The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-26
DISCUSSION OF NATIONAL POLITICS.

DISCUSSION OF NATIONAL POLITICS.
Tho Prospects of tho Campaign.
From the Round Table, August %.
The Presidential campaign SO far has consisted OF
preparation rather than OF conflict. The combatans
have been sharpening their arms, measuring their
distances and accommodating their resources but mel.
Their has YET actually taken the field. Trumpets OF
defiance and fsh-horns OF vtuperation have been
sounded on both sides in manner sufficiently dis
credtable and the respective candidates have been
so satisfactorily proved To be the basest OF mankind
that neither would seem to possess any moral ad-
vantage over the other. The mOuthpeceS OF each
fairly contest the palm for pre-emnence In black
guardism, and Mr.. Greeley's La Crosse Republican
Is neck-and-neck with Mr.. Pomeroy's La Crosse
Specifically speaking the chances of the two
parties may appear TO be relatively unchanged, and
In favor Of the election OF General Grant, Our con-
victon was freely expressed at the time Of the New
York nomination that, in selecting Governor Sey-
mour for their standard bearer the democrats had
set the seal to their own defeat. Did we Judge
merely from indications on the surface, this convc
become persuaded that there Is powerful under
current OF popular dissatisfaction with radical rule
and radical measures which Is gaining rather than
losing strength with the passage OF time, and that
consequently, the chances, which at present we es-
victorious degree, to the democratic side
1t is plain MISUNDERSTANDING the assistance Of
some OF their old time allies the fre-eang zeaots
OF the SOuth-tne efforts Of the radicals to afX TO
the democratic the stigma OF dsloyalty, or In
general, Of attachment to dead and gone unpopular
issues meets sympathetic response from the great
body Of the people. The civil war is not to be fought
over again. neither is slavery to be revived. There
are regulators among republicans as well as among
democrats, and the respective advocates OF free
trade and protection are alike to be found in the
ranks OF both parties. In word. there Is no dis
tnctive principle or measure on either side which IL
Likely to outweigh with the bulk OF voters their
victiOns the subject OF reconstruction. Substan-
TALLY speaking, those who believe in and would per-
petuae universal negro suffra will vote solidly
one side and those who dsbeleve In universal negro
suffrage, or would leave it to the regulation OF the
States themselves, Will vote on the other.
Assuredly no intelligent man can credit that there
would be less danger TO the national honor, far
the public debt concerned in the success OF party
which counts General Butler among its most infu-
entail leaders than would rise from the victory Of its
rival But in point OF fact immediate question of
finance will be determined either one way or the
other by the Presidential election. Prospectivey,
there may be looked for that mitigation Of public
burdens or that aggravation OF them which becomes
respectively natural when man trained in public
affairs or man ignorant OF them-both being adj
mandng and influential position. In the absence Of
specific pledges, or, indeed, Of any definite or I'M
CHECKED bearing upon ~ es OF Ike
cratic candidate should manifestiy be the favOrite
But the outrageous plumbers Of the party In power in
all things relating to this monentOus subject, their
utter want Of anything like settled or permanent
policy, the enormous injury they have inflicted
Country by their procrastinations, their uncer-
tainties and their ignorance, undoubtedly have
persuaded thousands OF sober-minded men that on
this ground alone any possible change in administra-
ton would be a change for the better. Most GER
tany, no conceivable party or policy could be worse
than those that by refusing to reform the civil SER
vice. have refused in time OF unprecedented public
burdens to the country siXty-fve millions OF
whiskey Frauds have Impoverished the Treasury to
an amount equal to more than half the entire pre-
sent annual revenue. Now all this cheating, tmbe-
ciiry and folly may he inseparabe from loyalty and
hatred of copperheads and disnterested love Of ne
groes but Il they are being OF very palpa6le injury
jincts OF but theoretic advantage, 1t seems ex
ceedingy likely that practical people may prefer
apart from all other issues to rid themselves Of the
whole load OF such good, bad and doubtful qualities
But the election hinges upon reconstruction, to
which all other questions, however important, are
evidently to be reckoned rs subordinate. The re-
publicans well knowing their most Vulnerable side
deprecate this view OF the case with refreshing SIM
pcity. The issue Of reconstruction, say they, IL
closed by events. Reconstruction is thing accom-
psned. Hence 10 IL inadmtssible, or at least I'M
proftable to discuss the wisdom Of the process In
other words. premium should be offered for all
future time to encourage ranc0rous, precptate and
unconstitutional legislation with the promised result
Of viating every established element of the United
States government and insurng its early overthrow.
The national history has been eventful and unique
and particularly OF late years, has presented unex
pected vicssitudes but We do not yet believe that
Americana are prepared without revision to accept
which, irrevocable thereafter, without blo0dshed,
involves the negation OF hitherto cherished and
signay important principle OF their constitution.
Already we hear from numerous points accounts
OF collisions which have been repeatedly foresha-
dOWcd IN these Columns as lneNUaDe III u political
equality by many deemed unnatural and which In
any moderate view was at least premature, were
forced upon the superior race Of the Southern peo
pie Aacady the results Of amazing want OF states
manshp, TO say nothing Of ordinary tact or generous
feeling. are becoming critically manifest. Already
crazy ianaticism Is exulting over secondary symp-
toms that IL fails to see NAV prove the medicine TO
have been worse than the disease The remarka-
BILE appropriately OF General Grant meanwhile appears
10 increase from day To day. Whethert IS that the
people instnciively realize the Improperly In re-
public OF placing military man chief ruler over
has just subdued, or that the Commander.in Chiefs
personal characteristics beget constantly augment
Ing dislike, 1t Is certainly true that for military
ever presented as a candidate for the Presidency
enthusiasm. The weakness OF some parts OF the
democratic platform and the ridiculous indiscretions
OF democratic speech-makers, are perhaps
than coupterbalanced In noxious efficacy by General
Grants utter want OF magnetism, and the mstrust
or dislike with which he is regarded by the people.
II is probable that at this moment twenty-five per
cent OF the voters who will participate in the coming
election have not yet resolved for whom their ballots
shall be cast Upon the votes OF this fraction the
issue probably hangs, and circumstances may STILL
fall out to throw the preponderance on the repub-
lican side. From present indications, however we
are led to believe that the three great States OF New
York, Pennsylvania and Ohio will throw the nselves
into the scale for seymour and Blair; and, should
they do So not all the hosts OF New England backed
as they NAV be by the West and south, by voters
VIII avail to prevent the republican forces from kick
ing the BEAM
troversy.
from the Nation, August 2ol
While the country Is agtated with the discussion
49, mn on mo p,vev