The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-03-28

TIE Fusure Of the United states-A Hint to
the Republican Party.
When in the yet distant future, time having
rolled away the mists OF prejudice through
which we are too apt TO contemplate the things
OF the present, the history of these United
States comes to be wisely and imparhaily
written, the crisis through which the nation has
passed and the crisis on which she has entered
will form two of its most interesting and most
instructive sections. In treating Of the first Of
these crises it win devolve upon the historian
to trace to their roots the various causes which
at last exploded in . gigantic civil war |;
to relate how, for Q time, that war
threatened to rend the great republic in twain,
and how, contrary to almost universal ex-
pectation, and after almost unexampled sacri-
fee and suffering, the rebellion was finally
and efectually suppressed. Nor will 1t be
possible for him in summing up the results
of that fearful struggle not to speak In terms
Of lofty eulogy Of that political party to whose
wisdom and energy and selfsacridce and in
domitable perseverance we mainly owe 1t that
the republic has been preserved entire, and
that never at any former period was its dag
more respected or Id destiny more promising.
The character Of the other crisis lies as yet
hidden in the womb Of the future; but 1t will be
well for the lasting reputation of the republi-
can party If at the close Of this second
period their record shall prove to be as illus
trious as it was at the close of the first.
Itcannot be said that the course which events
have taken since the suppression Of the rebel
lion has exclusively encouraged such hope.
The history of the dominant republican party
since the close of the war has unfortunately in
too many particulars resembled the history of
dominant and successful parties in all ages and
in all nations. United, vigorous, patriotic 80
long as they are beset by common enemy,
they have too often become prey to division,
to weakness to selfshness, the moment the
enemy has ceased to resist. 1t was when the
energies Of the nation combined and success
fully repelled powerful foreign invasion that
the French republic revealed its greatest
vitality. 1t was directly when that enemy
was gone that the republic revealed It's
greatest weakness The passions and preju-
dices and petty rivalries Of sections and
individuals which were sti1ed and restrained
so long as France was threatened by foe
from without burst forth with destructive vio-
lence as soon as the foe disappeared, and the
French republic was ruined by enemies from
within. If the republic Of the United States
is free from such danger and can look forward
with hope and confidence to a prosperous and
glorious future, it cannot be said that we are
indebted for our security and hopefulness to
the lofty wisdom, the unfailing good sense. the
noble and undivided aims Of those in whose
hands the government Of the nation has been
rested since the close Of the war; The debt
ander which we are laid to the republican
general course of American politics, the say
lngs and doings of American statesmen, the
exhibitions which are daily
made within the halls Of Congress
and the decentralization which has set In
with . powerful current, and which Is
In greater or lesser degree Of
both Of our great political parties, are in the
eyes Of the world In the last degree dshonor-
ing to the American Union and to those noble
institutions of which we have so much cause
to be proud. 1t isimpossible, indeed, for any
one interested in the honor and welfare Of his
country to contemplate the present aspect of
things but with feelings of pain.
There is one section Of politicians to whom
the nation is beginning to turn its eyes with
hopeful confidence. The more conservative
OF the republican party, who have long been
in the minority, are already making their
influence felt Now Is their opportunity. If
they would give . new tone to and take
the lead of the party with whom they
have boon acting, or II they would
organize new party on broader and nobler
basis, they never can have more fitting
The nation Is sick Of strife and
division. Wiser and more temperate counsels
are needed. The change Of feeling which has
taken place In the South seems to have be-
gotten corresponding change in the North.
Restoration cannot be more anxiously longed
for in the one case than 1t will be heartily well
coined in the other BY dint Of skilful manage
ment North and South may soon be knit
together in the bonds OF happy Union.
But the crisis Is delicate. Extreme mea-
surcs may mar and ruin the whole. Wisdom
and caution are in the highest de-
gree necessary. There is no party whose
counsels are more suited 10 the occasion than
those Of the conservative republicans. Theirs is
the opportunity II they will only embrace it. If
they fail to.take advantage Of it it is impossible
to predict into what Reorganization the repub-
lican party may be thrown, or what may be the
parties and measures Of the future. If they
seize II and prove themselves worthy Of the
occasion they shall have the honor, not only Of
restoring the Union, and thus Of wiping out the
last trace Of our unhappy domestic divisions,
but of building up great and powerful party
which shall control tho destinies Of this nation