The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-16

fully carried on. Mr.. Johnson against the de-
similar attitude. In this crisis against Chase or
Grant as the radical candidate, it may well be
doubted whether any other man is competent
TO take Johnson's place as the recognized
head Of all the opposition forces. Without
his support they are shipwrecked, but under
his banner they secure at once the key
to the enemy's position. Such is the balance
Of power which Andrew Johnson holds in re-
ference to the succession. Is it to be used or
cast away? That Is the question.
The REORGANIZATION Of Political Parties In
the State.
Tho several political parties in the State are
busily engaged in the work Of reorganization
preliminary to the approaching Presidential
contest-burnishing their arms. patching their
old clothes, selecting their leaders and map
ping out their plans of the campaign. The
radicals in this city have made clean sweep
in their General Committee, deposing all the
old officers, who cut down the party vote fifty
per cent in the last December election, and
putting new set in their places. Those
"ancient and fish-liken democratic leaders,
Horatio Seymour, John A. Green, Peter Gag
ger and Sanford E. Church, recently assembled
at Albany to take into consideration the pro-
prlety of retaining in their hands the manage
ment of the democratic organization and run
ming Seymour for President but their love-
feast was spoiled by the sudden appearance OF
the Tammany leaders at the State capital,
who proceeded at once to organize the Legis-
dous majority in this city last November
succeeded in effecnally deposing Sey mour,
Cagger, Green, Church and Company, and in
taking into their own possession the wires that
move the democratic machinery all over the
State. The conservative or Seward republic
cans have also been on the alert; and after
brushing up their home affairs in New York,
and electing president. vice presidents, Sec
retaries and treasurer of their respectfully
select organization, are now in Washington,
probably making an effort to induce Andrew
Johnson to strengthen their hands for the
Presidential fight with such little patronage as
ne may have to bestow.
OF all these parties the democrats will oc.
cupy the most important position in the ap-
preaching campaign, from their sweeping vic
tory Of last fall and the complete revolution
they then made in the political standing of
the State. With ordinary prudence the New
York democracy will not only increase their
majority next November over the revo-
lutionary radical negro reconstructionists,
hut will carry with them nearly all
President, together with their own Governor
and other State officers. But in order to
DO this they must eschew all such small
politicians us Church, Cagger, Green and
Hoffman, who have neither brains to conceive
q plan of campaign nor courage to execute q
bold political movement, and must place
themselves under the leadership OF the men
who won for them the tremendous victories OF
last November and December. 1t is time now
for the party to select standard bearer, and
their choice should fall upon Peter Bismarck
Sweeny, TO whose mastery management bold
ness and skill the recent success Of the party
is wholly due. The democracy OF the rural
districts, under the leadership of Dean Rich
mond's former lackeys were beaten by their
opponents last November, and ii it had not
scmbly, the Canal Board and all the State
Oh .es would still be in the hands Of the Fenton
radicals. But Bismarck Swseny came to the
rescue, rallied the democratic masses Of the
made combinations with the skill
of an accomplished general, and piled up o
majority large enough to redeem the losses
incurred by the laundering management of
the country leaders and to entirely revolu-
tionizc the State.
The democracy of New York should, there
fore, Immediately nominate Bismarck Sweeny
as their candidate for Governor next fall.
Under his standard they will succeed in unit
ing all the conservative elements in the State.
His extraordinary skill in combinations is
established by the fact that he succeeded last
December in domolishing all the outside demo-
cratic organizations that have 80 long made
successful war agaius! the regular democracy
OF the city, and for the 6rst time in ten years
has gathered the whole democratic party Of
New York inside the Tammany Wigwam
Hoffman and the rest are only the tools with
which Sweeny worked. They are incapable Of
managing party. and could never have sue
ceeded but for bis master mind and extraordi-
nary power as political leader. Sweeny has
also shrewdly established for himself . wide
popularity by giving up to the city treasury
some hundred and fifty or two hundred thou
sand dollars year-the perquisites Of his
Office Of City Chamberain-thus showing him
self to be practical reformer and economist
This one act will gain for him one hundred
thousand votes outside bis political party, and
we have no doubt .ha! bis majority for Cover
40 iii ~ lor0ov than uas avar haforo caat