The New York herald., 1863-10-31
The Approaching rrcsidcntial Eiec-

The Approaching rrcsidcntial Eiec-
zion.
The squabble between rival politicians about
city railroads, which is more generally known
as the New York State election, will be over by
Wednesday next The popular impression
about this election is that the republicans
will carry the rural districts and the democrats
the large cities. Whether or not this will be
so nobody seems to know accurately-and GER
tainly nobody cares, except the political rail
road managers. The result will be about the
same in either case. In fact, this election Is
like scrub race between couple of knock
kneed, broken -winded pelters, got up to amuse
the crowd while the preparations for the grand
Presidential sweepstakes are being completed.
There is a great deal of shouting and laughter,
and considerable money may change hands;
but no one feels any very great interest in the
match. se-sss f..oeE Is fsa
But the question Of the next Presi-
dency is already assuming an unusual i'm
portance, both with tho politicians and the peo-
pie. It is evident that the pending quarrel
between Chase, as the champion of the radicals
and the Blair family. as tho champion OF the
conservatives, must be brought to definite
issue before the republican nomination can be
settled. Chase has been wirepulling and pipe
laying for about three years past, and is now
virtually upon the stump. The Blairs are also
ding-donging away In their customary style,
and, judging from tho recent repulse Of the
Missouri radicals by President Lincoln, they
have made quite decided impression. Seward
is apparently holding himself in reserve at
present, ready to come into action by and by,
wherever and whenever he can do the most
damage to the radical faction. Meanwhile the
democracy are rather uncertain where they
stand, and are very sensibly disposed to
await further developments, and see which
way the tide Of public sentiment will
turn. They have peace leg and war leg;
but, like a stork by frogpond, they are as yet
undecided which to rest upon.
The recent elections give cold comfort to
both republicans and democrats. The republi-
cans carried these elections by assuming false
names, shufiing off Of their original platform,
and supporting candidates who had been life
long opponents of the distinctive measures of
the republican party. Such victories as these
do not rejoice the victors dishearten the losers,
or afford any clue to the prospects of the flu
ture. The people simply decided in these cleo
tions to support the present administration
while it is in power. No pledges were given
as to what the people would do when
they had chance to drive this administra-
ton out of power and elect another and q
better set of officials. The only plain and
indisputable lessons OF the elections were
that the masses are in favor of the
war and opposed to dishonorable peace, and
that they will not allow an administration 70
be interfered with and embarrassed 90 long as
1t b legally, If not morally, entitled TO an OPP
portunity 70 atouefor its errors and work ont
its salvation. Beyond this the elections prom
ised nothing. Indeed, many republicans have
q ranking suspicion that their successes were
only ominous Of future defeats. aud they trem-
BILE lest the people were willing to help the ad-
ministration along another year upon the same
principle that physician gives stimuiants to .
moribund patient, In order 10 keep him alive
until the predestined hour Of his decease.
We know the sentiments Of tho public, and
can solve this political problem. President
Lincoln has the approaching Presidential elec-
ton In his own hands. Al soon as these
scrub races are over and the track Is
cleared we shall 6nd only two political
parties in the field. These parties will be the
conservative and The radical. Both will be In
favor Of tho war; but each will propose to con-
duct It In different way and for different ends.
II Mr. Lincoln now joins bis fortunes with tho
conservatives, and henoeforward prosecutes the
war vigorously and successfully for tho sole
object of the restoration Of the Union, be can
be reelected; or, If he declines renomina-
ton, any prominent conservative member OF
bis Cabinet can easily step from Secretary's
desk to the Presidents chair. II, on tho other
hand the administration should persist in its
past fanatical folly, or II IL should lapse from
its present repeutant state to the worse follies
which the radical leaders have planned, no one
connected with 1t will be eligible for the next
Presidency. The people will have nothing to
do with such obstinate and irreclaimable sim
ners. They will listen to no excuses, no ex.
plantations, no apologies. Washington will be
swept 90 clean Of radicals and republicans thai
| 1t will require an afadavit 10 convince q disin
terested observer that such people ever helt
oface under this government The masses hav'
laid up their wrath against the day of wrath
aud when that day comes there will be gene
raj political damna ton.
We exhort President Lincoln and his Cabi
net, therefore, 70 let politics alone and atten,
to the war. Whatsoever their hands and 10 d,
in the military and psval department., let thsn
do II with oil their might. The war is the ke,
10 the approaching Presidential election. Vic
tories will win votes; defeats will annihilat
all tas! s!auP orators 'pa stump jougnsls g.
possibly accomplish. We tell the republican
candidly that they have no hope except in end
ing the war quickly and gloriously. The,
have squandercd blsod like water and none,
like dirt during the pest three years, and the,
i have but one wear loft To atone for and eac.,