Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1859-08-03
From the New York Day Book.

three or iour days after thoy are puOisheu II
Paris.
From the New York Day Book.
Political Illusions.
There are extensive and seemingly concerted
movements going on among certain class of pol
!, iticans having in view, if not the nomination o
Senator Douglas himself ut Charleston, the adop-
tion of the political creed of that gentleman, and
the selection of candidate that shall be its en-
bodinent in the great Presidential contest of 1860
Politicians are accustomed to plume themselves
on their practical knowledge OF politics and of tho
conditions of public opinion, and while lippantly
repeating that with such or such candidate or
the avowal of such or such doctrines there is no
chance before the people, they not unfrequently
speak out, as well as act out, the most insulting
doctrines of ancient Federalism They doubtless
said to Gen. jackson that his views in regard to
the bank were just and sound, as they afterwards
said to Mr.. Van Buren, that his riCps of an inde-
pendent treasury were correct, and as they now
say to Col. Davis or Gov. Wise that their terrific
rial doctrines are perfectly sound but the great
body of the people are prsindiced or i'll informed
or in some way incompetent to act justly on the
subject, and therefore "thc party will be defeat
ed and ruined beyond peradventure ifit trusts IT,
self to an open, manly and straightforward poll.
cy. The truth is, the wisdom of the masses is
always greater than that Of the individual, how
ever gifted tho latter may be, Whenever the ques-
ton presented is one where all have similar
chances for forming an opinion, and he is the
most successful and the abiest statesman who
best understands and acts on this great ttath.
Napoleon often declared that the judgment of the
French people was vastly superior to his own,
and yet nature perhaps never produced u more
glorious creature, and if this was true with the
French masses, how much more must it DO true
Of the educated and thoughtful millions Of orr
own great country
The Wings could never comprehend the CONT
nued successes of Mr.. Van Buren,, which, for
thirty years, were never once Interrupted, and
therefore styled him tho "little magician,' as
having accomplished results by magic or some
other occult means beyond the scope Of normal
and ordinary intelligence But these successes
of tho New York statesman are simple enough
they were necessary results of a profound respect
fot the intelligence of the people, and Calculated
though it may have bcen) perfectly faithful adj
herence to principle. The reasons, too, while the
vulgar throng of ordinary politicians are almost
always in the rear of public opinion as well as
skeptical in regard to the virtue and intelligence
of the masses are quite obvious. They arc very
often without principle, and looking to the sue
cess of persons or "party" rather than the
triumph of principles, they judge the people by
their own mercenary standard, willie in point Of
fact the former are actuated by sentiments Of
honor and patriotism. The masses, it is true, are
sometimes and for a brief period deceived by in
dividuals, but rarely, if ever in regard to meas
ures. Indeed from the election of Mr.. Jefferson.
in 1900, to that of Mr.. Buchanan in 1856, the
majority have never gone wrong, for even in
the canvass of 1910, there was no mistake Or false
Judgment given in regard to public measures, as
the public questions of the day were cautiously
81, fba hooly urnun1 nd tba ;fod
into wild revel without the slighteat appeal to
their reason. This being so-the masses perfect
y competent to self government, and the MAORI.
ty always certain to vote right on all measures
affecting the public welfare, it is evident that in
1iyidual statesmen as well as political parties,
will best advance their interests by open, frank
md perfectly fair dealing with the people under
Ill circumstances. But has this been the course.
u is it now the course Of that class of politicians
Who are striving to get possession of the Charles
on Convention, and thus to dictate the pro-
,ramme Of the great contest of 1860!
Let us see. In 1856 the question forced on the
country by the ''anti-savery" party of the North
vas the exclusion of 'slavery from the Federal
territories. They said ''savery is, negro
to white men--was wrong and an
vii, and therefore should be excluded from the
'ederl jurisdiction. On the contrary, the people
f the South said that it was right and indeed
necessity oil their social condition, as well as
Material to their progress-that slavery should
xist within the Federal jurisdiction. and that :,
he property interest involved should have the /. .
anne protection that was accorded to other pro-
erty. Here was an issue broad enough and 9
cen enough certainly, to be mistaken by no one .
AN issue that reaches down to the very founda- n
ion of the national existence, an issue, moreover
nat by no clap-trap charlatanry can be push o
aside or got rid of, and an issue finally, that b
ust be decided against the 'anti-slavery'' party
the North, or there must be disunion and dis
embrement of the Federation. The campaign Il
,ened by the nomination of Fremont. and to- c.
,ther with innumerable stump speakers, about h
of the Northern press weree ngaged Il
efforts to convince the people that slavery" Il
as an evil and therefore should be excluded from
10 Territories and with this one-sided view for. N
cept the.New York Day Book, not single iour-
Il or stump speaker contested the Republican nj
,sition, majority Of the northern voters voted 5
r Fremont, ard thus to exclude what was held
be en- evil from the Territories. The Democrat D,
uartv IN tho meant no. nominated Mr Bu- "
ansp, and placed hir on the ginlsaati plat Oh
-n, -r i.at-5er that rs OF was ItWas construed
The South. Just snou a. rl-haT5, while st lbs
8fth 10 vas made q sErzEsni scnfethi1E entire H
different from the Eoivsi question in Issue.
a in fac. % leave 71t the "slavery' question u
ta-gtber. The Democratic politicians, With sH
2 Douelas at then had. set Up tEs doctrine l'
Territorial sovereignty. that tbs people ha1
q rs--4 a1I sHsqla Z .ra1ittea p eEer1isz tiis