The New York herald., 1865-11-07


Ths state Eleetasns Ts-Day-'The Ceatsst
In New York.
Elections for State officers and Legislature,
and also for Governor, excepting New York,
take place in each Of the following States to-
day, Massachusetts, New York, New Jer-
sey, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In several other
States there are elections for county or town
officers, which are only interesting to the poll
ticians Immediately concerned. Nor is there,
beyond their respective borders, any general
interest attached to the elections In Massachu-
setts, Wisconsin or Minnesota, it being gene
rally conceded that they will, as!usual oil 60
the same way by decisive republican majorities.
Throughout the country, however, there is q
| lively interest manifested in and conside-
rable Importance attached to the contest
| in New York and the issue in New Jersey.
The sharpest and most actively contested can
vass of the season has been that of New Jersey,
where the republicans, under the famous cav
airy leader fitzpatrick, have been vigorously
| fighting to revolutionize the State. The demo-
Gratis over there, as Judge Haskin has described
it, have been hampered with 'the Camden and
Amboy Rip Van Winkleism" of their old hide
bound democratic leaders, and have therefore
had an uphill fight. They have professed a
sort Of adhesion to President johnson, but,
with the drawbacks of certain effete copperhead
ideas, including the dead weight of their re-
cord, Views and purposes in regard to the great
constitutional amendment for the permanent
removal Of slavery from every foot Of the soil
of the United States, General Runyon, the
democratic candidate for Governor, has fatty
declared this constitutional amendment "a
usurpation Of the consolidated despotism at
Washington;" SO that he and his party may be
considered as stalking their chances of success
upon opposition to this measure
With the election, therefore, OF another demo-
cratic Legislature in New Jersey, it is probable
that the refusal of her last Legislature to ratfy
said amendment will be repeated, while the
success of the republicans will secure the rati-
fication. Upon this issue, and upon the labors
of General fitzpatrick among the soldiers, the
republicans expect to carry the State. But
they have the seven thousand majority of Gen
eral Mcclellan of last November to overcome,
and the Jersey democracy are political vete-
rams, whose lines are not easily broken. Their
party discipline may save them, but the spirit
and the vantage ground of the fight are with
the other side. Consequently it will not be
surprising to anybody outside Of Jersey If the
democracy this time lose the State.
In New York the republicans last November,
upon the unparalleled popular vote of seven
hundred and thirty thousand, had a majority of
seven thousand-a close run-and we under
stand that the subsequent changes from either
party to the other have been very few. We
presume that the aggregate vote of this State
to-day will fall short Of that Of last November
at least one hundred thousand; but as it is not
known whether the majority Of absentees
will be on one side or the other, the
issue may be considered doubtful. Both
parties stand upon the same platform, and
the party ansecedents Of the candidates on
both tickets are nearly the same. The disaf-
fected radicals on the one side, and the dis
gustcd copperheads on the other, appear to
have been coaxed into the party traces; 50 that
the contest assumes the shape of a sharply con-
tested party fight without any distinct lines Of
dcmarkation.
What, then, is The meaning Of this extraordi-
nary political struggle? II means tho prclimi-
nary marshalling of the republican forces and
the democratic forces, upon what they have dis
covered to be the most available platform, for
the next Presidential campaign. This contest
in New York is the first sharply defined
skirmish for the inside track for The next Presi-
dency, which will probably determine the
governing party Of The country for fifty years
to come. Hence the Importance which the
leaders on both sides attach to the result in
monwealth are concerned, it viii make but
little difference whether this or that ticket is
elected but in reference to 1868, and even in
view of its moral influence upon the coming
Congress, the result in New York to-day will
be- matter OF no small importance. The con-
test, from present appearances, will be close,
and few votes lost or gained in the several
counties Of the State may determine the vic
tory one way or the other and clear the track
for the party Of the future.
THE CHEvArIEn WKoFF AT ST.. CLoUD.-Evcry-
body has been wondering why the Chcvalcr
Wikoff left 80 suddenly for Europe. Some
thought that he had gone to settle up the diplo-
matte differences between England and this
country; others that he had been deputed to
import an immense operate and theatrical
company, and others still that he had been sent
to get the French quickly out of Mexico. In
the last Gol;gnani we find the announcement
that "Mr. Henry WikoF Of New York. had the
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