The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-22
The Presidential Question in the United
States.


From the london Chronicle, June
Ono of the two great parties which divide the United
States is fairly in the Geld for the Presidency, with
both platform and candidate. The Republican Convcn-
fion which met at Chicago has nominated M Lincoln,
whose name vas until very recently, little known be
yoBd the bounds o his State and has scarcely been
heard this side the Atlantic The party conforms 10
well established practice In selecting candidate Of this
comparative obscuri,y, and the practice itself Is almost
inevitable result OF the extension and dcve
lopement Of the republic Whilst the great mcn OF the
Revolution and the school OF statesmen trained under
their immediate guidance lasted politicians were
marked out for the Presidency by great services.
which the people gratefully recognized and the compare
lively limited extent Of the Union gave less scope for
play OF purely sectional interests But. that
has increased, interests widely differing although often
combining under the same party flag have assumed
Importance the national legislation, aud each section
has found leader unwilling TO recognize the pre-emi
Of the leaders Of other sections The attempt
reconcile these coutendng claims has generally pr ID
impossiby. None Of the claimants have been willing
to the selection Of rival however pre-emi-
tho general opinion; and all sections have united
their SURFACES upon some whose previous
had excited rivalry whose choice mortiaed all as
prants alike. Mr.. Buchanan Is the only President for
many years of European fame.
There probably. assume, reason active
this inevitable rivalry in inducing the republicans OF
Chicago 10 throw overheard with such aacrty Mr. Sew
ard, the recognized leader Of their party and the cand
date whose nomination generally expected The
party has discovered that moderation alone give IL
the victory Rampant aboionism and violent abuse Of
slaveowncrs coupled with threats Of ansavery lcgsa
ation. may excite rapturous applause in New England
town hall but will disgust the bulk OF the voters In the
central States. upon whose decision the victory depends
II has therefore adopted moderate platform, fully
please within their borders and only asking Congress
10 prohibit the South changing its tactics, asks
Congress 10 protect slavery In the Territories Mr. Seward
has probably been sacrificed TO this necessity He
- not indeed, Just now very extreme abotionst; he
has lately modified Of his expressions which gave
most offence. and IL may be quite true that Mr.. Lincoln
has spoken much more violently But Mr. Seward's
words taken hold Of they have been the subject Of
comment cverywhere-the standard OF one party, and
the target OF another. He has been judged by them
mems adoption Of party livery has been based upon
them; and even II should be shown that Mr. Lincoln
dStanCCd IL former
little harm II his mvectiyes are dug up 1ndiscrcet
words which will dcthrone the leader of party do not
stand In the way Of subordnaes elevation to The va
cant post.
coins clevaionand who pretend to understand all
the wheels within wheels which work American poll
tics fhc possesses recommendations which apparently
will quite compensate In the public estimation for his
scanty experience n federal cgsatorsomc years
service in the House Of Representatives. He Is self
made let captous critics rail as they will at Anne
rcan institutions they mt least possess the great
merit &C giving all men pretty equal chance OF power
and wealth. self made man y always fsvorite with
a people of self made They see In his elevation
| recognition Of their own power; they have sort
fellow feeling with s, him The ,. lac, that ,h Nj,
AZ he says himself, he worked In whiskey
stGl-wiI do him good rather than harm ;
coin could bca, any Of the boys In wrestling running
pitching qucits tossing 'ccud ruin liquor than
all the bows Of the together" and presided horse
race or st fight with admirable dignity and impartality,
then the republican nominee is just the man 10 be
dangerous opponent In the States ~ viii be very hard
20 beat man with recommendations which have
thing Of the Jackson stamp. The people always like
hearty man. who do the things they take pleasure IN
themselves better than they do, and who shows q
borough enjoyment Of their pleasures and apprcc atio
OF their trials With these popular qualifications Mr..
Lincoln who " good stump speaker and capital story
elicr s not al all unlikely 70 lind himself host Of the
White House
He certainly win do 20 " the great democratic party
docs not make up differences Cordially united,
carry the election; divided, " makes present OF
the "spoils 10 the republicans. II VIII require all the tact
and energy Of lis leaders 10 accomplish this union The
friends Of "squatter sovereignty and Mr. Douglas show
no signs of yielding aud little evidence OF desire for
compromise is offered by the extreme south II the con
test last much longer both sections viii becnc excited,
and an arrangement will be mscssble II u dsagrcca.
bic 10 note this division cf party which represents the
principle OF free trade In the Union, aud almost en-
crosses s statesmanshp all the that the difference
does not 10 be worth fighting about, especially
In presence OF powerful opposition. But, whatever
may be the issue Of the contest. the r.ssy Of IN,
tnoo will not be In the least affected struggles like
thoee which have rendered Kansas famous NAV be renew
cd In other Territories Congress may take upon itself
10 Determine the fate ef slavery In them IN case We
mar rest assured will the freedom Of each state uphold
m6fv, or abandon Tvs institutions AZ Us owa pleasure,
be inrngcd The continuance Of Contest which Affects
urosy the great of internal progress. which
press for consideration, necessarily tells upon country
which has such intimate commercial relations with tho
United States as England and Tor own sake, as well