The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-31
Ths orsas Issas ~ the Political Cam-
patGa.


The time Is approaching when tho people
must determine the fate of the republic
Whether we are to fall to pieces, Ike the re-
publics Of Greece, or rule the world. like the
republic of Rome, Is the issue now before US
Are we to hang together slightly or not at ALL
like the metaphysical States OF conglomerated
Germany, or are we to be q great Power, like
France or like Englands The people will soon
be called upon to respond TO this question by
their choice Of President for this distracted,
divided and suffering country. Let them pom
der the question carefully and answer 1t rightly
The republics of Greece formed powerful
nation while they were banded together against
| the Persians; but as soon as that war was over,
| and they began to quarrel among themselves,
| they were absolutely helpless, anu were lv....
to submit to the tyranny Of the little republic
OF Macedonia While we were fighting with
Great Britain we were powerful Dation but
as soon as that war, which lasted practically from
l776 to 1914, was fairly over, We began to en-
gage in intestine conflicts. The result was that
South Carolina tyrannized over the South. aud
Massachusetts tyrannized over the North, and
u
How is IL to endY Is the nation to be re-estab-
lished, or are we doomed, like ancient GreeceY
Opposed to the Grecian idea-now the rebel
idea Of confederacy Of small republics, was
the Roman idea-now the loyal idea--of ono
great republican nation, composed Of separate
provinces, but vestng its highest powers in
| strong central government. That great repub-
10 or1,, hat
| has achieved anything like success or endured
any considerable length of time. Finally 1t.
was destroyed by its shoddy arlstocracy-au
evil which aiil cts us also Now arc we to last
as long, and longer, than the Roman republic
did, or are we to give up the ghost of nation
ard try the old, foolish experiment Of little in
dependent States over ag .inS
The various provinces Of France amounted
to nothing until statesmen united them into a
nation. Then, after various moDarchioal muta.
tons, they became republic and defed the
world. Had it not been for the overweening
| ambition Of one man France might now
have lived as a mighty centralized republic.
But even as an empire she has an I'm
mense influence, to which the influence Of a
cannot be for one moment compared England
had very little power when the British islands
each had its petty nationality; but when these
were combined under one central government
Great Britain began to expand, until now she
holds the first rank among nations. These
examples are not 30 appropriate as those Of
Greece and Of Rome SO far as regards our
present situation; but still they exhibit the same
underlying principle, which is, that to be a
great nation we must be united by stronger
ties than those which can exist between the
perfectly independent States Of league or
confederation. The fathers Of the republic
understood this, and changed our form Of gov
eminent from a confederacy to Union in
order to make us permanent nation. To
accomplish this they vested certain powers in
the general government and reserved Others
for the States Among these reserved powers
the right Of secession was not included No
State was compelled to come into the Union,
but when is came in voluntarily it voluntarily
relinquished the right to 60 out again, except
by the consent Of the others. Thus il is that
the seeded States are now in rebellion
against the national authority, and it is, there.
fore. our obvious duty to put this rebellion
down.
We state the broad and arm axoms which
explain the philosophy Of this war, because
the same axioms will control the coming cleo.
ton. The election is q part Of the war. 1t
can be used as q war measure to hclp us or to
help the rebels. Evidently 1t must help one
side or the other. If it shall result in the
choice Of man who will give more vigor to
our arms, more craftsmanship to our councils,
more security to our liberties, then 1t will be
war measure in our favor II il shall result in
the choice Of 0 man who will divide the North,
encourage the rebel leaders, cripple our gene
rails and make reunion impossible, thea it will
be q war measure on the side Of the traitors.
Should President of the former class be
elected the war will soon end in the restora-
ton Of the Union and the re-estab,shmcat Of
the United States as a great nation, like Rome.
France and England Should the latter sort
Of President be chosen the war will end in
dsunion, and we shall have two confede-
races, then three oonfederacies, then
half Q dozen confederacies, aud finally
lot OF little nations, either warning together,
like those OF Greece, or intriguing to-
gether, like those OF Germany, and all
subject 10 the domination Of any European
Power that pleases TO interfere here as France
has done 10 Mexico These great facts Of the
past, the present aud the future are more IN
porsaus than any candidates Political cand.-
dates are nothing, except as tho representa-
tives Of political principles provided they be
ct men to represent any principle whatever.
Let tue people soborly decide whether they
desire reunion and its consequences or dis
union aud its consequences. aud then they can