Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-10-13
AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.
The Political Sttuae.u = -

The London Times comments "a fol,ovs
on the first announcement that the "Psace'o
branch OF the Democracy had refused to sup
port Mcclellan aEr
"The domination Of Genl Mcclellan has
turned out a mistake for half the party that
% supported ,tn the "Chicago pistform'a sad me
whose anxiety 10 not to DO on the right side
but on the strongest, Is the calculation which
will be the prevailing section. The division
between the two parties is sharp and definite.
The Issue raised Is peace opposed to war That
the position taken by the Democratic party.
when It acted az one interest, was indennito
and Illogical, we have more than once pointed
out. But even with this defect 1t was possi-
BILE the necessities of the time might have
forced both sections into a common line OF poll
icy as to the war.
1t would be desirable to ascertain, through a
con vention of States, what is the real opinion
Of the hostilities entertained by the masses
the war is exterminating and impoverishing.
What we have heard as yet is mostly the en- -
thusiasm Of those who profit by the conflict.
The war interest has long represented itself as
the national interest. A convention called
light on several points well worth consider
ing, instead OF blindly fighting over them, and
forgetting them In the heat OF the conflict.
This, as we understood 1t, was the object. OF
the Peace Democrats. In the vigor with which
they denounced the misconduct OF the war
they were not exceeded by the OF her section OF
the party; and 1t might well be anticipated
that large body of the people who believed
the war was hopeless, as conducted, OF hope
less in any case, might succeed in arresting
the conf1agratfon
But the weakness Of the combination has
shown itself at tie first movement General
Mcclellan accepted the nomination, but In his
ton of his supporters, and knocked ont
several OF the main "planks Of the party plat
form. But such is the unhappy po-
siton Of affairs that neither success nor disaster
improves the prospects of peace. Both are
reasons for continuing the war. As little hope
is there in q transfer OF the Government from
posite party. The Republicans engage to main
tain the war; the Democrats now give the same
pledge. The waters Of contention cover tho
land, and the ark of promise which was
launched at Chicago has already broken mp in
the tempest. We now fear that any raft the
friends of peace may try to construct will not
be strong enough to live in the torrent which
an extraordinary combination of events is turn
ing SO swiftly in one direction.
The London Post says:
There is little to choose between War Re-
publican and a War Democrat: but, whatever
difference there may be, it would seem that In
the opinion of those who most ardently desire
peace, it preponderates in favor Of the former.
Viewing the struggle from distance, We can
perhaps form better estimate Of the result
than those actually engaged in the conflict, and
we confess, that, whoever may be elected Pres.
ident on the 4th of November, we cannot see
the faintest prospect Of returaing peace. The
flower Of safety is still too deeply embedded in
the nettle danger to admit Of being plucked at
present.
Regarding Mcclellan and Lin coin as equally
intent on the restoration of the Union by force
OF arms, the choice which the northern people
may make between these candidates ceases 1t
once to have any absorbing interest to u.s.
They are like the two musicians of the famous
rhyme the masters whose notes are SO
equally charming that only the ear Of a con-
noisseur could decide between them. Shall w0
give our suffrage for Tweedle.dum or for
Tweedle. dee Both are pledged, as we be-
Iieve, in bad cause. One Is for restoring +" the
Union at all hazards" The other is for neg.
ging away" till the South is conquered. The
partisans Of both are for carrying ON the war
to what they expressively term I" the bitter
end"