The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-09

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The Three Great Tides In Public Opin-
ion-Coursss Of the Political Currents.
Amid the confusion and disorder that now
attend the political affairs of the country,
there are three great and distinct tides In pub
lie opinion, each with a marked and decided
tendency, which should be taken in view by
public men and politicians in their preparations
for the impending struggle.
II we look closely at these three distinct
currents, we find that they are really defined
by separate and diverse material interests.
The widely extended farming population
of the North and Northwest in the
sbrence of any great political issue
which involves their immediate welfare,
have been seduced by fanatics and political de-
msgogues into q course of extreme action,
which Is transitory in its nature, but not the
less dangerous while 1t exists. Their moral
sentiments have been reused, by the persistent
efforts of Jealous fanatics, to q conviction that
distant, and to them really unknown, domestic
institution is an evil and crime, which they,
as Christians and just men, are bound to abolish.
The true relations which exist between their
material interests and those of the communi
ties where domestic slavery is vital part of
the social organization, not being direct and
daily palpable, are ignored by the masses, or
skilfuly kept out of view by the designing
leaders. In this way 1t may be assumed, as
al ~ fho far inn ouiO nj
the North and Northwest are to-day committed
to fanatical extreme in politics, which, If 1t
could be brought to rule in national affairs,
would produce such destructive effects, even In
the Northern and Northwestern States, that
violent repentance and reaction Of the public
mind would at once ensue and overwhelm the
authors Of the evils now being provoked.
On the other hand, we find the Southern and
Southwestern States carried to an equally ex-
citing and dangerous extreme in the other d.
rection. The cotton States are Immediately
dependent upon the institution of domestic
slavery for the existence of their prospe-
rity. Contemplating only the violent and
aggressive assault which the Jealous IA
natics and designing demagogues of
the North are making upon their socia
welfare and even existence, they, too, forget
the material relations which exist between
themselves and the Northern communities, and
insist that they can find safety only out Of the
Union, and by an armed defence against North
ern fanaticism. Among them, too, designing
politicians fan the flame Of secession excite
ment, believing, in their selfpride, that they
could control or direct the storm of repentance
and reaction which would inevitably follow the
success of their fanatical schemes. Thus the
two opposing poles of the existing political ex-
element lie really In the two great and diverse
agricultural interests Of the country, which have
been led to forget the true and harmonious re-
lations that exist between them.
| In opposition to these two violent and exag-
eerated extremes stands the great conservative
element of the country, which is quickened into
existence by several causes, ell Of which lead
1t to feel and to know how greatly the true ex-
tremes are really dependent upon each other.
First in importance In this conservative ele-
uent are the great mechanical and manufac-
| turing interests of the Union. Receiving their
| staples and finding the outlet for their
productions equally in the two extremes,
these great interests are opposed to Northern
and Southern fanaticism alike. Next to these
is the widely extended commercial and ship
ping interest, which, coming practically in con-
tact with all, appreciates the true worth of
each, and rejects the falsely excited fanaticism
Of each. Side by side with these two great int
rests stands vast community, which, by its
geographical position, Is brought into intimate
contact with both of the two extremes. This
| is comprised in the States bordering on the
line Of division between the free States and the
\ slave States. Neither the border States north
OF this lire, nor those south Of II, participate
| xith those beyond them In their extreme ideas.
| Connected with each by . multitude of per-
sonal and material ties, they cannot be brought
to contemplate only the errors which exist in
either, and thus in them fanaticism fails to
attain its object. Participating in feeling with
these Is the young empire of the Pacific, whose
growing interests lie with neither Northern nor
Southern extreme, but whose commerce, whose
horne-born sympathies, and whose future great
| ness. embrace all the States of the Atlantic
| shore ard the valley Of the Mississippi
| II is in these Central States, lying on the line
that divides the North from the South. that the
great battle OF the present political campaign
is 10 be fought The cotton growing and the
Sheat growing extremes arc lncensed against
each other, and thus blinded to their
True interests The Central States feel
and know that II this autagonism Is to
result in q peaceful separation. It Is along
their lines that the chain OF custom houses
hostile tariffs, and vigilant seli-pro,ecang
seutinels, Is to be extended; that II contest
arises between the two extremes, their nov
peaceful fields are the ones that will be turned
into fields Of blood and that whether peac,