The New York herald., 1868-04-11


three O'Clock p N. to-day for New Orleans direct
| GuanO In Polltics-The Barnum Age OF
Politicians Departing.
The reign of humbug politicians in this coun-
try is drawing to It's close. Whichever OF the
great parties attains the ascendant distin-
0uished and earnest men must be at the head
and control affairs. Whether the radicals sue
ceed in completely revolutionizing the govern
ment and establishing an oligarchy, with Grant
as it's 6gurehead, or the democrats regain power,
with Farragut or some such man as their chief,
| and restore in some measure the old constitu-
tional government, the rule of political Barnums
will soon be over. The war, with its terrible
realities and consequences, the magnitude Of
the republic and governmental system, the
vastness of the national debt and financial
operations, the wonderful developments Of the
age and the mighty future of the republic, are
enlarging the ideas Of the people and evoking
great earnestness in public men. We
may still see corruption and extravaganza and
feel the despotism of political oligarchy, but
there will be a largeness and earnestness in
everything. The little tricks of small politi-
clans, which heretofore have been effective in
controlling legislation, the administration of
government and parties, are well nigh played
out. The vocation of State BARRIERS is gone.
That celebrated State barber to Louis the
Eleventh of France, Oliver LIE Dain, was the
prototype of our Thurlow Weeds. The French
monarch, affecting great deal of piety and
honesty, humbugged his minister's, the Parlia-
ment and the public, and was only confidential
to the man who shaved him and aided him in
his trickery. In the same manner such lead
ing politicians as Seward and others have used
the Thurlow Weeds to mislead the people and
to carry out their public measures or private
jobs, our political BARRIERS, however, partici-
pating in the results with their patrons. They
have had their bogus mermaids, gorillas and
woolly horses; but the age of these Barnum
politicians is over. The last destruction of
the museum of humbugs in this city by fire is
coincident with the fall of political charlatanry,
just as the last destruction of the Temple at
Jerusalem was the end Of the Jewish nation
and system of government.
dynasty which has come to light, judging from
appearances, is concerning the so-called guano
island of Alta Vela, on the coast of st. Do
mingo. 1t appears from the published letter of
Judge Black, which appeared in the HERALD
recently, and from other revelations, that Mr..
Seward has been playing questionable game
in the matter, adroitly ousting one set Of
American claimants to put another in. We
have not yet ascertained If his barber, T. w.,
is interested but, looking at the antecedents OF
both and their relationship with each other,
that seems probable. 1t has been often re-
marked that great events sometimes flow from
small causes, and it would be remarkable if
the conviction and removal of President John
son, now on trial Of impeachment, should be
the consequence of this Alta Vela quarrel.
The learned Judge Black was one of the Presi-
dents counsel, and he might, possibly, by his
great ability, have saved the President; but he
quarrelled with Seward and johnson on this
guano business and abandoned his client. So
we see that, after all, guano may have an i'm
portant bearing on the result of the impeach-
ment trial.
But the people will ask what all this fuss
and this long letter of Judge Black mean.
They will imagine, doubtless, that from Mr..
Stewards adroit scheming and Judge Blacks
noise about Alta Vela there must be mines
of wealth in the guano deposits Of that
island. The truth is, it all looks like an
advertising dodge to induce the people to
believe in the virtue of this so-called guano and
the simple farmers to purchase it. There was
great fuss made about Aves Island, another
guano island in the Caribbean, some few
years ago, which had the effect of advertising
the stock of the company and Of selling the
guano for time. The history of that affair is
laughable. AYES Island was claimed by an
American company-the Philadelphia Guano
Company-and at the same time by the govern
ment of Venezuela. It appears that Venezuela
owns small island of that name among the
Leeward group, which run parallel with Its
coast along the Caribbean Sea. Supposine
this was the island meant when the noise
about guano first reached the government, Q
vessel was sent TO oust the American intruders
but this was mistake: the real Aves Island on
| which the guano was said to be found wai
one Of the Windward Islands, and far away
from Venezuela. But Venezuela was ir
for the guano any way, and, though 1t had ne
claim to the island from proximity to Its terri
tory, actually claimed It by discovery and
through the sovereign right Of first possession
1t served the purpose of advertising thu
stuff there called guano for time. II is thu
same now with Alta vela. And here let VI
say word about this so-caled guano. It L
nothing like the guano found along the coas
and islands Of Peru. It is not the manure OF
deposit Of birds. The heavy rains of the Carib
| hmm md Tho Wind.ua.d L IL L. Il