The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-02
rresiaen tisl Nomfna ons-Ths Prfnci-
pies Involved.


negatives Of noble and .sclf-sacrifcing patd-.
otism, that period has now arrived in the his
tory OF this country. Let us look for few
moments at the prospect Of having candi-
dates for the Presidency before the people
next fall who can command the sufrages of
the true citizens of the republic.
Two national conventions have already been
held and two nominations for the Presidency
made. One convention at Baltimore nonIi-
mated Abraham Lincoln for reelection, and
another at Cleveland, Ohio, nominated Gene
raj Fremont Both these candidates are con-
sidered exceedingly popular among their
friends and partisans. One, as the present
incumbent, has had the enormous power and
patronage of the government in his hands for
nearly four years; and it would be strange
if he were not popular among certain classes.
The other is popular as the representative
of the ideas of peculiar class Of people. Yet,
| when we examine their nominations by the
light of experience, we find they rest upon
principles that have brought the country to
its present deplorable condition. They have
been effected by small politicians following III
the footsteps of those who for thirty years
have been the managers of the government
| The Revolution of 1776 produced galaxy
of statesmen who set the machinery of
the government III motion, and presented
sample of national greatness unrivalled In the
+! history of the world. The experience Of the
last thirty years proves that the types Of the
great men of the Revolution have disappeared
and that their places are supplied by a race
| Of small men and petty denagogues, whose
selfishness and imbeciity and utter want Of
! principle would annihilate any tree govern
ment that ever enjoyed the smiles of Heaven.
! Commencing with Van Buren, in 1886, we
find political cunning, whose object was to
| retain or to transmit power, the active prin-
| ciple OF his administration; then we had
| Tyler-in the shoes Of the pure but weak old
Harrison with his petty guard Of political
| worshippers; then came Polk, third rate
| lawyer aud politician, who would have been
| swamped hinself and submerged to an I'M
| tathomable depth the party of which he be-
cano the leader had it not been for Andrew
Jackson, who was providentially permitted TO
live and impart to the early stages Of Folks
administration some rays Of his own great
| genius and stern and inaeMble integrity
| Passing over the term of the mild and istless
| Fillmore, who succeeded Taylor after the
| death OF that brave old man had been
encompassed by the political harpies that
| infested the seat Of government from the
! moment Of his inauguration until he was
mod in avid JofI i1 rf,.fi
we come TO ADMINISTRATIONS The character Of
which is still fresh in the minds Of most Of
our readers those of poor Pierce, laundering
Buchanan and what we have seen Of that of
the vulgar Joker, Old Abe, all Of which, jun
bled together. would not make an adIninistra-
ton worthy the reputation Of any decent
statesman.
Tie conventions that have already nomi-
! mated candidates seem not to have realized
| the fact that The country has reached the turn
| ing point in It's history that the vital cues
| ton Of It's future national existence was in
yolved IL their deliberations and that, If they
wished 70 perpetuate The name and the pros
| pcrity 81 the nation, they must sink al party
| ties and calculations, and present for the
suilagcs Of the people candidates above fear
and above reproach. They did not seeGl to
be aware that different men were demanded
BY The present fearful crisis to assume the
helm ard steer the ship OF State safely among
the breakers this are foatning around ii.
Hence their failure TO make suitable nomi-
nations, end hence it viii be seen that their
aspirations for future political distinction and
power VIII be disappointed.
Now We come to the remaining convention,
which is to decide, for veal or woe, the des-
tiny Of the republic unless the people arouse
70 a sense Of the alarming exigency and norni-
mite IN independent candidate themselves.
The Chicago Convention meets the latter part
of ;his month, and anxious eyes are turned
towards il from every section. While hoping
for the best, and praying that wisdom and
patriotism may distinguish its proceedings, we
regret to say there are signs that this conyen-
ticn like The two others, viii be but political
| machine, managed by few small men, and
| ment. There are indications thet some poor.
\ dwelling politician VIII be the nominee
| Some such man as poor Pierce, who opened
| the door to rebellion or some sipersn6uated
remnant Of past oge like Judge Samuel Mel
son: or some such heavy specimen Of armed
neutrality as Guthrie, Of Kentucky; or the
massive politician, Dean Richmond, Of New
| York. or some Pennsylyania lawyer or Con-
| necticut soldier Of past renovn. who have
been repudiated by their States, there Is much
reason 70 fear, viii be the candidate OF the
convention What is the duty Of the Ameri-
can people in such an eyent' II is to take the
au.gement Of the mex. Presidential eloc-
ton in thor own hands, kick ont, 81 thoy
would hounds, the barking and grasping and