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

Is doubtful; but if not now, never. It's speedy
dissolution Is at hand, or complete recogni-
ton Of the guarantees of the constitution, which
is its only bond. Such is the alternative which
cannot longer be evaded by human ingenuity
Not only is revolution pending, but it is
actually begun, and making such progress as
no revolution ever made before. In six States
the federal forts have been seized by the State
authorities. In one hostile guns have been
directed against the United States flag, and a
ship with its troops on board driven back by
cannon balls. This attitude of South Carolina
has the sympathy, and will have the support, of
the vast majority Of the Southern people.
Two or three States have already Sc
ceded. Several others will be out of
the confederacy in a very few days. and the
whole South will be cut off before the 4th Of
March, and banded together in Southern
Union or in position to be confederated very
soon.
Yet, in the face Of these alarming develope-
ments, what are the republican party doing to
arrest the triumphant march of revolution?
Nothing whatever, but. on the contrary, every
thing to stimulate it. Mr. Lincoln and the lead
ers are too busy in dividing the spoils before
hand to pay much attention to passing events.
Mr.. Trumbull, in Congress, supposed to speak
the sentiments Of the President elect, dismisses
the question of revolution with the ludicrOus
remark that The secession movement Of South
Carolina is, in his judgment, NOTTINGHAM
observation which excited laughter, but which
was more a cause for tears If the ques-
ton were merely one about the forts,
| or the property of the federal government
within the limits Of South Carolina it
might be very easily settled. But it is of far
broader dimensions, embracing the separation
of fifteen States from the national confederacy;
and whether they have legal and constitu-
tional right to take the step or not is imma-
terial to the issue precipitated upon the coun-
try
What is the cause Of this calamitous condition
Of affairs? The adoption by the republican
party Of the Chicago platform, and stern refu-
sal to abandon the ground that party have
taken. The man who does not see
that the maintenance Of the Chicago platform
will result in the dissolution of the Union must
be blind to all the signs of the times Whether
or not it will also result in civil war depends
upon whether the North, or majority in Con-
gress, will insist on coercing the seeding
States. The Union is now practically dissolved
and unless the Chicago platform is aban-
doned, no power on earth can reunite the
severed fragments. Instead of doing this, the
republican journals, including the Tribune, are
urging preparations for war. And so much
exercised is our philosopher lest, by any posi-
bility a satisfactory compromise should be car
ried in Congress, and the impending danger
hanging over us like black thunder cloud
should be dissipated, he urges upon all the
fanatics throughout the country to petition
Congress against apeaceable settlement of the
national troubles.
Greeley says the HERALD, in calling, on the
leaders Of the republicans to abandon the
Chicago platform, demands from the party,
''not really Cancellation, but suicide" That
is strictly true, and no less a sacrifice can save
tho Union from being broken up into frag-
ments. The party is doomed to destruction in
any event, and it might as well make merit Of
necessity, and, by gracefully submitting to its
fate, avert bloody struggle, in which the
Chicago platform and its architects would be
scattered to the four winds Of heaven. As Jonah
was cast into the sea to appease the storm and
save the ship in which he sailed from wreck, so
is it necessary to throw overheard the republi-
can party to secure the safety Of the "ship Of
State" built by the sages and patriots Of 1887
There is this difference between the two
cases: whereas the prophet was miraculously
preserved in whales nav, to be disgorged on
the shore a living man, there can be no resur-
rcction for the republican party, no hope for it
now or hereafter.
And this is retributive justice The party il
| founded upon principles which abolish the
| constitution Of the United States. The sum
and substance of the Chicago platform is that
! every man. black as well as white, ought to be
| and must be free in every part of the Union;
that negro servitude Is incompatible with the
| free labor OF white men, and both kinds of
civilization cannot exist under the same 60
yernmcnt; that every negro In the United
States is entitled to freedom by law higher than
| the constitution Here, then, is revolutionary
| party by its own confession. Out Of its own
mouth il is judged. II impudently and au-
daciously avows that its object is to overthrow
the constitution; and the President elect the
man Of it, choice, has declared that he will dis
regard the constitution, as expounded by the
Supreme Court. This is what has alarmed the
South and produced a counter revolution,
menacing the whole country from Maine to
| Texas with civil war. The Chicago platform,
and the party standing upon the rotten struc-
ture, must, therefore, be demolished together.
| Better that q thousand platforms and thou.
sand parties should perish in succession than
that the temple Of liberty erected by Washing
| ton, and Madison and Jefferson and Hamilton,
and the other architects Of the confederacy,
should be laid in ruins and American citizens
wage bloody, fratricidal war against each
| other-the end Of which no man can foresec.
/ r;,no yvar urhar Graolov Ner,ot unop tho Mat