The New York herald., 1869-11-04

form Of statesmsnllke policy with view 10 thu
pfessnt or fgture II reposes upon Genera
Grant, and bis strength lies upon his splendid
military record and tho issues Of the war.
But this state Of things cannot last. The
past cannot be evoked to serve political parties
forever The people become tired OF that.
There are great and living questions that must
come prominently In tho foreground, and it is
upon these that parties must be organized and
exist hereafter General Grant may make q
record during his administration, and probably
will that must make him tho candidate of the
republican party for 1872. He may, in the
economical administration OF the government
in closing up the Southern reoonstruc-
ton question, in placing the finances of
the country on good foundation, and in
area, grandeur and commerce of the republic,
raise new issues for the next Presidential
election. He may, in fact make platform
for the republican party as well as for himself,
and become the most formid able competitor
for the Presidential race on that side in 1872.
The republican party has nothing to stand
upon but General Grant, and therefore we con-
clude he must be the Presidential standard
bearer for the next term.
How is it with the democratic party7 1t is,
as we have remarked, still strong. With pro-
per management there is fair prospect before
1t. But it is in critical situation. With all
Its strength it is on the eve of dissolution un-
less it abandons past issues and adapts itself
to the spirit and oxigencies of the times. The
late war weakened it, and has kept it out of
power because it opposed popular opinion In
the prosecution of the war, and has not
acquiesced in the unalterable revolution pro-
duced by that event. II is much in the same
position as the old federal party was which
opposed the war of 1919. The Hartford Con-
vention and opposition to the war against
Great Britain broke the federal party to pieces.
After the second election of Monroe, in 1920,
1t ceased to exist. The consequence was that,
there being no regular organized parties in the
Presidential election of 1894, it was scrub
race and resulted in the choice of Adams by
the House of Representatives In 1928 jack
son was elected, and then were formed the
democratic party and the national republican
party which was afterwards known as the
whig party. With varying fortunes, but
mostly in power at the White House, the
democrats ruled the country till the slavery
issue made Mr.. Lincoln President In 1860 and
brought on the war. Since that time they have
neither had the administration nor any con-
siderable party in Congress. They had some
chance in the Presidential race of 1868, but
they lost their opportunity by adhering TO
thoir old dogmas and not frankly accepting
the issues of the war. They have one more
chance left In 1872. If they fail then the party
will follow inevitably the fate of the old
federal party, and cease to exist. They must
have candidate capable of competing with
upon the living issues of the day. We did
think Chief Justice Chase was tho man,
and had he been nominated in 1868,
instead of that old fossil, Seymour
he might possibly have been elected.
But his day Ia past. He Is worn out. The
only one to nominate as q competitor with
General Grant. who has a chance of success,
appears to be General Thomas. His
war record is scarcely less distinguished
than that of General Grant. He won the
frst really great aud important battle as
we'll as the one most decisive Of the war. He
Is man of splendid requirements, solid and
large brain, q high-toned gentleman of ire
proachable character, and Virginian who
could probably carry the whole South, negroes
and all, In Presidential contest. Such a
ticket as Thomas and Hancock for the demo-
cratic party, with q platform based on the
living issues Of the day, would be hard to beat
even with General Grant as the opposing can
didatc. What do the democrats say9 Will
they abandon their old party hacks and
dogmas and take up such man as General
Thomas for 1922 Or will they cling to their
folly and idols and suffer the fate Of the old
federal party? They may learn wisdom, but
looking to their history for the last eight or ten
years we have little hope for their future.
SHE BEATS BARNUM. Stowe is pos
sessed of the genius for advertising In an emf