The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-27

that IN all probability. upon the 6rst ex.
ercse of that power, the South would secede
from the Union. Now we know that the oon-
servative, order and peace loving citizens of
the Middle States love the Union of the States,
and are prepared for anything but dissolution.
ALI our material interests, too. are bound up il
the maintenance of the solidarity Of the nation.
The only question is, how can Lincoln be de.
feated! We answer that by saying that he may
be beaten by consolidating the conservative
vote upon Mr.. Breckenridge, who represents a
party which has more or less of electoral votes
at its back, while the Others, except the repub-
can, have none whatever.
Every true lover of his country, every PROBES
siona! man, merchant, banker or mechanic, who
has anything at stake in the republic, should for
get bis personal preferences, for whomsoever-
Douglas, Bell or Houston-they may be, and
give bis vote and influence where 1t will tel
against Lincoln. II this is done all may yet be
we'll If not, we have before us the picture Of
a once glorious Union, of Estates discovered, dis
cordsnt, belligerent, of land rent with civil
euds, or drenchcd, it may be, in fraternal
blood" Who will not work to avert such
terrible denouemene The way is simple, and
we charge all good men to walk therein.
THE SPEECH or THE PRINCE OF WALEs.-1he
speech of the Prince Of Wales, in reply to the
addresses presented to him at ST. Johns, is re-
markable for two things which il would be well
speakers in general were more careful to keep
in mind-one Is brevity, and the other good
sense. 1t is short and to the point, and his allu-
sion to freedom and patriotism augurs well for
his future reign. From this specimen we may
expect good speech here from his Royal High
ness, and il he thinks England "a great and free
country" what will he think and say of this
when he sees it? If loyalty TO sovereign be
patriotism" what is loyalty to republic, in
which perfect equality is the basis of the laws,
and no privileged saassss or castles exist. The
as in England, and to principle, as in
this country, is this: that the person may
change, as sovereigns have done in Eng
land, and paid the penalty; but a
principle never changes, and loyalty to
that is always patriotism whereas resistance to
kings is sometimes the highest duty of pa
triot. Patriotism, therefore, and loyalty to
sovereign are two distinct things.
In the present temper, however, Of the
British nation, and in the practical exposition
Of their unwritten constitution, which Is adopt
ed by Parliameuts, administrations and mo-
narchs, there is little room left for praise or
blame to the sovereign. The theory that "the
King or Queen can do no wrong" is happy
invention for maintaining the duration of dy-
nasties; but on the other hand il takes away
all merit, as it does all responsibility, from
the monarch. In our government the chief
magistrate is held responsible for all his official
acts, and his ministers are not removable by
vote of Congress, but his party suffers in the
eyes of the country from any errors If which
he may be guilty. In modern times in England
it is the administration, and not the sovereign.
that rules. The sovereign merely signs docu-
ments as be or she is advised, and the minister's
alone are held to be responsible to the country.
If they commit an error they are driven out
Of Office by vote of the House of Commons;
and If the House of Commons were elected by
universal suffrage and vote by ballot, Instead of
its members being for the most part the nomi-
nees Of the nobility Of the upper lpuse, and
often younger sons of the Peers, the people
would really be the rulers.
Practically, England is not monarchy, for
the monarch is mere CIPHER, which only gives
value to other figures when placed before
them; but it is an oligarchy, in width the de-
scendants Of the Norman conquerors rule over
the Saxon population, imposing very heavy
bur.hens on them and grievous to be borne, but
in other respects giving them an amount Of per-
sonal liberty which is not to be met with else
where in Europe. Hence revolutions in Eng
land are few and far between.
PumIo HEALTH, THE CRors AND ArMosPHE.
RIG PHENosENA.-During no summer, probably,
within the memory Of the living generation has
this country enjoyed more uninterrupted good
health than the present. In the metropolis the
mortality returns show most gratifying dimi-
mutton of deaths each week from the returns of
last year and the previous years; while through
out the entire country, from North to South, not
a single case OF epidemic disease of any kind
has occurred. This is certainly very re-
markable, and is something to feel gratc
ful for. In like manner the cpps were
never before so good all over the continent
and in connection with these circumstances
it is curious fact that we never before |
had presented to us SO many atmospheric pbe. |
nomena as this year. The air seems heavily |
charged with electricity; the northern lights
have been frequently Illuminating the skies with
singular brilliancy in various quarters; terrific
tornadoes have swept over the face Of the land: