The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-11
The Evsntualitiss OF LincoIn's Election.


The election in Pennsylvania has passed, and
the whole country will experience feeling of
relief In its result ii foreshadows that of the
pending Presidential election, the only point
still defensible being the State Of New York.
and this must be fought as the fight Of a forlorn
hope.
Whatever may be the issue Of that contest, the
country will now begin to consider the even
Qualities Of Lincoln's election. These present
a vast field for study and reflection, but there are
a few prominent points which will overshadow
and control all the others. Chief among these,
power of the black republican party will have
to undergo the test of its being in the
administration of the government instead
of in opposition; and more severe and
critical test could not be applied to it.
If it can come successfully out of the strain
which its own conflicting elements will subject
it to, it may retain control of the government
for twenty years to come; but If it cannot pass
this ordeal, Mr. Lincoln will find himself,
within year, a President without party, as
completely as was John Tyler when the Har-
rison administration lapsed into his hands.
The first point in the political field before us
is the fact that Lincoln will have been elected
by party counting not more than one-third
of the popular vote of the Union, which will
have triumphed through the folly and imbeci-
lily of the leaders opposed to it, and the dis
gust and Indifference ef the conservative ele-
ment From this starting point the black re-
publican administration will encounter the
fact that it has not a working majority in either
branch of Congress, nor an opposition capable
of defeating its organization of the government
and the conduct Of its affairs, unless that oppo-
sition be reused to cohesion through the radical
and ultra character of its own men and mea-
sures. The old democratic party-rotten through
a long possession of power, and corrupt through
the degeneracy Of its organization-has fallen to
pieces, and its old leaders and old party cries
can never bring IT together again. The Tam.
NAMES and the Regencies that, all over the
country, have 90 long held control Of q tri-
umphant political party, have, like the monks
Of La Trappe, dug their own graves, and the
people have willingly consented to bury them
therein. A political revelation, initiated at
Charleston, formalized at Baltimore, has to be
contaminated by the Inauguration Of q black
republican administration at Washington, and
the opposition to 1t will spring from the course
II pursues. Which will triumph in the great
and desperate contest of party measures and
party policies that i soon to be begun at the
federal capital will depend upon the wisdom,
the patriotism and the consery alive nationality
that each may develope. One thing Is
selfeyident: party comprising only one-third
Of the popular vote cannot inAict permanent
evil on the country. Should it attempt such Q
thing 1t could triumph only through the mad
ness and folly Of its opponents.
From these general views we may pass
to the contemplation Of the particular cir
cumstances that will attend the black re-
publican party in administration. That there
are conflicting interests and tendencies of
political and personal nature In that party Is
abundantly evident, and these will be rapidly
developed under the ripening sun Of power.
The policy Of Lincoln's cabinet cannot be 50
constructed as to suit the moderate republican
and the fanatical abolitionists, the free trade
men and the protectionists, the progressive
Northwest and the reactionary Northeast; nor
can Seward and Greeley, Sumner and Cameron,
Helper and Dayton, Wendell Phillips and Mr..
Grinnell, be brought into harmony In action.
The antagonism of these several interests will
be developed in the highest degree BY the
swarm Of long waiting and hungry Office
seekers that will throng to Washington, clamor-
ing for reward In the division of the spoils.
This contest will begin Immediately after 1t
shall have been ascertained that Lincoln l.
elected, and the first fight will come on the ap-
pointment of bis cabinet. From this 1t will
proceed to develope one Of the most discordant
and corrupt administra,ions-n we may Judge
from our experience In this and other States
with black republican governments this
country has ever seen.
From such state Of internal affairs II the
triumphant party we may not expect any very
active prosecution Of Its supposed aims. II the
conservative elements conduct their opposition
TO the Lincoln administration with anything
like common sense. the interests Of the South
and Of every other section, can be protected
much better within than without the Union.
As the Senate now stands, no great harm can
come to any interes, through black republican
President II Is only from the folly Of its
own leaders that danger can come 10 II; and 1t
may thank these for any presumed danger II
may anticipate In Lincoln's election. What
danger was imminent when the Alabama Legis-
lature passed the resolutions instructing the
delegates of Charleston to seoede In certain
event. What peril might not have been avoid
ed bad Mr.. Yancey remained In his seat In the
convention ard fought the battle Of the South
in alliance With It's Northern friends. Here
we have the tue and only danger Ia Iincoln's
election; and II Ia the South that must look these
eventualities in the face and meet them, but