The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-07
Breckenridge an the Fteld-Ihe ifu
Issue, and How 60 Meet IL.

are taking position, ana showing the calibre
of their metal
II has been claimed that candidates and men
of high position should put themselves upon
their dignity. and not come into the field where
the smoke and CRIME of the fight abound. and
where deadly blows are given and received.
This theory may do very well for the joust or
tournament Of an ordinary political contest,
when party lines are sharply drawn, aud the
partisans Of each candidate come up ranged
with discipline under the minor leaders;
but in great contest like that which is now
going on, whore the constitution, laws and the
very order Of society are all at stake, where
party lines are broken up, and faetioul
leaders of every shape and hue are rang
ing local and petty contests for their
own particular benefit, and all lose sight of or
abandon the true point Of attack, it is not only
fitting, but it becomes every statesman and
leader to lay aside minor considerations and
bring all the power he can to the field. In o
contest like this it Is requisite that the heaviest
metal should be brought out and laid to bear
30 that it may do good service itself. and at the
same time give direction to the efforts Of the
disordered and distracted masses. 1t is this ne
cessity that has brought two Of the candidates
on one side and the greatest leader on the other
to exhibit their mental calibre and which will
yet bring out others.
The two leading candidates of the fractured
democracy have now exhibited their strength,
Mr.. Douglas on many minor occasions and Mr..
Breckenridge in one great effort the day before
yesterday at Ashland. Both are estimable gen.
tlemen in private life, and good debaters on
particular questions in the halls of Congress;
but both have mistaken the issue and the results
Of the present contest. Instead of rising equal to
the occasion, and levelling their guns against
the common enemy, which threatens to revolu-
tonize the whole system Of our government,
they have brought into the national field their
own petty party Hght, and aim their blows at
each other. In this both have made a great
mistake, and in continuing their party fight
now they are only driving the people from
each other without strengthening themselves
BY pursuing this course they voluntarily SUBJ
side into the positions of leaders of factions,
and, 30 far as in them lies, abandon the victory
to the common enemy. Mr.. Douglas announces
his intention to 60 to Pennsylvania and endea-
vor to break up the conservative fusion there.
By so doing he merely strives TO throw the
victory into Lincoln's hands. Such course is
not the part Of great leader or great states.
man.
In bis recent speech Mr.. Breckenridge has
exhibited similar weakness. The burthen Of
ii Is the quarrel over squatter sovereignty,
which has broken up the democratic party, and
In continuing that quarrel the leaders only
prove that the party ought to have broken
up, and that the national sentiment
must seek some other groundwork Of organiza-
ton. The issue Of to-day Ia not the question
Of slavery in the Territories. That question Is
settled practically, II not In the abstract The
true issue has been presented by the black re
publicans in their announced determination to
revolutionize the entire policy Of the federal
government, to make that policy deadly hostile
to the social organization Of fifteen Of our sister
States, and TO foster an agitation of the ques-
ton Of slavery itself, wherever II exists, which
must produce the most destructive results Of
every interest North or South. This Is the issue
that Is presented to the country, and which
would be rejected by an overwhelming vote II
the several leaders opposed to it would lay
aside their insane chickering's.
The victory is an easy one II the conserva-
tive masses combine. New York, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey can be carried against the
black republicans, for in neither Of these States
have the abolitionized fanatics majority; but
in order to do so the people must determine to
meet the true question, without regard TO
whether Breckenridge or Douglas is right as to
the dead issue Of squatier sovereignty. II Is
the constitution and the equality Of the States
that IL TO be defended, and not the rotten re
mains OF the Kansas agitation, or the future OF
half q dozen Territories, whose social organiza-
ton has been already determined by other in
Huences than abstract Legislation. Let the con-
seryative masses Of New York and Pennsylva-
MIA hold TO their determination TO vote . COM
mon electoral ticket against the radical revolu-
ZIONIST Lincoln, and his defeat will be a.
thorough and a. conclusive @ was that Of
General Scott eight years ago.