The New York herald., 1867-03-13

Az ~AAVOA 4s4A -
Tho Connections Observation-Disclosures De-
noraIizatioa Of Political Parties in tho
United States.
In another place in to-day's HERALD we pub
lish an article extracted from the columns OF
the Nation, weekly journal of very consider
able ability, published in this city. The article
suggests some very important and well-timed
thoughts for the consideration Of the reading
public in the Union Unlike anything that's to
be found In the columns Of those driveling jour
nails which are exclusively devoted to the
interests of party, this article has in 1t
rare freshness and vigor, and gives proof that
it emanates from wise, impartial and truly
philosophic mind
It would be strange indeed If the demoraliza-
tion Of our great political parties-a demoral-
iEation which has long been noticeable, but OF
which the election Of John Morrissey, ex-prise-
fighter and gambler, and the nomination Of T.
T. Barnum, small swindling Snowman and self
proclaimed cheat and humbug, are at once the
latest and most startling manifestations
should not call forth note Of alarm from more
quarters than one. The comparative silence,
indeed, Of the public press while these events
are taking place around US can scarcely be
less astounding to intelligent and watchfnl
minds in other countries than the events them
selves. For . time this downward tendency
was characteristic Of only one Of the two great
parties in the United States. Even then the
aspect Of things was alarming enough. The
annulling Of the Missouri compromise during
the Presidency Of Pierce, and the Kansas-Ne-
braska business in the time of Buchanan did
much not only to bring lasting disgrace on the
entire democracy Of the country, but to sap
the foundation Of all political morality. The
disgrace, however, If we are to judge from
present appearances, is no longer to attach to
one political party only. Generalization, il
Barnum be elected to Congress $50 at least the
/ outside world will be convinced), will have
become equally the characteristic of both.
Republicans will have no cause to be ashamed
Of democrats, nor will democrats have any
cause to envy republicans.
This state of things is the more astonishing
that the principles on which the republican
party was originally based and the objects
which tha. ; parry sought to accomplish were in
| perfect accordance with strict and sound
morality. In New England, where republican
| ism was born and whence il has ever drawn
its lfeblood, religion has never been wholly
| discovered from politics, nor has politics ever
been wholly discovered from religion. In
earlier times, whatever else may have been the
faults of the republican party, it cannot be said
of them that they ever openly trampled upon
public morals or that they lightly esteemed
individual character. The reverse has ever
been, and not unjustly, their pride. It is pre-
csely for these reasons that the world will be
unable to comprehend why, in one of the
Oldest, wealthiest and most intelligent States
of New England no filter person can be found
for nomination On tie republican ticket than
this small, sw;ndling Snowman and selEpro-
claimed humbug.
The disease to which we allude, however, is
neither local nor Individual, but national, and
deserving on that account the more serious
consideration. Like malignant cancer 1t has
sunk deep into the political system, nor, we
fear, will it be easy to uproot it without much
toll and suffering. It might be both interest
ing and profitable to inquire into the various
causes which have led to this state of things.
To do SO satisfactorily is impossible within the
limits of single article. There ia one thing,
however, to which we cannot help alluding,
and we mention It the more readily that it
seems to us to be ct once the result Of some
and the cause of many Of the evils which now
afact, and which threaten to aflict more and
more, the body polite. We refer to the false
standard of worth which the nation has set up
and by which it tests its public men. Success,
especially that kind Of success which expresses
itself in wealth, is everything character, moral
worth, is nothing. Than this no greater calam-
ity can befall nation. Character, the private
worth of the individual citizen, valuable In
every community, is especially 80 in repub-
lie. As the writer in the Nation well and truth
fully puts it -" Character is the most valuable
Of nations possessions. Opinions pass, parties
Dissolve, platforms are abandoned, the wisdom
OF to-day becomes the foolishness of ten
years hence; but character remains the same
yesterday, to-day and forever. No nation
which cherished and maintained IL has ever
utterly perished." Again, and with equal
truth he says:-'It Is OF moral, not Of politi-
cal decline, that nations die" No one who
has made himself familiar with the history Of
Rome in the later days of the republic, with
the history of Spain when gorgea with the
wealth of the Indies, with the history Of France
in more than one important crisis, and even
with that Of England In certain critical periods,
can fail to be impressed with the point and
truthfulness OF these remarks. They embody
the lesson which, Of all others, 1t is most i'm
portant for this nation to learn. Some twenty
years ago an able and scholarly English
writer, treating Of this republic, used th.s fol-
lowing lsnguage:-"The great problem OF tho
I Ii-.-An; ana all o.s.-,a