The New York herald., 1864-09-03

cagity to ignore the Cblccgo platform and come
out boldly as . jackson democrat on the plat
form Of hi pastirseotd. lfksa As viii have
fair chance Of election because he will not be
bound 70 . cowsrdly policy II be be elected.
But what could Washington himself do II be
were pledged to negotiate for "an immediate
cessation Of hostilitiesp The Chicago plat
form will encourage the rebels to hold out
until election, and, AZ things stand at present,
tie peace copperheads have promised them one
Of two things: either the reelection OF Lincoln
and Northern insurrection--in which case the
rebels will. have the upperhara OF us; or, IN
the event Of McCleilan's election, Gan imne-
date cessation OF bostilities," in which case
the rebels will have everything their own way.
Gen. Mcclellan can destroy these schemes .by
framing bis own platform out Of sound Union
timber and being elected upon IL. Then
Northern insurrection viii be impossible; and,
if the people do their duty in the meantime,
there will be no rebellion left to make terms
with, and no JEFF. Davis in existence to receive
an offer for can immediate cessation Of hsstiii-
ties" This is as great crisis as that at Har-
riaon's Landing or at Antietam. Let Little
Mac reflect deeply and act wisely.
Tax EXrRAvAGANCE OF THH DAy.-For four
years wo have been engaged in war which
has greatly taxed the resources of the country,
cost the lives Of hundreds Of thousands, and on
tailed the expenditure of an immense amount
Of treasure. Still the metropolis has given no
signs Of this. More than ever brilliant and
gay, Now York society revels in amusements Of
every description with an ever increasing zest.
The extravaganza Of the so-styled 5ecu monde
knows no bounds. High prices do not affect
the newly enriched, nor cannot subdue shoddy.
Ladies now sweep along Broadway with
dresses which cost hundreds Of dollars; their
bonnets alone represent price which a
few years since would more than Rave paid for
an entire outfit. Silks, satins and laces have
risen in price to Oh extent which would seem
beyond The means of any save milionaires and
yet the sale of these articles is greater than
ever. The wonder of II all is where do people
procure the means to indulge in tue frightful
extravagancies CT the day.
This war may last years yet, and, to judge
from what has occarred up to the present time,
prices will Increase as the war lasts. With the
decrease Of the value of our currency the
luyurle. above mentioned will Increase in price,
until it will cost a fortune to equip lady IS
such style as may now be Witnessed at every
step on Broadway In tie South the ladies',
who are by far mere bitter secessionsts than
tho meu, have long since discarded the use Of
silks and satins They we arcotton goods, and,
we dare say, appear quite as pretty in them.
With us the same Sc rtinent has not ns yet ob-
tanned. A few ladies Of fashion, who wele
anxious to get up . sensation, did, 1t is true,
make last season slow of dress reform; but
then the whole afiairs was humbug. The
ladies got up meetings where they wore cheap
dresses, but covered them with laces and dia-
monds. They went to these meetings in splsn-
did carriages, with liveried servants in waiting
upon them, and, by the contrast with the object
they seemed to have In view, made themselves
and the subject ridiculous.
What the ladies we refer to undertook as a
passime viii, ere long, become matter OF
| necessity, and people will have to make, aud
not play at reform 10 dress. The time for
| extravaganza is rapidly drawing to close
Economy will force itself upon the considera-
ton of all. Even shoddy will have to succunb
to high prices if this fearful civil strife Is to oon-
tinue much longer TO urge that what seems
inevitable should be met half way is We know,
laho; lost. The people will not reform until
uire necessity forces them to such csurse, aud
it i merely as a chronicle of the day tEat VIC
point out The waste!ul extravaganza Of tho me
tropolis. -