The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-01

Tor the last thirty years is without parallel in
the history Of the world. From third rate
the republic has become first rate Power.
Its population from ten millions has grown to
thirty. IT has been the refuge of downtrodden
humanity in the British empiretand throughout
all Europe. Labor, surplus and redundant in
other lands, has migrated to the New World,
and found ample and remunerative employ
ment. The emigrants from the Old World have
not only brought their labor to the American
market for. the rapid development of the re-
sources Of the country, but they have brought
vast amount of money, which has been en-
ployed in the same work. and has contributed
to swell the aggregate wealth of the republic.
These results have been brought about by
the practical genius and talent Of the country,
constructing railroads and canals, improving
the navigation of the great water courses, in
venting and multiplying steamboats,, and other
appliances for the advancement of the useful
arts; developing agriculture to high state Of
perfection, and thus creating vast wealth az
the capital for manufactures and for trade
and commerce which have entered into sue
cessful rivalry with the first maritime nations
Of the earth, whose long possession had given
them so great an advantage in the race.
Thus its practical men have made the country
what it is. But while it has been going forward
| with unprecedented activity in all the elements
Of material prosperity, its political condition
has been every day becoming more and more
degraded, falling into the hands of lawyers
without clients illiteratc loafers, professional
vagabonds and demagogues North and South.
Such was the wonderful prosperity Of the coun-
try, an the scope afforded for the pursuit of
wealth, that men of talent, industry and integ-
rity avoided politics, and left them to be man
aged by rogues and rowdies Corruption at
first stealthily worked its way into the govern
ment, and afterwards rushed headong like q
mountain torrent, manifesting itself in every
branch Of cur complex political system--in the
town council, in the Mayoralty, in the judca-
ture, in the State Legislature, in the State ex-
ecutive, in the halls of Congress- and at last in
the very Cabinet of the federal government.
Men of the worst character, and the most igno-
rant and degraded, have been chosen to repre-
sent the people.
This unfortunate state of political affairs was
highly favorable to the operations of the con-
spirators, North and South, who combined to
break up the Union and to form two govern
ments-oRe In which there should be only free
labor, and the other in which the labor should
be only slave. The politicians at the North
played into the hands Of the politicians at the
South and the traitors Of The South played into
the hands of the traitors at the North. The
secessionists and the abolitionists played into
each others hands, so as to bring about dis
ruplion Of the government and q division of the
country into two republics, in each of which
these men might respectively rule supreme.
Shn ont from power and pclffor the Union
sentiment was too strong for them both North
| and South-they calculated upon having mo-
nopoly Of the loayes and fishes, as well as Of the
honors. in their own sections, il they conld only
! effect partition of the republic into two--onc
!, North and one South.
The Vaccinations Of these corrupt politicians
have resulted in civil war. But that is the very
cure that has become necessary to destroy the
corruption that was eating ont the yitals Of the
nation and undermining all public virtue. 1t
will sweep away the old rotten politicians as
the devourng 'aInes in the prairie consume the
stubble and the grass, leaving not 4 vestige be-
hind; and good and great men will take their
places in the councils of the government and
in the administration OF the political affairs Of
the country. Thus viii the war kndlc noble
ambition which will burn out the vices and
meanness which have disgraced and nearly
ruined the country, and restore the republic to
healthy condition, in which the political con-
troll will be in the hands OF practical men and
men Of genius. The day Of demagogues and OF
return.