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

The state Elections To-Day-The Rea
Issue I'm New York I'm November.
The annual State elections of Pennsylvania
Ohio, Indiana and Iowa come of to-day
Limited, as in New York, to local officers thil
year, these elections have excited but little
public interest, and but little activity against
the party in power, except in Pennsylvania
where the democracy have been making q
vigorous campaign. The extreme and utterly
disorganizing issues proposed ~ Hon. Thad.
deus Stevens, in opposition toSthe Southern
policy Of President johnson, appear to have
thoroughly aroused the democrats, while the
republicans apparently hating between Ste
vens and the administration, have, 1t Is conjec-
tured, been losing ground. If the result In
Pennsylvania should turn out to be democra-
tic victory, the republicans may thank their
radical leader Stevens and his faction for it,
and SO digest 1t If they can. If they are not
defeated they may thank the democratic lead
ers for that "Jerry Black Buchananism" so
scornfully rejected from the Albany platform
by John B. Haskin.
These October elections, however, will not
amount to much one way or the other. Our
New York November election, on the
other hand, will probably mark q
new political revolution, turning point
in our political history, from which, for
fifty years TO come, the dominant party Of
the future may shape its course. This may
seem very strange to the superficial politician;
but we must look below the surface to get at
the drift Of passing events. The war has upset
the cardinal principles" and the dividing bar
riers of our political parties OF half century.
In its political results our short but ire
mendous and unparalleled civil war of four
years will be as effective as were all the civil
commissions OF Rome, from the time of Marius
and Sylla to the great paciication under Au-
gustus and the empire. We have done as much
in these four years Of war toward establishing
the future policy and "manifest destiny" Of the
country as was accomplished in England in all
her internal commissions from Charles the First
down to the great settlement under William of
ORANGE; or as much as was done in France
from the destruction Of Tie Bastile down 10 The
restoration Of the Napoleon dynasty.
President Johnson, recognizing and endors-
ing these great results of the war, and armed
by Congress with the powers Of a military die
tator in the work Of Southern reconstruction
from the ruins of slavery and tho ruins of State
sovereignty, is recognizing the Union on the
basis of universal liberty and the sovereignty
OF the United States. But he Is doing this not
as military dictator, but as a servant of the
sovereign people, adhcring TO the landmarks
of the constitution, and resolved upon the pre-
servation and pcrpetuaton of the republic.
The people, North and South, approve his
course. They approve his policy Of postpon-
ing this thing Of Southern negro suffrage to
more convenient season. in view of the urgent
necessity Of restoring the Southern States, so
that they may help US in Che settlement Of our
nationa! debt as soon rs possible. We cannot
for another year keep the cotton States under
the drawbacks of purely military subordina-
ton without risking all the disasters of clash
ing of races in the South, conflict of classes
in the North, terrible financial collapse and
reign of universal confusion.
The policy Of President Johnson is admirably
adapted 10 avoid all these crushing disasters.
He must be supported if we would save the
country. The people are with him the man
aging politicians Of both parties profess to be
with him but this is the issue that remains to
be decided. We think, however, that it will be
decided in our New York November contest,
not in the election Of the one State ticket or the
other-for both are good, and either will do
but upon the simple question Of supporting
President Johnson for another term. lie will.
in all probability, need reelection to finish
his work !; and who, II II ia satisfactory, can 80
we'll carry out the johnson programme as
Johnson himself! John Van Buren,, as dem
ocrat, has como up to this test. The republi-
cans must meet it or prepare for the conse-
quences. President Johnson, with the people
at bis back, has the power to build up the rul-
ing party Of the future on the platform Of his
administration. This, also, is what he mani
testify intends to do, and we know that he is a
man who win stick to his text at all hazards
when satisfied that he is right. ... i
What, then, have the New York republicans
to say? Do they mean to stand by Andrew
Johnson in good faith, or to support him as the
democrats, in his day, supported John Tylcr'
We must have an answer to this question before
our November election in favor of Johnson for
another term, or the election may bring in the
democracy as the party Of the administration
and the party of the future. Most of the leaders
of the republican church were opposed, before
the meeting Of the Baltimore Convention Of "a,
to another term for Abraham Lincoln, but how
powerless they proved to be against Lincoln's
popularity. They could do nothing but submit
Equally futile, we believe, will be similar de-
signs against Andrew Johnson. What say the
New York republicans. One thing they must
do. John Van Buren, must be answered.