The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-19

Parties Taking soundings.
Many of our leading political journals, North
and South, Of the opposition parties of the day
ere beginning to take their soundings and bear
ings in reference to the grand campaign of
1860, some from one point of view and some
from another; but all directed to the common
purpose Of the total overthrow of the terrified
democracy in the next grand struggle for the
federal spoils and public plumber of one hum
dred millions year.
The democratic party. as illustrated in the
results of the elections of 1856, stands in a
popular minority throughout the country Of
nearly four hundred thousand The opposition
regard this fact "a conclusive Of the finishing
blow to their crippled adversaries in 1860 The
detection of Senator Douglas has strengthened
this conviction; and the most ssgacious men of
the remaining remnant of the once all DO verful
democratic organization are disposed to re gard
this detection of Douglas as decisively settling
the question, should be continue to stand out
On the other hand, even with bis return to the
party camp, II may well be doubted whether he
will be competent to bring back 1.-THE Of the
deserters of the rank and file who have followed
him scross the lines upon the Kansas abstrac.
ton of popular sovereignty" tits compare
lively easy thing to pull down an old castle but it
is very difficult thing to rebuild the ruins aud
restore the fragments exactly where they stood
before. The universal knowledge Of the fac
that the democratic party stands In an ap-
parently hopeless minority in the country has
hrnv q, ~,,.~ A..
ton, not to reunte its disordered elements but
TO continue the work Of disintegration
All this, however does not affect the admins
tration OF Mr.. Buchanan. He is secured in bis
Office till March 4, 1861, and he has no further
favors TO ask The measure Of bis ambition will be
filled with satisfactory verdict from the coun-
try in behalf of his stewardship Of four years,
and to this end the policy Of his Naturalization.
as II has been, will continue to be directed. And
as the democratic party in 1856 aud at every
preceding election since their first nomination
Of General Jackson, nominated the man they
believed 10 be most available for their pur.
poses, without regard to the peculiar claims Of
Tom. Dick or Harry, so will they be left by Mr..
Buchanan to the full exercise of this para
mount law of expediency in 1860 But as in
1856 there was only one man that could save
the party very likely in 1860 they may not
be able to single out even one man competent,
in their own estimation, TO save them.
The opposition, however, would do well
to remember that their tremendous popu-
lar majority in the Union amounts to
nothing If FILTERED away among par
Gel Of irreconcilablc factions. Since 1886
they have been in a popular majority in the
country. and yet, since that day they have had
but two Presidents out Of five, the other three
being lost from foolish dissensions and divisions
among themselves 10 1874 they would have
elected Henry Clay had they not thrown fifteen
thousand votes in New York away upon Birney.
In 1852 they could have elected Scott had they
DOT been cut up root and branch by the mischief
making Seward men. the jealous Webster men
and the indignant native Americans who conld
neither stomach "the lovely German accent
nor "the sweet Irish brogue," to which General
Scott bad captulsted over another "hasty
plate Of soup" In 1856, however, the opposi-
ton factions permitted Mr.. Buchanan 20 be
elected, while casting a popular majority in
round plumbers Of three hundred and eighty
thousand against him.
The only two instances in which. since the
organization Of the democratic party, the op-
position elements were united upon single can
didate, North and South, were those OF 1910
and lsis, ard in both these cases they were
successful, because they had the resources for
success If combined, and they were combined.
But at present everything is at loose
ends with the opposition factions The
Know Nothings propose to ignore the niger
agitation, and TO fuse upon other issues; but Mr..
Seward and his pipers and pipelsyers say move
viii maintain our platform OF eternal hostility
TO the "slave power" Come over TO US. or
stend aside--we would be glad to admit you.
but we can do without you. Greeley feels
lively sympathy Tor Mr.. Douglas. and hopes the
republicans Of Illinois will treat him maguani-
mously. NO." say the Illinois republicans
" never-we have other fish TO FRY. Attend TO
your own affairs you New Workers.. and leave
us to manage ours. We shall be pleased to .c.
ctpt Mr.. Douglas with full recantation of his
beresies; otherwise lie may co. We
Can oo "itnou' nhh. we nave no iaYors u ask |
and no concessions TO make"
Such are the existing disagrecmens among |
The opposition factions upon principles. Upon
The question Of men these disageements are |
more likely 10 be widened than accommodated.
unless all their outstanding and hold over can
didstes, North and South, should be set aside, |
and some new man taken up, free from all fac
tious grudges and sectional prejudces. On the
other hand, II Is morally certain that the Demo