The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-22

The Candidates-Tho Effect OF the War
in Putting the Corrupt Politicians Out
of the Way.
Both the political parties of this State accord
the places of honor on their tickets to sol
diers-to men who have become known to the
public only in virtue of their honorable and
glorious services in the country's cause. And
the men thus chosen are in all ways worthy of
the distinction that the parties desire to give.
Hitherto the choice between candidates has
been choice of evils, and we could only con-
graduate the community in the election Of one
on the ground that he was perhaps little less
Objectionable than the other. But now we see
two men named for given Office, either Of
whom will honor the place more than the place
will honor him, and we can heartily rejoice in
the election of q good man whoever may win.
General Slocum has commanded with high
honor throughout this war. He had division
in the Army of the Potomac on the peninsula,
and served through that campaign and through
the one under Pope. In Maryland, on the way
to Antietam, he went over South Mountain at
Champions Pass to the serious cost of the
enemy. He served gallantly at Antietam, his
division being part of Franklins corps. He
was subsequently promoted to the command of
the Twelfth corps--one Of the best fighting
organizations in the army. He commanded the
Twelfth at Charlottesville, and with it stopped
that advance of the enemy which nearly swept
our line away on the stampede Of the Eleventh
corps. 1t is singular fact that at that very
time Barlow commanded a brigade in the
Eleventh; but he was one of the gallant fellows
that stayed on the ground. Slocum had
checked the rebel advance at Charlottesville,
and the enemy never would have gotten
beyond his lines if the army had been handled
with the simplest disposition to fight by its
Fighting" commander who marched it to the
rear on suspicion that it had been beaten.
General Slocum marched the Twelfth to
Gettysburg, and reached that field late in the
afternoon of the first day. Being the ranking
officer, and in command on the whole field for
a time, he made the first disposition of his own
corps and of the Third corps as they came
up and joined their wearied comrades of the
First and Eleventh. He commanded the right
days, and held his lines through some of the
hardest fighting in that terrific battle. His
next service was in the Southwest, whittier his
corps and the Eleventh were sent after the de-
feat of Chickamauga. He and Howard equally
sustained the reputation of the old Potomac
army in the new relations, and 1t was Slocum's
own command which fought that "battle above
the clouds" identified with the name Of
Hooker Slocum served with distinguished
gallantry through the whole struggle against
Johnston, and was the man who took posses
sion of Atlanta. When Hood switched off and
started for Canada by way of Nashville, Sher-
man reorganized his army tor his promenade
to Savannah, dividing it into a right and left
wing. Howard had.on wing and Slocum the
other. Such is the splendid record of the dem
ocratic candidate.
Barlow's record is different in character, but
not less brilliant; for, while Slocum has always
been nearer to the direc ting power of the vari-
GUS armies, and 80 TO some extent removed as
q rule from the immediate dust of the struggle,
it has always been Barlow's peculiar fortune
to be at that very spot where the opposing
forces came together. He was always at the
point of contact, and in the tEickest Of the
collision. He was also with the Army of the
Potomac, but had not yet reached colonelcy
when his present opponent commanded d.
vision. He served through the same campaign
He commanded brigade in the Eleventh
corps at Charlottesville, and was left on
the ground for dead. He commanded q
division Of the same corps at Gettysburg,
and was wounded and taken by the enemy.
In the recognized army that went with Grant
from the Rapidan he commanded a splendid
division in the Second corps and carried 1t
through the hardest Of that hard fighting by
the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Coal Harbor,
the Chickahominy, the Weldon road, the Jeru-
salem plank road, and finally in the storming
of the enemy's lines that ended the war. This
also is glorious record, and the more glorious
as Barlow is still quite young man, and not,
like his opponent, bred to the profession Of
arms. Slocum was West Pointer, but has
studied law, and Barlow was practising law
yer in this city when the war broke out. Slo-
cum is considerably the older and has naturally
more maturity Of thought. Barlow Is more
alive with the energy Of youth, but takes also
very calm and clear look at things.
The pleasantest fact for the people In the
nomination Of men like these by both parties
is the readiness with which the politicians give
way and acknowledge that their time has come.
For some years past our political atmosphere
had been growing more and more corrupt
The same facts that keep the decent men Of the
city out Of city politics, promised to
spread over the State, and 1t was the same in
other States. The politicians were becoming
everywhere q special class by themselves Of
the most .disreputable men In every commu-
nifty, and all the Offices were being filed by
those who were far from being the ablest or
the most honest of our citizens Every one
wondered what would be the limit Of this, and