The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-18
The New Cuba Movement In Congress, ana
Its Probable Consequences Among Our De

must inevitably ulVlue Tue masses VI tle AHeil-
can people into two great partes-the one in ia
vor Of and the other in opposition to the general
| movement The democratic party, in taking the
initiative in behalf of bold and active negotia-
| tons, have thus placed themselves in the best
| position to command the field, because the pre-
vailing conviction of the American people is that
sooner or later Cuba must be ours, and because
their prevailing desire is the earliest practical
movement of the government in this direction.
The Kansas slavery agitation of the last four
years has left the democratic and the opposition
parties of the country in an unprecedented condi-
ton of disorder and disintegration. Upon the re-
naming fragments of their late slavery and anti
1860 but loose disorderly and riotous scrub race
for the next Presidency, and contest in the House
of Representatives which may abruptly break up
the generalgovernment and the Union. sBut with
the general rally of the scattered elements of the
old democracy upon this suspicious party move
ment for the acquisition of Cuba, all the existing
lines between sections and factions will disap-
pear, and the democracy, from the brink of de-
struction, like Napoleon in the critical moment
at Marengo, will be enabled to charge back upon
the enemy and win the field.
In recurring to the vicissitudes of our political
parties, it will be seen that in the presence of
any great progressive popular issue, the party
supporting it has become the dominant and ire
sistibe organization, and that in the absence Of
any great and overshadowing national question
the party in power and the party in opposition
have been frittered away into factions and clques
upon paltry distractions and the personal
jealousies of rival politicians. Thus it was that
the purchase Of Louisiana by Mr.. Jefferson, COM
pretending the outlets Of the Mississippi and q
rich territory of million square miles in extent,
doubling at the trifing cost of fifteen millions Of
dollars the superficial urea of the United States,
rendered his administration and his party per
fectly impregnable before the people. Thus it
was, too, that the old Jehersonian republican
party wound up its career of honor and glory to
the entire satisfaction of the American people in
the purchase of Florida. under the administra-
ton of Mr.. Monroe.
The modern democratic party next organized
under the auspices Of General Jackson elevated
and maintained in power during his administra-
ton mainly upon the bank question, went down
to the dust with the financial revulsion which,
under Van Buren, followed the death of the
"monster" and the collapse Of the ''pet banks"
Down in the dust the democracy would doubtless
have remained but for the lucky interposition of
the Texas annexation question. Upon this issue
national convention, elected to re-nominate
Van Buren, cast him aside, because Of his oppo-
sition TO the measure; and comparatively OBJ
scure and ordinary man was taken up as the
pledged and devoted advocate Of annexation.
And what was the result? Mr.. Polk was elected
over Henry Clay, one Of the very greatest Of our
great statesmen, and personally the most popular
man Of his day in the Union, next to General
Jackson. Thus the Texas annexation question
lifted the PROSTATE democracy at once to their
feet; for the people could not fail to remember
the magnificent results Of prosperity and power
which had followed the acquisitions of Louisiana
and Florida. After the annexation and the Mex
lean war the party became distracted and divided
upon the sectional division of the vest
territories thus acquired, again doubling in
extent the previous geographical area Of
the Union, while the opposition, scizing
upon the Mexican laurels Of General Taylor,
slipped him into the White House between
the main body Of the democracy under General
Cass, and the anti-Texas, anti-Baltimore Conven-
ton, free soil faction Of Martin Van Buren,.
In 1852 the old wing party, having no further
business upon its hands, and having become
hopelessly demoralized from the conflicting pre-
tentions of ambitious leaders, was routed, bro
ken up and disbanded; and in 1854 the dernocra-
cy were carried away into that desperate pro-
slavery experiment of the Kansas-Nebraska bill,
which instantly reduced the party throughout
the country to shutting popular minority. In
this condition the party has since continued, and
so remains al this day. With all the great per-
sonal popularity of Mr.. Buchanan, and notwith-
standing the division Of the opposition forces
upon two candidates, and the want Of organize
uon in the new republican camp, the democracy
Ia 1870 escaped crushing defeat as by miracle
AS II was, the general result exhibited an oppo-
sition popular majority of over three hundred
thousand.
Nor does it here require any recapitulation OF
the election results Of 1853 TO show that the d..
fections and rebellons and factions courage ~
democratic leaders and would-be leaders at
the last session of Congress have reduced
the party to much more deplorablo
condition than that from which IL was rescued nv
Mr. Buchanan. In deserving him, and in a.
tempting TO break down his administration
these over ambitious aspirants and misguided
leaders have committed such damages to their
already sufficiently enfecbled party that nothing
but some great and popular coup dftot, under
The auspices Of the administration, can save
them.