The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-18
The Great Re-Unton Party OF the Fu-
Observation-Disclosures OF the Republic.


The effect upon the political vision Of Mr..
Lincoln, of his progress from Illinois towards
the national capital, is one Of the most cheer
ing symptoms of the time. 1t is like the light
of the sun, upon one who has just emerged
from Egyptian darkness. 1t augurs well for
the future, and for the honesty of purpose with
which he is about to undertake the duties Of
the high position, in which he is soon to be
placed. Let the bright light of day continue
to break in upon him as he proceeds on his
way to Washington--a fresh ray here, another
at Philadelphia, and SO on, till his eyes are
wide open to the actual condition Of the ma
ton. So long as he remained at Springfield,
every avenue to his presence had been blocked
up by interested parties, and it was impossible
for him to become aware Of the true state of
feeling in the North and Of the dangers by
which the country is surrounded He had been
unable to complete his Cabinet and evidently
had no idea what course would be the wisest
to pursue, in view Of the exigencies of the
period. He departed from Springfield with an
invocation of the prayers OF his neighbOrs and
friends, that he might be endowed with the
strength sagacity and enerM, which will be
requisite in his position. Arrived at Indiana
polls, he gave proof Of that little knowledge
which is dangerous thing" by making CO.
ercion speech. which aroused the hopes of ia
natical incendiarsts in the North, and was in
terpreted to be an endorsement of General
SCOTS programme OF military dcspotism. A
little further on, he moderated his expressions;
| but still believed. at Cincinnati, that nobody
was suffering" and that the clouds were
| cphemeral and of no serious import,
which were visible in the horizon.
Meanwhile, as he journeys onward, the
audiences that press around him increase
from hundreds to thousands, and from thou
sands to tens OF thousands. BY the time he
has reached Buffalo, popular opinion had begun
to sound in his ears with voice of thunder;
and it is proof of great innate caution and
prudence, that he has shown himself alive to
its utterances.
The Buffalo speech of Mr.. Lincoln is of n
totally different character from those that pre-
coded il. lie brings in mature reflection to
tone down the acerbitics Of previous days,
and tacily repudiates the use of aggressive
sectional measures. "Whcn it is considered"
he says, ''that these difficulties are without pre-
ccdent, and never have been acted on by any
individual situated as / an, it is most proper
i should wait and sec the Developments, aud
get all the light possible, so that when | DO
speak authoritatively, | may be as near right
as possible This declaration was received
by the audience before him with tremendous
applause: and il encouraged him, with the new
light that is bursting upon his mind and the GER
tainty that he will be compelled to disappoint
the wishes ofradical abolitionists to continue
"When shall speak authorita,ively ! hope to
say nothing inconsistent with the constitution,
the Union, the rights Of all the States, Of each
State and of each section Of the country, and
not to disappoint the reasonable expectations of
those who have confded to me their votes. In
this connection allow me to say that you, as a
portion Of the great American people, need
only to maintain your composurc, stand up to
your sober convictions Of right, to your obliga-
lions to the constitution, ard act in accordance
with those sober convictions, and the clouds
which now arise in the horizon will be dispell
ed, and we shall have q bright and glorious fu.
ture, and when this generation has passed away
tens of thousands will inbabit this country
where only thousands inhabit il now"
Nothing could be more reassuring than these
words. They betoken "sober second thought"
and, probably, advices from his friends n,
Washington, which bode well for the
peace and tranquility Of the repub.
lie. They give importance to. the pre-.
dictions Of our Washington correspon lent
in yesterdays HERALD. That the Wsdes,
Summers, Fessendens, Hales, Greeleys, Phil
lipses and Garrsons OF the republican party
are to be thrown overheard, and that "the
country will not be permitted to go to ruin at
the behest Of the Massachusetts, abolitionist
school Of politicians" The most desperate ef
forts are being made by republican radicals to
force upon the incoming administration, the
adoption of coercive policy. Not only every
caucus that is held at Washington has recently
been scene Of strife: but, under the leader
ship of the Senator from Maine, II appears to
be fully resolved on that Mr.. Seward and his
associates shall be openly denounced as traitors
upon the very earliest opportunity. The demo-
cratic party is destroyed, and II is only ques-
ton of a few days, how soon Its successful rival
shall be split into dozen fragments The Chi
cago platform IL already regarded by those who
| created II a. the icssil Of bygone time, which
mas served Its purpose; and, under the auspices
| oil Umon-loving patriots Of ell sections, broad
outlines are being formed for new parties divi-
sions and ties ut the basis of which will lie the