The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-11-14
TAs Crsas Moral Results 81 the Late
National 0ieosiou. - Ew

Secretary OF War, desires him to congratulate
the President for "the double victory" secured
In the late national election, and says:-"The
election having passed of quietly-no blood
shed or riot throughout the lands . victory
worth more to the country than battle won.
Rebellion and Europe will so construe it."
The double victory thus expressed signifies .
victory over the enemies Of the Union at home,
and victory over our enemies abroad. The
same idea was the leading feature of the pro-
found little speech Of the President himself to
tho mass meeting gathered tho other evening
In front Of the White House to congratulate
him on his reelection. LIP, that speech he says
that the issue Of this late exciting political con-
test "has demonstrated that peoples govern
ment can sustain national election in the
midst of great civil war;" that ''until now it
has not been been known to the world that
this was . possibility" that the experiment
"shows how sound and how strong we still
are;" that cit shows that even among the can
didates Of the same party he who is most de-
voted to the Union and most opposed to treason
can receive most of the peoples votes"
In these comprehensive views Of the Presi-
dent and our General-in-Chie there is o
volume of instruction for the historian
and political philosopher. How is it that
in the midst Of this great civil war in the
South and the 6ercest political excitements in
the North, President Lincoln, through tie
quietest and most orderly election, has secured
one Of the most signal political triumphs in
the records of human historys In the fourth
year Of this gigantic struggle for the Union,
sanguinary beyond example, draining the
youth and strength of the nation in rivers Of
blood, swallowing up thousands of millions Of
treasure, and involving high and low, rich aud
poor, in habiliments of mourning, and in taxes,
prices, and financial embarrassments and dis
tresses believed to be utterly impossible in tie
beginning, was there not some plausibility in the
idea adopted at the Chicago Convention, that
people thus sorely tried by this unexampled
domestic war would be ready for peace at any
price! Them again, looking at the numerous
failures and bunders, military and POLITICAL;
at the opportunities lost, the great armies frit-
tered away, and the public resources squan-
dered in vain adventures, under this admins
tration, was there not broad foundation for
the opinion that the people OF the loyal States
were prepared for almost anything in the way
OF a change? In contemplating all these draw
backs to his success, surely this reelection of
President Lincoln must be conceded as one of
the most remarkable, imposing and sublime
events in the vicissitudes Of any nation on the
face of the globe since the miraculous cross
ing of the Red Sea by the children of Israel.
Great, however, as was this schedule of &C.
cusations aud objections against Mr. Lincoln,
there was, as the campaign was shaped at Chi
cago, an issue made in his favor which over
Swallowed and has overwhelmed them all. The
people of the loyal States have responded:
Give us war and all its horrors give US taxes,
distress us in every way, but give us the Union,
and spare US the dshonor, the degradation
and ruin Of peace at any price. The American
people have thus sustained the severest test to
| which popular institutions have ever been
subjected, and have fully established the great
fact that our republican form OF government,
in the hands of an intelligent people, is the
The struggle of centuries between kings and
the people is thus determined in favor OF popu.
lar institutions. From the hands OF the igno-
rant masses of ancient Israeli OF the States OF
Greece, OF Rome, Of England, France and
other nations the cause of the people has
fallen again aud again, alter many bloody
struggles, into the hands OF emperors.
kings and oligarchies but in the pos
session Of the intelligent aud educated
masses OF the American people popular
institutions have, in this late election, secured
an enduring victory. Its pervading influences
will 90 on until the feudal relics Of England
and the stoutest despotism OF Continental
rights Of the people.
This is "the double victory" referred to by
Genera! GraAt-a victory over the enemies of
the Union and the idea of dissolution at home,
and victory of the underlying idea Of popular
institutions over the monarchcal systems OF
Europe. As General Grant says, "Rcbeldom
and Europe will so cons.rue it." On the broad
popular ground which he occupied in this late
contest, Mr. Lincoln was accepted as the
representative Of this principle. ANY other
man in his place, as the battle was joined,
would have been acceptable. On the other
side, against the great principle at stale-the
| integrity of the Union-no man in all the
country could have succeeded on the Chicago
| platform. Even after rejecting 1t, General
| Mcclellan has been rejected, because be was
still supported by and associated with that
| deluded class of democratic leaders who
would sacrifice the last hope Of vindicating the
strength Of tho republic in order to buy an in
| glorious and ruinous peace.
| SALE OF THE PuTILc LASDs.-The demand
for the public lands has increased very consid-
erably Of late, as shown by the returns at the
Land Office. Not only have the applications