The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-13
Pat Changes snd Present Ttmss-Ta s
New Ara or Political ACTIVITY.

New Ara or Political ACTIVITY.
One of the most remarkable characteristics
of history is the singular rapidty with which,
at certain periods of time, life developes itself,
and ideas, men and ns'ious undergo change.
Wherever we look back upon the past we see
lopg stretches of time through which men
plodded on in the paths Of their fathers, aud
The development Of things exhibits little pro.
gress. Suddenly every thing wakes into activi-
| ~. Men aud nations seem awakened to new
| lie, almost in a moment, aud in few years
| changes which it was believed could be aohiev-
ed only by the lapse Of generations, find them
selves realized. These periods of activity are
usually denominated by some name, as the era
Of Napoleon, of Frederick the Great, Of Peter
The Great, Of Charlemague, derived from one Of
their Chief spirits, who las been more properly
] 'be creature of the time than the author of the
changes which the new life wrought If
we look hack upon our own national his.
tory we shall find that our political
Development is marked By the same short
periods of active and rapid change with the
same long intervals of working out in qu'et,
that mark the Development of general history
Our fathers did not become revolutionary
by slow and gradual process, but it was the
work Of a comparatively short period of time,
when taken in connection with the slow methods
of disseminating ideas in that day. From the
Declaration of Independence to the close of
Wsshipgton's administration, the revolution
gradually worked out its results. Soon after
bis retirement men found themselves sud
denly arranged In new parties, cousummating
with the triumph of the Jeffersonian ideas
Gradual development without change con-
tbued till the retirement of Mr.. Monroe, when
the year 1924 exhibited the same sudden ac-
dvi,y of men aud ideas that marked the year
1900 Those who had long stood side by side
on questions of policy in trade, government
and social organization, suddenly found them
selves ranged in antagonistic position, while
old antsgonisms fell with equal rapidity into
new affiliations A few short years were requir-
ed to enable the new ideas to transfuse the
slow between men, and thought travelled by
stage coach and private correspondence.
II is precisely one Of these new awakenings
and changes that we are now passing through,
and II will be 20 much the moro rapid In It's
operations as the new instruments are supe-
rior to the old ones. The electric telegraph
the lightning press and the railroad locomo
tive, material as they are, are wheeling the
public mind into new positions, that old lead
ers can neither recognise nor comprehend
The political managers that went down tt
Charleston few weeks since, believing tina
they were merely to 60 through struggle fo
the control Of strong party organization, ar
aslonIsbed " fnd themselves with only few
personal adberents, while the masses Of the
people ere entirely free from their control
Those who met few days since at Baltimore
believing that the masses would listen to old
cries that had once stirred the heart Of every
man, are surprised at the popular listlessnes'
to their call. Politicians wait anxiously fol
the new gatherings ct Chicago, Richmond and
Baltimore; but no observing mind can be ig
norant of the fact that the people look more
with feeling Of curiosity to see the antics thu
would-be leaders will cut than with any long
ing 10 bear the fat that may be given out
The fact is, old parties and old convention
have had their days.
These disturbing influences, this suddeI
spirit Of change, these seen but Ill comprs
hepded causes, await the action Of the con
ventions to come. just as they awaited thos
that have passed. II matters little whether til
leaders at Chicago quarrel or agree the sam
results will attend their action that attends
hat Of those at Charleston and Baltimore. Th
spirit Of change IL rife In their ranks. Rad
calism and conservatism, whiggery and d.
; mocracy, free traders and protec.ionists, fana
tics and the Indifferent, are all alive, and ar
rapidly wheeling into new positions an
changes. II the conservative leaders anon
the black republicans agree to support rad
cal nominee at Chicago, or the radicals con
sentative one, the result will be the same. The.
cannot keep the masses within the old raaks
and the party will obey the ruling spirit Of th
time, and disintegrate, no matter what cours
the leaders take.
Impelled by this new and philosophical.
correct state Of things, the great mass Of Ii
people will wait until all the leaders, old an,
new, have brought forward their programme
and proclaimed their theories, before they vii
gather strongly TO the support Of any. OF on
thing every politician may be assured: tn
direction Of the new and rising tide 10 tn
popular mind IL toward conservatism, and I'm
bued with the spirit Of preservation Of th
constitution and the Union. The more radios
the position that any leader or party takes, III
sooner will bis or iu fall come. No man ss'
this more clearly than William H. sswsrt
when. returning, after several months sbsenc
in Europe, be was astonished 70 find how va
the change that bad grown up In that shot
time. Ambition prompted him to the effort
change his position too, and hence the wild
| aiNsranca hetuaon his brutal and blood