Presidency. Otherwise, moth
ing is certain now, and nothing is fixed in the
political world except the existing administra-
ton, which is a fixed and established fact for
two years to come. Outside of that all is dis
cord, dissolution and chaos, both in the demo-
cratic and opposition camps North and South.
We know, however, that the democracy are in
a popular minority in the country, and that even
if united they can only succeed through the d-
visions of the opposition as in every election in
which they have succeeded since the time OF Gen.
jackson. We know, too that as in ls40 50 in 1860,
the opposition, upon practical national policy
and candidate, may sweep the country, and we be
lieve that some such great and popular name as
that Of Gen. Scott, identified with the patriotism
and Union sentiment Of the republic, will do the
work from Maine to California.
On the other hand, when Seward shall have
succeeded in rallying to his Rochester abolition
platform the rank and file of the various oppo-
sition factions, and when Douglas shall have ac-
complished the reunion Of the demoralized and
scattered democracy upon the merits Of his late
prepared TO listen to the probabilities Of the
Presidential nomination Of the one and the other;
but in default Of these preliminary necessities,
Mr.. Seward and Mr.. Douglas will remain as high
and dry as Captain Tyler or Martin Van Buren,.