The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-25


manent peace. We have no desire for war;
but, II it be provoked. England ought to know
that two or three hundred thousand men would
spring up in arms, a. BY magic, 10 invade
Canada and wrest all North America from her
rule whenever this government should think
proper to raise its finger. Il By such . congress
Of nations as we propose England and France
can get out Of their dificuldes With us and on
the American continent and . lasting peace
between The two continents would DO per
petuated. sw
The DownfaIl OF Party Despetasms, aAd
tho New Epoch or an independent
Public Opinion.
President johnson, In his policy Of Southern
reconstruction, is rapidly doing away with
party lines, party ideas and party despotisms,
and developing new system at Washington
which shall depend for its support and success
upon an enlightened and Independent public
opinion as represented by the Independent
press. He has already 90 far prospered In this
grand enterprise that tie party which was in
opposition to the administration when he was
advanced to the White House now claims to
be-. par erce1enoe, the administration party,
while the party which has claimed him - it,
servant consents to follow him as it's master.
This commanding position of President John
son in behalf Of the people at largo be has
gained by simply pursuing that course which
he believes to be right, regardless Of party
antccedents, party associations, party leaders
and party dictation. 4sos
This is the ripening fruit Of q great political
revolutions; this Is the beginning Of political
reform purchased at an expense of a desolating
civil war, involving us in rivers Of blood and
3 national debt Of thousands of millions of
money. From these fearful sacrifices, brought
upon the country by the demoralizing reign Of
party despo.isms, President Johnson is in
fair way to restore the government TO its FIRST
principles, when the administration had no
party inside to reward and no party outside
to be punished. Our first party despotism or
close corporation was established under Thomas
Jefferson, in the old republican party Of 1900.
That party gave 10 the country Florida and.
Louisiana, the war of 1872 and the United
States Bank; but it also gave to Calhoun, in
heritcd from Jefferson, those pernicious alb
straciions Of State rights and State sovereignty
which would have eliminated In Southe rn
rebellion in 1882 had such disciple of Jeffer-
son ms James Buchanan orpoor Pierce been
President of the United States ut that day.
This old republican party finally ran itself out
in the Presidential scrub race of 1924; but
South Carolina notification was the legacy
which 1t left TO its successor as the dominant
party Of the country. 1s..Fa
This dominant party came into power with
Andrew Jackson in 1928. 1t gave us, among
other things, the war with and overthrow Of
the United States Bank, the experiments of the
collapse Of 1887, Texas and the war with
Mexico, the territorial acquisitions of CaIifor-
MIA, New Mexico &C.; but 1t also established
the most corrupt and remorseless party des-
potim since the days Of the Roman republic.
II began with the doctrine that "t0 the victors
belong the spoils," and, going on from bad to
worse, it went its way, from Van Buren, to Polk,
from. Polk to poor Pierce, from poor Pierce to
Buchanan, and from Buchanan down into the
fathomless abyss Of the late terrific rebellion.
The late rebellion and all its consequences
have been but the fruitful harvest from the
dragons teeth, sown broadcast over the land,
under the corrupt, remorseless and demoralizr
ing despotsm Of the late dominant democratic
party. For the sake Of the spoils and public
plunderi 1t pushed its championship Of Southern
slavery to the repeal Of the Missouri compro.
mise. From that hour began Its bloody de-
cline and downfall, and the uprising Of new
dominant party upon the single idea Of the
present restriction and ultimate abolition Of
slavery. This new party has accomplished its
the old democratic party, it is held together by
'the cohesive power Of the public piunder."
Let IL have its way, and the party brought into
power under Lincoln, like that founded by
Jefferson and that established by Jackson, win,
In the course Of the second generation, give US
the same old story Of sectional dissensions, Sc
ccssion, rebellion and civil war; a
II is, therefore, q matter for public congratu-
laton that under President johnson there is no
reign and there Is to be no reign of party dcs-
potisrn. We rejoice that the people no longer,
on the one side or the other, are to be the mere
heYers Of wood and drawers of water for
cliques and coteries Of party managers, looking
to Washington for their rewards. We rejoice
that this pcrnicious old system Of ruling and
running the country through close party cor
porationis atau end. Werejoice that the days
and the ferQcious dissensions Of the Guelphs
and the Ghibelines are no longer rccog-
nized by the President Of the United States.
We rejoice that an independent administration,
sustained by an enlightened public opinion
and an independent public press, hold at last
the ascendency over our public affairs and are