The New York herald., 1864-05-06

jecs 70 work upoA. Let "a keep our sosh
until the show b over and the magician Of thD
ago makes bis hnal bow. Perhaps ws shal
have all our borrowed articles returned to -
then. and can join in the applause when ~
curtain falls.
The Peoples Oonveasisn as Oasvsisna.
The public are now watching the movemsn<s
Of the Union armies with moro thsa usual int
rest and anxiety. Whilst General Grant ana
his assistants, East and West. are busy marshal.
ing their forces for the greatest struggle Of the
war, and have commenced In contest that b
not only to decide whether this waf Is to bs
brought to an early and successful conolusioa
or linger for years, but which will also In meA-
sure determine who is to be placed at the head
Of our government for the next four years, the
politicians and President makers are equally
actively engaged In maturing their plans for the
nominating conventions. They are taking the
opportunity, while the people are absorbed 10
the movements Of our armies, to pack the con-
schemes, without regard TO the interest and
general good Of tho public Thus the republk
can contractors, shoddyites and oficsholdss
are to hold their convention in Baltimore early
in June, and will doubtless nominate Abraham
Lincoln. the representative Of that Interest,"
Tbs socalled aylhocfatic party are to meet In
Chicago In July. and place In the field an op.
posing candidate. II is evident, however. thas
the revolution which has been going on since
the commencement Of the rebellion has matert-
ally interfered with the plans Of the politicians.
especially on the republican side.
II will be seen by reference to our columns
elsewhere that call has been issued for Q
Peoples Convention, to assemble in Cleveland
on the 3lst day Of the present month. This will
be attended and participated in by all the dis
satisfied and discontented republicans and tho
war democracy. The indications are that it
will be the most important convention Of all.
When we take in consideration the action of
the republican Senators at Albany, in urging
the postp0nement Of tho Baltimore COnven-
tion in connection with the response from the
people in all sections In favor Of putting the
nomination off to later day, together With the
movements at Washington in opposition to
Congress, 1t can readily be seen that the Cleve-
land Convention bids fair to absorb the back
bone and the real power and strength OF The
republican party outside Of the contrac-
tors and tho shoddy interests. A canai-
date for tho Presidency will be nominated
there, like Fremont, Grant or Banks. who
can neither be cajoled nor backed down BY
tho pipslayers and schemers Who are managing
the Baltimore farce. Its effect upon tho coming
Presidential campaign will therefore be Of tAs
most importan& character, and seoond.only %
the grand movements Of our armies upon the
armed forces of the so-called Southern con-
federacy. President Lincoln and his chief
managers-Weed, Cameron and Forney-but
little imagine the strength and power Of The
men who have committed themselves to Tho
movement for this Cleveland Convention, and
are secretly ct work to mako IL grand sao-
cess. As Q State Senator who signed the ap-
peal to postpone the Baltimore Conventica
replied. when he was shown an attack upon
him and bis associates by one of the organs q
Lincoln, They do not know all that Is going
on. When the Peoples Convention meets they
will open their eyes,"
the Cam paig. Bsgun-Tho Great Issues Z
to be Dctormincd.
The campaign that is to determine issues a
the greatest moment to this country and 70
Europe has begun, and tho desperate
struggle perhaps already RACES ct one
or more points in the rebel States. Under
the great commander OF the war, and dis
tribu.ed into several armies, we have Q
force in the field of not less than six hundred
Thousand men, and they are to decide within .
few days one Of the grandest questions that was
ever put to the arbiIament Of battle. Brought
to its ultimate analysis tho question to be ses-
tied is whether or not republican governments
has the vital power to sustain its existence
against internecne as we'll as against foreign
foes. Must government originating Ia the
people, aud deriving It's strength from their Ia
teliigence, inevitably fall prey to their quas-
re.ss Is that result in the history OF republics
necessary consummation in their history. or
il it only one Of the many accidents Of nationA
life. that may be overridden by greater pse-
pie than any that have yet tried the solution o.
this great problem? II is the fact that this
question Is the really great one now ct Issue In
our struggle that gives the struggle its intense
ioteres. with thinking men here and In Europe.
Europe has seen this issue grandiy tried, and
the decision has always been against the vtali-
ty Of republics. Pstriarchal governments and
despotisms were natural to Asia. Her people
gathered, a. If with an instinct OF servility,
around SEINE central power that they could
look up to. whether In the family, In rsligi4l
or in government; but tie men Of infant Cd-
rope had stronger individuality, and only
accepted kings when they proved themselves
10 ha hattar than ofhar men Ranuhlican r0H.