The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-29

from this continent, and in the establishment Of
maritime law on better basis than it now
stands.
The Blair-Sewnrd War-Contest for the
Control or President JOhnson's Policy.
Between the great acts of the plays of all
the elder Greek dramatists there was invaria-
bly, introduced a chorus to sum up the actions
of the performers and the developments of the
plot, so far as gone, as also to fOreshadOw the
scenes and vicissitudes about to follow, and
the parts TO be taken therein by the respective
actors. It is in this light that we are TO regard
the speech recently delivered by Montgomery
Blair to rustic audience in Maryland-Blair
playing chorus to the last act Of our civil war,
on which the curtain has just been rung down
by the master hand Of General Grant, and at
the same time attempting to indicate, and by
indicating to control, what will be the next
developments of President Johnson's policy
And mighty curious speech indeed, when
we come to examine it in such a light, is this of
our Maryland chorus, who is as essentially the
mouthpiece Of the Blair family in border State
politics as is Thurlow Weed Of the Seward
family in the politics and pickings Of New
York. Between the two chOruses, however,
there is this essential difference-that behind
the Seward family stands vast constituency
ready upon nearly all occasions to ratfy by their
votes the words OF its chorus or spokesman;
while Montgomery Blair talks on behalf OF
family behind which there stands no consitu-
ency of gratifying and ratifying voters, and
which can only exist as power in politics
through the individual intellect, pluck, brass
and assumptions Of its respective, if not re-
spected, members.
1t is on behalf of the Blair family, and to
wean President johnson from the alleged fatal
Establishments of its rivals, that Mr.. Lincoln's
ex-Postmaster General has made his recent
speech, attacking with equal bitterness the
Seward family, the Stanton family and the
Holt family, the main grauemen Of his charge
in each case running back to period anterior
to the firing upon Fort Sumter, and conse-
quently possessing no earthly or unearthly in
terest for any human being, save possibly for
some antiquarian explorer Of political inconsis-
tencies, or the deliver after prominent examples
of how far opinions may be modified by the
alterations Of time and the teachings Of ex-
prrience. Not TO have understood the war while
il was still babe in swaddling clothes,
and not to have foreseen its sudden growth
into an armed giant sweeping away
with desOlsting scythe all our ideas Of the past,
may have been either misfortune or a blum
der; while not to recognize the influence of
that war upon our politics, but still to go on
peddling and pottsring with the old stale tricks
of party legerdemain upon . country made
earnest by the blood and sacrifices OF its recent
struggle, Is nothing short of crime, and one
for which the Blair luglemsn il we Judge
rightly, stands in some danger Of being con-
victed.
The country to-day asks no questions as to
what Seward, or Stanton, or Holt or even the
great Blair family, either thought or said or did
in the last days of Buchanans presidency.
Even the question, "How have they deported
themselves throughout the warp il no longer
On interrogatory the answer to which can
prove Of any vital interest. The war
il done and over with, and we have
the evidence OF success that ell who
bore prominent parts therein-M Montgomery
Blair himself, ~ one of Mr.. Lincoln's Cabinet,
not excspted-did their spiritings with accept
ance. The only question now before the coun-
try In regard to any Of these gentlemen which
can materially interest the public mind is one
a. to their fitness and capacity for the days Of
reconstruction and peace upon which we have
now 10 happily entered. What they may have
said or done before the war Is of no account
For what they did during the war, or may
claim 10 have done to secure our success, We
are properly grateful; but II Is only when the
Blair fugleman impugns their present fitness
for thor places, and attempts to prove that
with other Cabinet advisers President John.
sons great policy Of reconstruction and reor-
ganiSation could be more promptly and en-
GENTLY carried out that BE- strikes any chord
capable Of awakening public attention and
claiming both our curiosity and interest.
And what II the summing ups Blair, on be-
half Of bis family, strikes for the control Of
President johnson and his policy in this speech.
Weed, ON behalf Of the Seward family, has been
adroitly engaged In the same attempted cap.
ture during the past couple of months, his
chief weapons being in the form of letters, oil
aiming to demonstlste that II was he, and he
alone, who made pr. Johnson Vice President,
and that II Is hSj tbd be 4lone--of course In
GLIDING bis patrons, the Seward fsmily-who
can maintain Tie Tennessee statesman al bis
present dizzy elevation. What should be the
PreaidenYs ooufsa akanuduot u regssd 10 heee