The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-13
The Political Horosc -Hfassachusetts and
South Carolina.

The Political H0r0sc -Hfassachusetts and
South CaroIinn.
General Grant is to be next President or
the United States, and his election win be the
signal for one Of the most tremendous political
commissions ever experienced on the American
Continent Underneath the surface Of the
pending contest there is at present going on q
grumbling and rumbling which tell unmls-
takably Of the conflicting nature of the ele-
ments at work in the bowels Of the old organi-
cations. The loyal portion of the democratic
party ma themselves, by the action of their
National Convention, drawn into association
with the anti-war sympathies of the willy
Seymour and the bold revolutionary proclama-
lions OF his more manly associate, Frank
Blair. The radical Jacobins in the republican
ranks are compelled by the force Of circum-
stances to rally around the standard Of
leader who has no share or sympathy in their
policy Of violence, malignity and hate. The
defeat of Seymour will utterly destroy the
present democratic organization and set free
the strong inside power that has long been
dissatisfied with the rule of the old line lead
conservative REACTION in the republican party
and the separation therefrom of the Butler
wing of Congress, together with Wendell
Phillips, the anti-slavery societies, Gerrit
Smith, Garrison, Susan B. Anthony,
Horace Greeley, Cady Stanton, and all
the strong minded women and weak
minded men who are bound to keep
society in perpetual hot water. In short,
there will be a topping over of old organiza-
tons, swallowing up Of old policy, caving
in Of old leaders, a wiping out of old land
marks ssnd general political shaking up.
equalled only BY the recent mighty CONFUSION
of nature along the whole western coast Of
South America
In the events which must follow this politi-
cal earthquake the South is destined to play
an important part. The radical policy OF
reconstruction is now an accomplished fact,
and the great folly of the democracy lies in
refusing to recognize it as such. The States
readmitted to representation in Congress are
equals in the Union with all their Northern
brethren, and there is no power in the North
OF III Tue SOutl, TcpuOuCouo VI III uOiuVOfosoS
to turn them out of the Union or deprive them
of their constitutional rights. The worst Of
reconstruction ia over for them. They have
rid themselves Of military rule, the expert
ment of negro suffrage has been tried and has
resulted in the adoption Of better State consti-
buttons than might have been anticipated, and
now there is every indication of the power
of the old masters, with their intelligence
and means to control the negro vote. The
men of the South recognize these facts, and as
statesmen they are preparing to avail them
selves Of the opportunity to recover their old
political power and influence in the councils OF
the nation. II is absurd to suppose that eleven
million whites, possessing all the Intelligence
and all the wealth In the Southern States, will
not in the end, under any form of reconstrlc-
ton, obtain complete political mastery over
four million blacks. But in the effort to eman-
cipate their States from partial laws, restrictions
and obligations not enforced against all others,
the statesmen of the South will receive the aid
and sympathy of conservative men of the
North. This will form the great issue between
future parties and the reconstructed Southern
democracy, raising the banner of equality
under the constitution for oil the States in the
Union, will sweep like tidal wave over the
country and be the successful party Of the
future.
One of the first Northern men to foresee
these results in the ''inexorable logic of events"
is Massachusetts, statesman who bears an
honored historical name. John Quincy Adams,
in his letter to the State Central Executive
Committee of the democracy Of South Caro-
lima, the text of which we republsh elsewhere,
shows at once a boldness and independence Of
views that smack of the spirit of his grand
father and shrewd appreciation of the fact that
the true policy of the future must be o
renewal of the old Union sentiment and de-
termination to live together in peace as per-
feet equals under the constitution. 1t Is
singular and striking event. this plain talk Of
Massachusetts, descendant from revolutionary
sires to the once hot-headed chivalry Of South
Carolina the persistent followers of the ignis
fatuus of estates rights and the bold advocates
Of secession. 1t may be that in the progress
Of events the great capital possessed by John
Quincy Adams in his honored historical name
may gain for him the leadership of the recon
structed democracy, based upon the solid
foundation of the united South and stretching
ont its strong arms over the North and West.
II may be that in the old antagonists, Massa
chusctts and South Carolina, we may yet find
the nucleus for practical and perfect union
of the States Two years ago we had an arm
in-arm convention In the City Of Brotherly
Love whose fruits were not of the most pro-
m.sing description. More recently we have
witnessed an arm-in-arm gathering in this
city productive of scarcely any better results.
But there may be an event In store for the
L.. In rnnkor