The New York herald., 1862-11-12
American Democracy in Europe.

Potnn' WHICH nas usurped the place oil dem0cra-
CT and republicanism, and which sets our con-
stitution and laws at defiance greatly nistnder-
stand the real state of affairs in this country
BY an illus ion not at all uncommon to the E,-
ropean mind, they confound President Lincoln
with jeff Davis, and the loyal States with those
which have seeded, and imagine that we are
suffering from the very evils which the rebels
have inflicted upon themselves. The people of
England especially cannot be made to compre.
hend that we of tho Northern States are affected
by the war only in about the same degree that
England was affected by the effort of the British
government to crush ont the rebellion in In
dia. With the exception of an occasional rebel
raid few miles over the border We see and
hear nothing Of the actual presence Of war.
Our homes are invaded by no hostile armies.
Our cities arc not depepulated by conseriptions,
Our places OF amusement are better attended
than ever. Our business and commercial and
manufacturing interests are undisturbed. No for
eigner landing upon our shores could be in
ducsd to believe that we were not in a state of
pers, or through their friends in our armies. is
this great civil war brought home to the masses
Of our people. Europeans distress themselves
about us q great deal more than we are dis
trcsscd about ourselves
That tremendous bugbear OF arbitrary @rcsts
and the suspension Of tie writ of habcas cor
pus, which appears 50 frightful to transatlantic
observers, is very harmless sort Of humbug
when viewed close at hand. Two or three Of
- IL
about it just before the elections; but this was
mere elcctioncering trick and should deceive
nobody. Fort Lafayette is not Bastil~. nor are
the warrants of provost marshals modern lettres
de cdchet. Men arc not seized in the street and
dragged OF TO prison or impressed into the
army. Our journals are not muzzlcd nor our
orators tongueticd by tyrannical government.
This kind Of business is exclusively monopo-
lized by the rebels and confined to the rebel
States. jeff Davis, not President Lincoln. is
the despot whom Europeans should assail If
General Butler makes his power felt severely
and suddenly in New Orleans, rebels. and not
loyal men, are the sufferers. The few arbitrary
arrests which have occurred at the North are
laughed at, the victims being insignificant per-
sympathes; and even these arrests are invest-
gated and annulled almost Immediately We
assure our dear European friends that their
sensibilities are unduly excited or our
behalf. We have no need whatever Of their
pity. and eau only smile at their rntirne-
ly grief for our imaginary woes. The
poor Southerners, who are oppressed by
Al.
the contrary. really deserving Of commisera.
ton. They are deprived Of even the necessi-
ties Of life. while we have all its comforts aad
It's luxuries. They are no longer ileemen.
while we hold all our rights and liberties in
tact They are forced to fight for the bare
privilege OF existence. while we enjoy life ex-
eeedinglyS and have plenty of time TO devote to
lis amenities and amusemcnts Tf our finances
are little derangcd. and our paper twenty or
thirty per cent below specie. how much worse
of are the Confederates. With gold at one hun.
drcd and thirty per cent premium. On the
whole, therefore, we advise our English friends
to give their sympathies where they do their
instance--to JEFF. Davis and his starving sub
jects.
There can be no better proof that instead of
reign Of terror, we really have at she North q
reign of prosperity and comparative peace
than the conduct and results Of the recent cleo.
tions. Within six weeks past two-thirds OF the
Central States have expressed at the polls their
opinion in regard to the policy and manage
ment Of this war. In all these States. and
IL, Ia, tIx.s
bitter and excited. and on both sides the iisci |
pline of party was maintained with unusual
strictncss. The whole course of The present
was reviewed and criticised by
public journals and political orators with un-
freedom and severity. The Prssi-
dent, his Cabinet, the generals in and ont Of |
the army, the abolition policy, the conserva-
tive policy, the Illegal arrests, the suspension
of the writ Of habeas corpus, our relations |
with foreign Powers-in short, the whole |
subject OF the past errors, present effects, |
logical tendencies and future results of the |
course adopted by the administration and Of |
the acts Of its representatives--were fully, ably
and unreservedly discussed. This spirited can
vass over, the election ensued, and the people |
vi cNeTy Siate, cAcCpe ioW"f "tShiSsH anu |
even these implicitly |
by their decreased republican majorities--
openly condemned the administration, its imbe-
clity, vacillations and radical measures and |
declared decidedly and emphatically in favor
Of the original. conservative constitutional plat
form Of the President and vigorous, constitu.
tional prosecution Of the war. Did the ovcrn-
ment attempt TO interfere with this canvass, to
interrupt these elections to prevent the express
sion Of the will of the people? Was any editor,
or any orator, or any legal voter. arbitrarily
arrested during the canvass OF at the election?
We're soldiers stationed at the polls and the
people forced to vote for the administration Al
The point of the bayoneH Was there any coup