The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-19
The Rise. Decline and Fall Of tho Democratic
Party-What Comes Nexts

like the terrible edict against Belshazzar, that
the democratic party has been weighed in the
balances and found wanting, and that its
kingdom is turned over to the Medes and
Persians. II is the conclusion Of one of the
great chapters Of our political history cover
ing all the vicissitudes of parties, platforms and
politicians all our political agitations Of sects,
nationalities, sections and factions, and all our
measures Of progress and development, and
since the first election Of General Jackson, in
1928, as President of the United States.
The election of 1824--the old pre-existing
parties having become call republicans and
all federalists was scrub race between
Jackson, Adams, Crawford and Clay, resulting
in the choice Of Adams by the House Of Repre-
sentatives. From that day, on the charge Of
bargain and sale against the supporters of
Adams and Clay, and upon the glory Of the
battle Of New Orleans, and the cry Of " re-
trenchment and REFORM" began that crystalli-
cation Of the drifting political elements Of the
country around General Jackson which re-
suited in his first election. The "Hero of New
Orleans" too. was actively identified with the
old republican war party Of 1872, while John
Quincy Adams, as the son Of the original
leader Of the fcderalists, John Adams, was
identified as the embodiment Of the alien and
sedition laws ana the Hartford peace conven-
tionists in The war of 1872 and thus to the
election OF Martin Van Buren,, these old
divisions operated in marking the lines Of the
new parties.
The Jacksonian party, however, was without
fixed policy until The second election of
"Old Hickory" in 1882 as the champion Of
the war against the old United States Bank
and against its power in POLITICAL corruption as
a great financial monopoly. With the over
throw Of the bank Jackson undertook new
financial system with the "pet banks" Of the
several States, in dividing the Treasury gold
some thirty odd millions-among them, as his
repositories The paper money imitation Of
1856 followed, and then came the tremen-
dous financial collapse, under Van Buren,, of
1887, which swept the democracy out Of power
in 1910, with Tho resistless sweep Of q popular
tornado. This political revolution, however,
did not revolutionize Van Buren's Sub-Treas-
ury system; but it brought the democracf to
change Of base from the financial TO The
slavery question, under the Southern Calhoun
wing Of the party, its powerful enemy, Jack
son, being now out Of the way in his quiet
retirement at the Hermitage.
In January, 1874, there was, as we were after
wards informed, a tacit understanding between
Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Van Buren,, that, a. they were
to be pitted against each other Ia that years
election, they would both take ground against
the scheme Of the annexation Of Texas, 80 as
to keep that dangerous slavery issue out Of the
canvass. At all events, when, in February, AZ
we remember IL, they were sounded upon the
subject, there was remarkable coincidence Of
opinion in opposition to the Texas scheme be-
tween Clay and Van Buren,. But the Southern
democratic leaders broke up this arrangement
nj their Baltimore Convention, a few months
later, In enforcing for the first time their
famous two-thirds rule In order 10 overcome
Van Burcn's pledged majority. Thus Van Blu
rem and his policy Of ignoring or postpening
the Texas annexation scheme were cast aside
by the Southern democratic leaders, and Polk
was nominated, pledged 10 the annexation, with
all its hazards or war with Mexico.
From this bold and startling movement for
the addition Of an empire at the expense Of O
foreign war TO the Southern pro-slavery bal
ance OF power in Congress began the real
decline and fall Of the democratic party. Polk
was elected, the Mexican war followed the
Texas annexation, the treaty Of peace brought
into the Union new empire, upon the division
Of which on the slavery question Van Buren,
had his revenge In defeating the democratic
party in ls4s by his independent free soil move
ment That was the first staggering blow to
the party from the anti-slavery elements Of the
North. II rallied, however, in 1852, and
almost swept the field on Clay's great COM
promise measures Of 1850, and II might have
held the government 10 this day had the party
thus remained. But is Southern leaders
Mason, JEFF Davis, Slidell and company, bent
upon o Southern confederacy, cajolcd poor
Douglas and coerced poor Pierce into the
repeal of the old Missouri Compromise, and
the Kansas border war on slavery, old John
Brown, poor old Buchanan, the Democratic
Convention. rupture Of the party, Abraham
Lincoln, the rebellion, the Chicago Conven-
ton, the suppression Of the rebellion, the con.
filct between President johnson aud Congress-
and the late terrific elections, tell the rest Of
the story.
Thus, in ib desperate struggles 10 retain the
government or to destroy the government by
the strong arm Of southern slavery, TIE gres!
democratic party was first crippled, then
divided, and = pow destroyed Ih first disss
iroas step was in ihe onsiing Of Van Buren, OF
TIC Texas question, and It's last was In still
adhcring TO lie traitors Of The South against
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