The New York herald., 1864-11-08
The Moral and financial PsincsPIes-
8utlsE and Belmont.


The Moral ana financial PsincspIes-
Batter and Belmont.
Every four years, on the eve OF our Presi-
Dental elections, this country developes some
very curious political phenomena. Partisan
orators and journalists then exhibit their worst
characteristics. Falsehoods, ISLANDERS, libels,
equivocations, roorbschs, insinuations, frauds,
inventions, misrepresentation, calumnies for
geries and all sorts of rascalties and scoun-
drelisms are as plentiful as roses In June or
mosquitoes in August. This year has been no
exception to this inva-iable rule. Omitting
few bright spirits, like Coddington on the one
side and John Van Buren, on the other, we find
both the democratic and republican orators
equally blamable. As for the partisan jour-
mails, they have surpassed themselves in calum-
MES. The democratic papers have gone so far
as to slander the ladies in the White House.
The republican journals began with the libel
that Mcclellan is personal coward, and then
ran up and down the gamut Of falsshood.
Satan must have kept all his clerks busy
during the past few weeks, recording these
offences against the moral law in preparation
for the final casting up Of accounts on the day
Of judgment
But this year very peculiar phenomenon
has been added to the usual phenomena of our
elections Philosophers tell us that when two
and that when two great bodies oppose each
other the result is inertia. That which il true
of @rial and material forces is also true of
great principles For example, the electioneer-
ing extravagances Of the democratic oraters
and journals in this city are said to have been
caused by the application of the financial prin-
ciple, as represented by Mr.. August Belmont,
the financial agent of Louis Napoleon in the
Mexican business. For some time past Mr..
Belmont has taken charge Of the democratic
party, holding very heavy mortgages upon it,
manipulating it at Chicago and play
ing the heavy father to it generally.
Under his direction the democratic ora
tors and organs became SO violent that one
of the orators even threatened the assassination
of certain general il he should dare to walk
Broadway, while one Of the organs denounced
the President of the United States as . petty
ewindler. Here we see the influence of the
financial principle, as embodied In Mr.. Bel
mont, and no one can deny that it is certainly
very powerful.
Suddenly, however, and In the very fuss and
fury of this vituperation, there comes dead
oratorical calm-a remarkable newspaper iner-
tia. We hear no more threats of assassina-
tion. Nobody ventures to insinuate SLAM
ders upon the Presidents wife or his
honesty. The democratic orators roar
as gently as sucking doves. The democratic
newspapers are both dull and decent. Aston
ished at this Transformation, we eagerly iaquire
the cause, and discover that another great prin-
ciple-the moral principle-has been brought
into operation. This principle is represented
by General Butler whose unexpected arrival
In New York has occasioned the calm and the
inertia we have noticed. Thus Providence
kindly supplies the antidote as well as the
bane. Thus . modern miracle has been
effected. Thus tho great moral principle
such as it is-has met and overcome the great
financial principle-such as it is; and to the
opposition Of these TIVE powerful forces we
eve the political quiet which has prevailed
here during the past few days. Butler and
Belmont are both very good men in their way;
but they are very much in each others way.
Butler has no particular affection for Belmont,
and Belmont is by no means over fond Of But
Ter. Representing different principles, there
is, of course, an irrepressible conflict between
them. We might vary the old song and ex-
claim, "How unhappy could we be with
either;' but taken together they make us very
comfortable. Thus the gases which compose
the air we breathe are poisonous when inhaled
separately; but when appropriately mingled
by the sublime chemistry of nature they sup
port life and make everything pleasant Now,
if General Butler will so far extend his moral
principle as to reform the republican orators
and journals-and they need correction quite
as much as the democratic-he will still further
oblige the good people of this loyal and law
abiding city.