The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-22

49, ! 3. 5s-.s.s .. 0sSTi
We understand that some Of the managers Of
the democracy in this city have within : fsw
days past been putting their heads together
and comparing notes Is to the new programme
Of operations best calculated to get their party
fairly on its pins again for the approaching
Presidential contest II further appears that
number Of the party leaders from different
places have recently had confidential con-
sulAtion OF two In Washington on the Same
subject in some way or other in connection
with the prospective support Of the admins
tration. Yet again, It Il reported that the
Connecticut democracy propose 10 hold
State Convention on large scale on the Sch Of
January, from which we may expect some pro-
gramme which viii be carried into practice In
behalf Of national democratic convention, to
devise some general plan of Opposition to the
measures Of the present radical Congress-"
This Is N lame and impotent conclusion"
Opposition to the present radical Congress"
was the ground upon which the befogged and
benighted democrats were 90 drsadfdliy, cut
up in all the late elections, from Maine to Ore
gon. II needs no national convention 70 settle
| that question. Since the memorable year Of
grace 1860, when the democratic party was
broken down under that feeble old man,
Buchanan, and broken up at the Charleston
Convention, it has been growing small by de-
grees and beautifully less" In 1861 it had
al a. rod frOvvn v,,,ht Tn
1862, in following tho advice of the HERALD,
by adopting the platform Of 90 more vigorous
prosecution Of the war;" the resuscitated party
NOT only came bravely into the political field
again, but carried New York and several
others of the great Central States. After those
elections down to this day, under the popular
odum which always follows 'the peace party
of the war;" the demoralized democracy pre-
viously distinguished as the ''unterriied de-
mocracy," and the ''ferce democracic," and
the sfghting democracy" have been 50 uni
yersally, uniformly and mercilessly drubbed
that it would be sheer nonsense for them to Al
tempt to fight upon their old system any longer.
Like the old torn down "Castle of Incidence"
which they inhabited, the party itself must be
reconstructed, from "the coalhole" to the
oupola. AS now organized, or rather disor-
ganized, the administration can do nothing to
help them, and they can do nothing to hop
the administration.
Let them, therefore, call national conven-
ton, not for the purpose Of fighting their late
battles and suffering their late defeats over
again, but for the purpose Of recognizing and
falling in with the march Of the great revolu-
tionary events which have come upon us and
which cannot be put back. II they meet in
convention and adopt the new platform Of the
pending constitutional amendment, upon which
the undivided North has stamped the seal Of
its appreciation, the democratic party before
the year 1868 may recover their Southern
balance OF power with the restoration of the
South. And IL they at once up set as their cham
pion for the next Presidency on this new plat
form General Mcclellan, General Sherman or
General Thomas they may at once consolidate
all their scattered forces in the North. General
Thomas, all things considered, would probably
be their best man. He has the singular merit
OF never losing battle and never making
mistake from the beginning TO the end of the war.
Tried and trusty, his name would be as popular
ss that of "Old Rough and Ready" AS South
ern man and as q Union soldier, too, his name
would be hailed as bond Of uhion in both
sections; and his record is 40 clear that nothing
could be said against him.
In any event, all history teaches us that the
first essential to the success OF a new party or
Of an old party coming up again in . new
shape is the attraction Of some popular
name-some man who can be recognized as
the embodiment Of the party and its cause.
Thus the old republican party crystallized
around Jefferson, thus the late democratic party
was rallied around Jackson, and the once great
wing party around Henry Clay as its embodi-
ment; and thus, too, in the name OF Abraham
Lincoln, the present republican party came
into power. A national convention, then and
n new departure, and a Union soldier pnt for
ward for the next Presidency, whose name, Ike
the Kings, sis tower OF strength" are the
steps required 70 put the PROSTATE democracy
upon their feet again. Thus recognized, from
| the divisions of the republicans, resulting per-
haps in a scrub race, the democrats may win
| the prize in 1865; but il they wait much longer
before moving they are gonc-gone like u
| old whig party, never to rise again.
| The New French Minister of Foreign
| According to a Paris telegram .ne ION
| instant, ii is said that the Marqujs ue "ousurr
has resigned his position in theimperia' 'ao'-
net as Foreign Minister, and da' '"e a'rauls
| de Lavalettc will be his s-cesSor. Inc Mar
quis dc Lavalette, II wip'e remembered tenn
porarily held this pos,on alter NJ. Drouyn de
| Lhuys had resigned and until the Marquis do
| Mo,s,;er had time reach Paris from Constan-
~ =. voloiia wbile Eareion Minis