The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-02
Another Presidential DIeve-The Propose
Flanagaa Party.

Two or three days ago the President issued
very sensible order to United States Mar.
shals, instrucdng them to "observe with
vigilance all persons whom they had reason.
able cause to suspect" Of flibustering pur.
poses. The marshals were also authorized to
promptly interpose the authority Of the
United States" in these cases for the proven.
ton Of dangerous consequences. Occasion
has arisen for the enforcement of this order
sooner than seemed probable. Here is Flan-
agan. of Pennsylvania, and here are Welsh
and Topsawyer, and other illustrious citizens
of the same great Commonw salth-arrant
filibusters all-and where are the marshals
Out of sight as yet; going down the round
turn, and over the homestretch, and ON the
second half mile, and up the distance pole,
and in all those sorts of places, but of course
not where they ought to be-interposng tie
authority of the United States against the
dangerous scheme of these political scape-
graces and spectators and their filibustering
attempt to build up private party of their
own, to the great disturbance and probable
ruin of the regularly established parties that
now control the people and tie spols. II
there ever was case for the marshals, this Is
one If filibustering is dangerous anywhere, it
is on occasions like this, where distinguished
sons of the republic, with political ambition
soaring beyond all ordinary control, with a
hunger and thirst for office and plumber such
as no possible party can hope to satisfy, throw
themselves out of the common trammels of
life and start on career as ambitious as that
of Phaeton, who took Apollo's ribbons for a
day and run his establishment into the Pc.
Having (perhaps) nothing to lose and (another
perhaps) much to gain, who knows what
parties they may destroy or with what sudden
making Of splendid names" they may iIlu-
inmate the century? Who shall say that they
may not make Andrew Johnson President, or,
failing that land him lower than President
of the United States ought to go? aa
Semmes, the illustrious admiral of the once
Confederate navy, acknowledged recently the
embarrassment of not knowing man who had
forced himself upon his attention. He had
never before heard Of his name or fame"
However we might desire such refuge as this
in regard to the Flanagan party, it is denied
us. Who could expect to be credited in say
ing that he had never heard the name of
Flanagan? We have heard the name of Welsh
also. Nor can we conscientiously deny our
familiarity with the name of Sawyer. We would
not however, undertake to answer for the
identity of the particular Flanagan, Welsh and
Sawyer in question; but they cannot pretend
to be more respectfully obscure than others of
their names, and, therefore, this point is of less
consequence. There is one identity we can
answer for, and that is the identity of their
little game. We have seen that played in all
sorts Of shapes, in all sorts of ways and under
all conceivable names, and it is still the same
old game. Indeed, we have been expecting
the appearance of Flanagan, Welsh and Sawyer
with this grand game for about FIVE days.
That number of days ago, if we remember ac-
curately, the President was reported as saying
that " the Mcclellan vote, the anti-negro suf-
frage vote and the Southern vote would elect
the next President" That sentence was the
seed that has already sprouted and promises
to bloom into the great Flanagan party 1t is
not important whether this delegation answers
they will accept the offices for either or both !;
and their intention TO form q new party, dis
tinct from either Of the great political
parties-if carried out-will furnish
broad and roomy platform that any
one can stand upon. Indeed, it will be so
broad that il may become identified with the
general surface, and so be no platform at ALL
Mr.. Johnson has left "the issues of the hour
in the hands OF Flanagan, however, and in
such hands they are sure to be safe although
If by the phrase the tissues of the hour" he
means the disposal Of the Offices, we are not
sure that the Mcclellan vote" will feel that
confidence in Flanagan that bis very name in
spires in us.
1t remains 10 be seen how this development
will affect the general Presidential canvass.
OF course its influence will be great, for this
suddenly appearing Flanagan party, bearing
the fortunes of Mr.. Johnson, vitalized by his
principles aud kept together by his patron
age, will make grand centre of attraction for
all free political lances. Wendell Phillips,
who wants man Of words for the Presidency,
might do worse than take Johnson. Greeley
has declared his desire for a candidate whose
principles are known-and what mans princi-
pier are better known than Johnson's are!
Indeed, Mr.. johnson is exactly the candidate
defined by Greeley and Phillips in their vague
attempts to say what sort of candidate is
necessary, and thus there is high probability
that they will come into the Flanagan party,
but too late OF course, to divide honors with
its great originator. These are some of the
changes that the development Of the Flanagan
party may bring about. There will Of course
be others; but we will not enter upon the
labor OF indicating them just now, being con.
tent for the present with pointing out the fact
that under the auspices Of this new John Jones
and man Friday Andy Johnson may look
forward to grauder future than the Tennessee