The New York herald., 1864-09-02

made known Wednesday afternoon, produced
intense excitement among all classes Of our citi-
gems The republicans looked somewhat serious
about it, while the democrats. with the excep.
ton Of few ultra-billous copperheads, ar-
peared to be In ecstacieA That the nomination
is a strong one-ths strongest, perhaps, that
could have been made by the democracy-all
will admit; but those enthusiastic Mcclellan
ties who think that their chief will have nothing
to do but "walk over the course'are pretty sure
to find themselves most grievously mistaken.
The race they have entered upon will be one
Of the toughest contests in our political hns-
tory Mr.. Lincoln Is already in the saddle,
and has the whip OF patronage and the spur OF
| power to aid him in e,icitng all the speed pos
| sble out Of his republican charger; while the
Mcclellan nag has been only recently bitted and
Is not yet, by aDy means, quite "bridle WISE" II
is apt to start at every new copperhead fancy,
and has been SO heavily drugged OF late with
"peace" nostrums that any very violent or
sudden blast on the war bugle might cause It
to shy and come near throwing its very distin-
guished rider.
One great difficulty In Nc Clellan's way is the
inexperlence Of certain persons who have bsen
put, or who have put themselves, forward in
this city as the managers Of his cause They
write like sophomores and act like eager chill
dren. They arc not practical men, but mere
composers Of ornate periods or the political
history OF our country they appear profoundly
ignorant; and when pushed to the wall for the
| reasons on which they base tAeir belief that
| change of public opinion has taken place SO
| great as to throw overheard Mr.. Lincoln and
elevate General Mcclellan in his stead, they
can only humble some vague generalities
| touching an alleged dislike and pistruss 0.
| Mr.. Lincoln's rule" on the part Of the people.
and the undoubted popularity Of their favored
! candidate.
! Now, all this kind OF talk as to Mr.. Linco,n's
alleged "unpopularity" and the "public ap-
provai" with which Gen. Mcclellan is regarded
must amount for the present at least, to just
about the value Of apeckmeasure Of moonshins.
That such items may finally have great effect
| in determining the result Of The contest is not
to be doubted; but up to the date of this
| present writing, and until we shall have seen
! the issue Of the various State elections taking
place between now and next October, they
must figure as two unknown quantities" in
oug political algebra. No one can even guess
how many republican votes Mr.. Lincoln's "un-
! popularity" will take away from him, or Gem
eral McClelan's public appIovaW win over to
the democratic side. "The cohesive power Of
the public plunder" is vast and certain ele-
ment to which too many politicians OF the Nc
Clellan coterie fail 10 accord due weight.
Ii is quite possible that thousands VITO
are in the suiks to-day with Mr.. Lincoln
may remain in tae suiks and yet vote for bim
at the decisive moment. The ties Of party are
bonds Of adamant, requiring great original
force Of character to overcome, and there are
as yet no reliable indications that even in this
momentous crisis of our history party lines
have lost one strand or fibre Of their unhappy
and demoralizinE power. Each of our two
| great factions may have family sgasbhles
| among themselves; but when in presence or
the enemy their discipline is at once revived
by the consciousness OF a common peril, and
they close no their ranks, with elbow touching
elbcw, and all keeping time to the music of
tbe.f party bnsles
We are nov on the eve OF two State elections
which will throw much light on this vexed
question Of "the succession" Vermont will
vote for State officers four days from now, and
Maine on the 18th instant II the republicans
increase, or even hold The maiorities by which
.asy carried those States in the two preceding
years, tie prospects Of the democratic Presi-
der'jal norainea Will b. seriously, though not
perhaps hope essy, ciouded; while ii the demo
Gratis can carry, or even 70 close to carrying,
one or both OF these republican State strong
holds, the shodayi.es and horse contractors
my at once begin paying their homage TO
General Mcclellan as "gext President ot tie
Union" 1t VAS .ae vote Of The State o. Maine,
cast or the 18th OF Sep enbec, which gave Ire
hrs, -ssurance of success 10 the previously des
perase fortunes Of tie Jackson party 10
'be srsat contest OF 1873. That vote
startled the country by a development
10 General Jsclson's personal strength in i
quar'er the least expected; and IL effect was
hailed by the orators and preses in lis interest
rs "tUe Star in tie Easl'-s bright promise or
the success which was so soon 10 be ratified bv
the acclaim Of our whole people. Let The
saterents % General McCleilsn therefore, not
| crow too loudly mill after Tao rcsuIts Of the
Vermont and Msinc elections shall Rave been
made known. The Green Mountain boys,
are eturdy "war democrats" as they have
proved 10 the great old Army Of the Potomac
aud everywhere that they have been in contact
w.,h tie enemy; and tie State Of Maine may
gain become "lhc Star la the East of Gensrsl
Mcclellan. as formerly II was to The political
fortunes OF NcCleiMn's most iilustrious proto-
type, General Andres jackson. Wise men
viii no. bet their money too freely until after
NsIe aud Vermont sball bave told Che story
- 49, nhnins Tin frInnhn az I'll .ltlr Mnn,,