The New York herald., 1866-03-19


When the great topic before the country
was the war, no man could doubt which
side he was on. There was but ono possible
side for every patriot, and all the copperhead
inventions and arguments, all the finely
affected indignation against arbitrary power,
military rule, and all that did not for an instant
confuse the people. But when the country was
saved, when tho armies went home-when ell
that the soldiers could do was done-then tho
politicians came forward again, and there were
parties once more. Men who had just stood
shoulder to shoulder, who seemed to have no
other thought or purpose In life than the good
Of the country and how best to secure tho
national welfare, now began to take the most
diverse views Of the necessities of the case, and
to advocate measures go widely different that
they could not possibly both have the same
happy result Of securing peace and prosperity.
How should the people choose between such
parties, when both claimed to do all for the
good of the country, and when, few months
ago, all were equally urgent in the common
cause! How should they discriminate between
parts Of the organization that had certainly
saved the country, when the parts were now
equally loud in claiming to be animated by
the same good purpose! The difficulty that
surrounds such discrimination has been the
life of the radical faction. That faction has
been able to keep together only because it has
been able to conceal Its purposes from the peo-
pie. 1t has escaped the storm Of popular in
dignation in its many DISCUSSES, and has found
safety in the constant declaration that it was
not at issue with the President and that its
grand object was reconstruction.
But that game is pretty well done with now.
The disguise is torn away effectually. For the
first time since the politicians succeeded to the
soldiers in the arrangement of our national
affairs the Issues and the position Of parties
are so clear that partisans cannot confuse the
vision Of the people. Standing forward in his
high position, the President has appealed to
the people against the factious fanatics who,
pretending to be friendly to his popular policy
of reconstruction, were doing their utmost to
defeat it. He has denounced boldly and open
ly tho traitors that, like our former foes In the
field, only assumed the garb of Union men in
order to get close enough to give treacherous
fire into the ranks of men really fighting for
the Union. His bold declarations have ex-
posed the whole insidious game. He has re-
called the popular recollection to the fact that
these men sustained the cause Of the country
only because it happened to coincide with GER
tain purposes of their own, and has properly
put them in the category of traitors, because
they have always been and are now as ready
as the rebels to destroy the government, when
they could not accomplish their objects in any
other way. The speech in which Mr.. john
son laid before the country on Washing
toms birthday the true position Of the
great issues of the day Is the finest thing in his
history. Its truth, its magnificent force, may
be seen by the terrible writings it causes
among the radical vipers everywhere. Az q
piece Of unpremeditated, energetic, earnest
eloquence, ii is without an equal. 1t has all
the fire, all tho fcrvid denunciation that Is so
splendid in Demosthenes, with m ore directncss,
distinctness and point than is found In any
effort of the great Athenian.
The people from Maine to California will re-
spond to this bold appeal. Its simple view of
the political situation is the peoples view, and
it will become the platform of a new party.
That new party, made from the conservative
republicans and fsom what is left of the rank
and file of the democracy, has already had the
breath Of life breathed into IL by the Presidents
words. That new party will carry the coun-
try in the next elections, or If il do no, quite
that, it will open the way so well that it will
sweep all before It in 1868. It's simple idea
will be. the good Of the country before every
thing. II will at once rebuke and crush ont
both extremes with the grand thought quoted
by the President from Mr.. Lincoln, that so far
from keeping the Southern States ont of Con-
gress, we ought rather to force them to come
in, if that should prove necessary. This party
will class Garrison and Vallandigham together;
it will put Stevens and Yancey side by side as
enemies OF the government making no choice
whatever between men who prefer their own
notion to the common good. Mr.. Johnson has
laid down the platform OF this party, and its
growth, its triumph over oil the factious elc-
ments will be an inevitable part of the progress
of events. The eyes of the people are open,
and all the radical jugglery cannot clos them.
SENATOR SHERMAN on THE WRONG TAcE--
The Senator from Ohio has always enjoyed q
very enviable reputation for honesty, integrity
and common sense. His recent speech In the
Senate upon the differences between the Presi-
dent and Congress was admirable in Its tone,
irrcfuiablc in most Of its conclusions, and was
received with respect by men of all parties
and factions. But his speech at political
meeting at Bridgeport, Conn.,, on Saturday last,
was entirely unworthy of his reputation II
was the most common sort OF stump harangue.
He undertook 10 show that the President and