The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-15

once her respectful attention, and to the prOba-
bility of disturbance Of the balance of power
In Europe against any coalition to break up the
great balance OF power in America.
Our Ola Politicians and Young Generals.
Not the least curious incident Of these times
which arc fruitful of noticeable things, is the
manner in which our old fogy politicians of all
parties and classes, have been buried beneath
the ruins Of their most cherished projects. Like
an unskilful engineer, they have been hOsted
by their own petards. The plans which they
had carefully arranged for their own aggrandize-
ment--the anti-slavery agtation-thc repeal
of the Missouri Compromise formation of
republican, anti-slavery party-the discussions
fomented for personal purposes in the de-
mOcratic ranks--all have eliminated in a
civil war which has not only swept all
these issues completely out of sight, but
has also entirely killed the men who
made and supported them. We have passed,
as by magic, from the era of black coats to that
of epaulettes and gold lace-from the era of
party intrigue to that of real warfare-from the
era of politicians to that of generals.
Old fogyism of every kind is now practically
dead, and Young America has taken the field.
The public, North or South, cares no more for
the Presidential aspirations of Breckenridge,
Hunter, Seward; Seymour and others of that
ilk. Mcclellan, Beauregard, Banks, Johnston,
Fremont, Kershaw, Rosecrans, Bragg and
Siegel are now the men of the hour. Military
proclamatons and general orders usurp the
interest of party platforms and political
speeches. 1t is bulletins from the scat of
war, and not political gossip, which the
public demand. The newspapers are the indices
and the mirrors of the time, and we have only
to refer to them, and notice what proportion
the war news holds to the political, to ascertain
into what complete oblivion politicians have
fallen, and how completely our young generals
are masters of the situation. The people will
not listen to politician nowadays unless he
talks about the war, and hardly then. The
stern logic of facts and the simple rhetoric of
the incidents of civil war outrival the most
polished Of orations, and SCOTS Tactics is con-
sdered the most interesting reading
At the South it is no longer the Toombses, the
Masons, the Hunters, the Wises, the Slidells, the
Bayards, or the Chesnuts who occupy the
public mind and attract the public atten-
ton. Most of these gentry are never heard
of at all, and if they are noticed it is
not in connection with political schemes, but
with war movements. Chestnut is firing pri-
vate cannon at Fort Sumter, or Wise is calling
for large dinner knives and old muskets in
Virginia, or Floyd is playing hide and seek
with ragged army in the Kanawha valley.
The Beauregards, the Johnstons, the Kershaws
of the South are the men most regarded and
hOnored. Even JEFF. Davis would be lost to
sight if he did not put on a military coat and
mount white war hOrse and even then he is
of secondary Importance UNTIL for day or two,
people bother themselves with the question whe-
therhe is dead or alive. All the voters have turn
ed soldiers; the arts political have changed to
the arts military; the politicians have either
joined the army or are completely forgotten.
Here at the North the same rule holds good
The spirits which the politicians have raised
have either abandoned them, like Manfred's, or
destroyed them, like Fausts. OF politicians
in the army, like Cochrane, Wilson, Sckles and
the like, and it is noticeable that we hear of
comparatively few of them there. Conventions
and speeches intrude themselves once in a
while, but only as episodical TO the grand epic
Of the war. When have we heard last of Blu
chanan? Does any one know anything
of either of The Chicago candidates
except those whom Lincoln has provided with
Cabinet seat? Where is Everett the orator,
Ledger author and former Presidential candi-
date? Where il Cass, or Van Buren,, or Fill
more, who made party, or Pierce, who killed
one? These men are as completely dead as if
struck by n thunderbOlt, and yet they are the
very Vulcans who, working as they thought for
their own advantage, forged the bolts which de-
stroyed them. Only those who were Young
enough and sagacous enough to don soldiers
clothes aud go off TO the wars have escaped this
oblivion. Thus Butler steps into Major Gen
cralship Fremont declines foreign mission to
take care of Missouri; and in Sickles, Schenck,
Cochranc and Others we have politicians turned
generals and colonies, as illustrations of this
truth.
1t is noticeable, also, that the men who now
hold the reins of power are generally young
between the ages, say, of thirty and forty. This
is particularly the case on the Southern side,
where there are very few old men in command,
and these, for the most part, in subordinate DO
sitions. At the North only two or three vetc-
rams manage to cling hold to the plank
Of Office with sufficient energy and vigor.
Dix, an instance of reformed politician,
is just in this situation, and may drop
off at Baltimore into the Chesapeake any
day, and will not be missed. Several army
officers are in this same position, and have
young Mcclellan, and young Fremont and
young Banks ranking above. them. Our veteran
Lieutenant General Scott has ceased to take
any active part in the war, but gives good
advice to the young generals he has educated
to do the work, and stands ready to pat each
of his boys on the back when he comes back to
the veteran General with fine victory. General
Wool, another veteran officer, is sort of con-
Meeting link between the old school and the
new, with the experience of the former and the
energy Of the latter; but even he organizes