The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-12

Juntas.
The politicians and public men seem 10 be
incapable OF compromising the vast pohucai
changes now going on in our midst, and IN
which they themselves are actors as we'll as
psr,icipators.
The morn of Sunday, the oath Of June,
ushered in revolution in the politics of this
country. to which we had long been tending
and for which the elements had long been pre-
pairing. Be,ween sunset and midnight of the
preceding day the old democratic party organi-
cation, that for thirty years had held the prin-
cipal control Of our political affairs, breathed
its last at Baltimore, and with the rising sun OF
the succeeding morn the press from PASSPORT
to New Orleans, and from New York to the
frontier Of civilization announced to thirty
millions Of citizens the death of their old re-
gime Not wall was heard in all this broad
land Not single heartfelt regret
went up from the millions whose future
interests we're involved. As in France,
with the fall Of the old dynasty before the
rising power of the National Assembly, uni
versal feeling OF relief and joy pervaded all
hearts. Men looked back upon the past, and
turned to hail the coming change, be it what it
might
q Behind them they saw the shattered frag-
ments Of worn out and corrupt organization.
Years ago it had accomplished the great ends
for which it had been erected. The mighty
falscies il had fought and conquered had be-
come obsolete ideas. The United States Bank
had been already forgotten; merchants were
no longer advocates for restrictive tariff
vast expenditures of public money for the be-
reft of swarm of contractors only was no
more held to be the true path Of national de-
velopement. The machinery Of popular orga-
nization had passed from the hands of the
statesmen who created it into the hands of
politicians by profession. in which it had be-
come the incubus of the country, and the de-
testa.ion of even the men who still re-
cognized the binding ties of old party
utilization. 1t had filed every depart
ment Of the government with profess
sicnal spoilsmen, whose rule of action had
become the disgrace and the loa.hing of the
people. All this was remembered by men,
when they looked back on the morning of the
oath Of June. and the act of division which re-
leased all from party alegance-for it operates
on all parties-w was hailed as an act Of unver-
sal relief
Since that time the process of dissolution and
revolution has been rapid and violent. The
death of the ola party organization, whose cor
ruptions and iaiquities had urged SO many to
opposition, has loosened the bonds Of all oppos-
ing organizations The foe has ceased to exist
and the campaign can be carried on no longer
according TO the old plan. Old and purblind
leaders, believing that their voices could, as of
yore, marshal tie people, have continued to
play their antics and shout to their imaginary
followers, but it is Of no avail. The masses
only look on and laugh, but do not follow. The
Lincoln men are astonished at the want Of
popular enthusiasm: the Bell men could gather
only a few hundreds around the statue
Of Washington in Union square the Douglas
men weep that they cannot half fill the once
overHowing hall of Tammany; the Houston
men despair Of raising an echo TO his nomina-
ton on the field of San Jacinto, and the
Breckenridge men are fastening ~ the blasting
Of their hopes Of an enthusiastic ratification
meeting here in the coming week.
Distracted by the disastrous signs of the
times the party leaders and party organs look
to the future with doubt and fear. The Rich
mond Enquirer hopes that there will be no
stubborn adherence to Breckenridge in New
York and Douglas in Virginia." the Albany
Argus weeps at the idea Of the election passing
into the House of Representatives, because
tina. body 'has ceased to command The conf
| regards such an event as a left handed bless
! ing" to il party. We pause here to ask why
these old jewellers in corruption tremble 50 at
the thought of an election Of President by the
| House of Representatives? Is not tina. body as
| high in its standard Of public morality,
and as pure in its public virtue as
| the vile party conventions. composed OF men
sent reeking from the pools OF corruption, by
| hired builes and shoulder hitters gathered in
| grogshops to perform the farce of primary
elections. No man can hesitate for q reply.
| Blu, tha, is not their reason. Their reason Is
that they feel that the day OF cliques. and re
gercies and juntas, has passed away, aud they
yesrn for the fesbpcts of Egypt
| But these they will know 40 more. In times
of revolution 10 leaders nor cliuues can shape
the des,inies Of parties or nations. A return
TO the old order OF things is az impossible as
was the return of the monarchy in France, after
the decree Of lis abolition by the National As.
scnbly As when that event gave recognition
to the revolution that was at work in France
parties resolved themselves into new elements
| and Jacohns. Girondns and Chonans fought
| fra;erni7ed and melted away with the progress
| Of events; So here. the decree of death passed
| at Baltimore ON the old democratic
party. gives recognition to the revelation
that il passing in our midst, and
renders impossible all reference to the things
| Of the old -egi,ac These belong 10 the dead