New-York daily tribune., 1858-07-12

Administration, The Union and The Herald, are just
now engaged in a pleasant little controversy, the
subject matter of which is the actual position and
future prospects Of the Democratic party. Both
papers seree in l.udine the Of President Bu-
chanan's AtminstratoD--s point conceded by The
Herald, and eagerly clut.bed at By The Union.
But while thus rel ,icng together over the achieve
ments of the President, The Herald, not little to
the di,eust of The Union, takes quite dolorous
view of the condition and prospects of the Demo-
cratic party 1t represents that party as having
been for some time past in large popular minor
ity, having elected Mr.. Buchanan President only
through the divisions Of the Opposition, and as hAv
inc since that election, stll further fttered itself
away by new internal quarrels, till 1t has become
utterly demorazed, so that even the alleged sue
ceases of Mr.. Buchanan's Administration have only
been secured by the aid charitably extended to him
at the hands Of the Opposition.
The Union, on the other hand, processes itself
wholly unable to comprehend this distinction
which The Herald undertakes to set up between
the President and the party. 1t sticks apparently
to the declaration made BY the President, in one Of
bis letters previous to the election, that from the
moment the Democratic party selected him for tie
Office of President he had ceased to be James Bu-
chansp, and had become the Cincinnati platform.
That journal is not at all able to understand how
the President can be elevated to such pitch of po
Gtical emlnence and success as Tho Herald alleges,
unless the end of the political plank on which he is
seated experiences at the same time correspond
ing elevation. As to this point in the controversy,
The Union certainly seems to have the advantage.
1t s obviously and papably absurd to treat Prssi'
dent Buchanan a. distinct entity by himself
Apart from the Democratic party, he il nothing,
nobody, and nowhere. If the Democratic party is
down. President Buchanan can hardly be up. 1t is
not, however the up or the down of President
Buchanan, apart from the Democratic party if
such thing be possible that is the main point In
this controversy. The Herald, out of its extreme
good nature, or from some other motive, may have
been induced to attempt to sosce Mr. Buchanan,
who at all events has, for two years aud more to
come, q certain stock Of official patronage q. bis
disposal-with a ridiculous and impossible coUpli.
ment; but The Herald, for all that, may be quite
right in its penseroso view of the present position
and future prospects Of the Democratic party.
Indeed, when The Union undertakes 10 touch upon
that point of the controversy, with al its affected
ionity ard pretended belief that the Democratic
party was never stronger than at the present mo-
nent, il makes confessions which 60 great way
toward harmonizipg with the lugubrlous notes
,ounded by its fellow organ. 1t does not venture
to assert that the Democratic party has strength
20 nd oil atio in th.a
idea that "the only plank referring, We sup.
po,e. TO the Kansas is,ue-"upon which the mot
..ley forces of the Opposision have heretofore
.. operated has been splntered to pieces 1t
nuts forward, as matter of hope and confidence,
not the strength of the Democratic party, but an
iuss mary paralysis of the very muscles Of the Re-
pnbIcsns. 1t does not attempt - set forth any
accessions to the Democratic ranks but seeks to
tickle its fancy by pretenses Of the Republican chip
floating about without any rudder, and ready to be
driven ashore u the first storm. "SuPpose We
are in an actual minority in the United States -
il i, tbus that The Union attempts to keep up its
couraee-"is it possible 10 unite the majority
against u.s." The tnios reefs its faith that the
Democratic party, although an admitted minority,
will continue to rule the country, on the impossi
biIty of eettirg up national organization against
it, By national organization, it evidently means a
Pro Slavery organization, a. il plain from its prefa-
tory question whether the North and the South are
in such q condition Of sentiment that the RePu,G.
cans of the one and the Opposition of the other can
be brought together
tn. U.ion seems to forget that President can
be Ell. c.ed, and m,jOrlty in the House Of Repre-
sentatives secured, without any aid from Southern
votes, and that what is required to insure Repub
licsn triumph is. not to 'mLssma'e the Northern
aid Southern opponents Of the Administration, but
to concentrate the Northern oppostion. The union