The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-17
SPIRIT OF THE NEW YORK PRESS.
Leading Editorials from the New York
Papers This Morning.
THE TRYING TIME FOR THE UNION
PARTY.

Frou me 7lme,.
The brief time before the President al election
will test, as never before, the stamina Of the
Union party. Hitherto it has Acsted along on
the war spirit Of the people without any very
dangerous trial. In the beginning Of the war Il
made It's start as party expressly pledged TO the
. maintenance of an unbrokon nationality at what
ever price Of treasure aud blood. Is appealed 10
every patriotic principle and instinct Of the
people and almost always found an easy
triumph. When beaten at all, it was only by the
deception Of It's adyersariCs in stealing into It's
camp and assuming It's own Union Watchwords.
There never has been a time in which the great
minority Of the people has desiguedly swtTved
from the aim for which the party was expressly
organized-the pcrpetuation Of &C undivided
Republic.
But the close approach Of the Presidential cleo
tion is subccting tho party 70 new trials. Mr..
Lincoln has been nominated for collection be-
cause his position and policy had identified him
peculiarly with the Union cause, and because it
was deemed that his reelection would most sig
nifcantly declare 10 the South and 20 the world
the unalterable determination Of the loyal ma
jority Of the country to subdue the Rebellion and
save the nation. These were the best Of reasons.
They made his denomination almost a civil
necessity.
But IL brought with it it's disadvantages. 1t is
not morally possible that this Government can
be administered by any man for four years with
out disappointing and offending individuals who
begun as friends of the Administration. There
arc always diverse opinions and desires in every
party, which cannot all be satisfied: and from
the time of Washington down there has been no
Administration which has not bred thousands of
malcontents within the party which sustained it,
President Lincoln, instead Of forming an eX-
\ Cepton, has produced these private grlets in the
] same proportion as the policies which have been
pressed upon him have been peculiarly multi
form and important. There was no such thing
as harmonizing them. The President could only
adopt the line Of action best suited 70 the emer-
genCy in his judgment, and, of course on each
occasion, dissatisfied those whose judgment was
different. Then, again, the war has put in his
hands the distribution OF far more ciices, both
civil and military, than any other President has
ever possessed.
He has been obliged to make and unmRke ap-
pointments in the public service 10 an unprece-
dented extent IL has long been apolitical maxim
that every such executive act alienatcs twice as
many as ii sa,ishes. The Union party in renv"...
mating Mr.. Lincoln has to assume not only the
drawback OF the personal arrangements spring
ing from such causes, but also the drawback of
the Presidents positive errors. No rational man
denies that he has committed such errors. liz is
human, and therefore abundantly fallible.
a fair man will fairly weigh these errors against
those which il might be fairly presumed would
be committed by any mortal in his trying place.
But there Is no small portion Of the voting COM
munity who do not Judge in this way, but are
ready to condemn Mr.. Lincoln for his mistakes in
Office, and give confidence to some other mlu for
having made no mistakes out of office. Had the
Union party nominated new man, II would
have had clearer record for its candidate far
as the past is concerned.
As regards a certain class Of voters, this would
have been an advantage, though it is manifest to
every thinking man. that the experience he has
now acquired would probably exempt Mr.. Lin
coin TO greater extent from mistakes during
the next Presidential term, than could be reason
ably expected in the case of any fresh incum-
bent without experience. There is not General
in the field who has not at times made mistakes.
We should be to-day without a solitary comman-
der were all dismissed who had erred vet there
will be ten of thousands who will be for dismiss
ing Mr.. Lincoln for no other reason. These i'm
perfections incident to all humanity will be used,
with not little effect, toschill the ardor Of even
every good man for the cause.
There is not only this great danger Of dissen-
sion in the Union party, but the CopPerheads, il
is certain, will attack with greater insidiOuSness
and ranker virulcncc than ever. They know tina,
this is their last chance. II Mr. Lincoln is re-
elected, il is certain that the war policy will be
maintained until IL is carried through to its egiti-
mate termination. The same vote that elects
him will in all probability secure House Of
Representatives as staunch as he, and the Gov
crnment would move on with unimpeded, resist
less power in It's work Of putting down the Re
, bellion.
What the Copperheads can ever do, thoy must
attempt during the first two Fall months. Tue
onion party should prepare itself for pOtica
campaign, after the Copperhead nomination is
made, of an intensity never perhaps equaled in
the political history of the country Its foolish
tocalculate upon their inability 70 agree upon a
common candidate. With all their discOrd,
hatred of the Union party is still their master
passion.
We may rely upon It that they will iud some
1 way OF compounding their differences, and COM
blning every art and every energy OF every Sec
ton of the party to compass our defeat. The
Rebels will play the part of good allies so far as
they eau. Their presses every where eSince that
they have the defeat Of Mr.. Lincoln quite as
much at heart as the Copperheld themselves.
OF course they can only Indirectly engage Ia this
political campaign, but for all that they will
prove seryccablc auXiliaries 10 the CJpperhcads,
and make the combined opposition TO Mr.. Lln-
coin very formidable.
All true Union men should clearly understand
the various dangers which threaten the Union
party. Oyer-conhdcnce is always weak, and in
in this case it might prove fatal. From nov
until election every member of the party should
study 70 promote its harmony, to compact is
organization 70 fire its spirit. No tolerance shod
be shown 10 complaints or croaSngs, for these
always relate to p ints Of minor consequence
without claim when vital concerns are nc sake
II has heen the deliberate Judgment of the
Onion party, affirmed in regular convention with
8 aunanimity almost unparalleled in such bodies
that Mr.. Lincoln, under existing circumstances
Is the most eXpctlient candidate for the UniDr
cause. That OF itself should be sufficient Il
enlist for him the earnest support OF every tri'