The New York herald., 1868-03-06

political activity has disturbed mems minds,
destroying social quiet, unsettling old estab-
lished convictions of right preparing the way
for change. Southern democrats brought the
trouble to the surface in an extreme assertion
of their old principle of State rights, forcing
the discussion from the councils of the nation
to the field Of battle. However their views
OF the nature Of government might have di-
vided the popular voice before the appeal to
arms, the attempt to destroy the Union by
force was an act that left no room for doubts,
and after that no man desiring to save the
country could be anywhere but against them.
The country rose, therefore, and put down reso-
lutely and yet as gently as 1t might those who
had made the first move, who had opened the
great revolutionary drama. Parties were
moved aside pushed away old political issues
and leaders were equally lost sight Of in this
great event. There were no parties. The
people acted primarily and directly to save
the country, and parties were only heard Of in
the corrupt scufle for contracts. New men
came to the surface with the great enforced
| activity, and the men whom the time Of trial
| proved to be really the fit leaders of the peo-
| ple-Grant, Thomas, Sherman, Sheridan and
the rest-were men whose names had made no
appearance in politics and might never have
been heard in the national story but for the
national danger.
But when the people, following their bold,
straightforward and great-hearted leaders, had
saved the nation by tho destruction of all
armed foes, there came new phase of the
revolution. 1t fell to the politicians to restore
order Congress was called upon to frame
laws in view of the new condition in which
the war had left the country-to establish
peace and to secure by enactments wisely
moderate all the good results of the national
triumph 1t failed to do this. It abused its
position and the fact soon became apparent
TO the country that Congress was controlled in
its action by "a faction as earnestly ben. to
destroy the Union as the Southern democrats
themselves had been. Acting for an object
essentially the same-polilical domination
the leaders of this faction deceived thu cou n.
try for time by pretending o patriotic pur.
pose. But they suffered no step TO be taken
to restore to their places in the Union the
States the other dsunionists had carried out
They not only kept the nation where the war
had left 1t in regard to disunion, but they
destroyed society itself in the disqualified |
States, inviting all the horrors of barbaric |
degradation; and, taking advantage Of the dis
organized and weakened condition Of the |
nation, they proceeded to undermine the very
foundation of the government by crppling
its most important powers. Already Of the
three great branches that are the recognized
balances Of each other in our system they
have reduced two TO mere forms Reading
backwards all history and usage. they have
declared tho Supreme Court a nullity and
paralyzed the Executive. At the national Cap
itol we see there disunionists now in the very
crisis OF their attempt engaged In removing
the President on rigmarole Of 6imsy pre-.
tences, having previously arranged tina! his
place shall be taken by creature Of their
own.
So far all this is only the ordinary story of
political revolution as 1t has been since gov
ernment began, and wherever men were
moved by personal or party ambitions II is
the story OF Greece, Of Rome and of all the
countries Of modern Europe IL turn; for it is
the story Of human passion. Ambitious
leaders, to force their own policy, take steps
that lead to war, and the nation puts them
down but in the heat and tumult equally am.
bilious leaders Of the other side, urging the
nation on against the common foe, carry II be.
yond the point at which it should stop-carry
it to the accomplishment Of thoir personal
revenges or party purposes; ard the people.
Of cto hat hoxv hoa,, toi.o
in the fury Of the struggle, believing that they
are still striking for freedom, forge their own
fetters. So Greece helped the Macedonian to
enslave her. So Rome, driven from Caus
Gracious TO CHINA, from Sulla to Marius, falls
at last into the. hands OF Caesar AMI France
driven from party to party, comes at length TO
such need Of rest that she prefers it to freedom.
But in oar own case there ia another element
The people are great power that stand
ing aloof, not sympathizing with the violent
passion Of party leaders. corrects the tendency
toward extremes as If with the cool, critical
eyes Of posterity. There Is day Of judgmen,
for politicians every time the people 60 to the
polls. But for this our revolution. sweeping
from point to point, would not be exempt from
the end that comes to al! such turmoils in the
destruction of freedom. There Is oil encour.
agement in the symptoms the elections give.
The results last year we're good this year
they are better Every appearance indicates
that New Hampshire will go against the repub-
llcans AMI II II does, that now dangerous
party will be destroyed forever in the elec-
| tions that will follow In tho larger States.
WENDELL PHILLIPS on INPEAcHMEyr,-W
print an extract to-day from the latest mani
festo OF Wendell Philips on the impeachment.
from which Il viii be seen that be has his
fears OF the Senate. lled, as he says 1t is. with
i lnwunra fad ON nnlf,L;r u a .rnni. nan rnir-