The New York herald., 1870-11-10
AFTEE TIE BATrLG.

Memories Of the Fight-A Stroll Among the
Fallen DeaG-Tke Luil After tiie Storrn-
Victcrs and Vanqnisled Alike sunk in tho
RepOse of Prostration.
The agony OF political strife, after convuls!ng the
city for entire six weeks r not longer, reached
its zenith the day before yesterday, and
then, suddenly coiiapsing, left us again
a prey to the wholesome monotony of
inactivity. The business OF the municipal gov
ernment which had been almost entirely inter.
rupted, has once more dropped into the peaceful
round OF every day routine; and we realize, not
without feeling OF complacent satisfaction, that
streets will, for many months to come, be inno-
cent OF the din and glare and hustle and confusion Of
party professions. The battle has been fought, and
though 1t was waged with q ferceness ana per-
tnaclty almost unexampled, 1t has happily reached
q decisive termination.
Quietly sauntering yesterday over the deserted
field Of strife, however, one could not help looking
back at the scenes 1t SO recently exhibited
The corpses OF the martyred nero dead
lay strewn In careless confusion upon the
bloodstained turf ana IN eloquent silence
proclaimed the story Of the fight. Many of them,
alas were evidently beyond all hope OF resusc.ta-
tion in spite OF the I'D OF the most skirul OF political
leeches, and even though their senscless bodies
should be immersed In healing floods OF whtewasi.
know them now, but Shall a,so know them no
more for ever.
But what glorious fight it was This must be
the apotheosis of the fallen and the consoling balm
OF Gllead for the wounded pride OF the surviving
vanquishcd. After long weeks OF excited palaver,
worthy OF the Greeks and Troans the contending
armies met in deadly shock, equipped with every
weapon known to ancient or modern times-with
tomahawks and scalping knives, with flashing
spears and keen lances and two-edged swords, with
the nvncble sprg OF shlelah and terrible repeating
rifles From the rising to the setting Of the sun the
air rang with the temut Of the doubtful fray but at
nlghtia the scales OF victory lost their balance
and with bitter sobs or anguish the conquered
legions SUNK away III denoralized hordes from the
The chiefs or the victorious host, as chronicled
in Yesterdays HERALD, retired TO convenient ban
quoting nall, and, with souls overlooking with the
elation o. triumph, held high carnival. The wearl-
ness OF the hoty-iougnt contest and the carking
cares ana anxletes Of the long campaign were for
cotton III tnat fist intoxicating hour OF eXultant
victory. Like the warriors OF Odin, they hung up
their spears and shields and lifted the arnIshed hel
NETS rom their dusty, blood despatched brows and
tien pledged each other in bTimmmg wassail cups.
The rank and file also worthiy celebrated the good
of debate, they sang loud SONGS Oh rejoicing. and
gazed with moistenod eyes and throbbing hearts at
the banners under which they had marched 10 glory
But yesterday, when the
FIRST EFFERyEsCESCE OF TRIUMPH
had subsided, the conquerors ana the conquered
GHhe Sunk INTO tic CdiiH IepOSe VI lHc
first were prosrated by the excitement into which
the smiles oil Fate had reused them the latter were
victims to the sulen, inactive despair Of utter
| defeat. Both fell from the mental eXaaton or
| passion and hope which had animated them the day
before into quiet resignation OF achieved destiny,
and sought In the noseless secluson OF their tents
new strength and vlgor-these TO harvest In the
fruits OF hardearned victory, and those to bear with
the firm fortiude OF strong men the heavy lot OF the
| vanquished Stiffness the stiffness OF profound
fatigue and Of utter WEAKNESS, reigned everywhere
the lull that succeeds the tempest But how different
mn n va IN nj
In the minds OF the triumphant chief aims The COM
Ing public celebration OF their success, when they
| would hang up the CORY scaps OF their ioes as
| the trophies Of conquest IN their wlgwain
| when they would be crowned with civic
| lauIels and be hailed by the plaudits OF
| their countiymen as fortunate heroes must
have been the pleasing vision that passed before
| their closed eyes But to the unhappy children OF
| defeat tine dsordered 1ancles OF partial slumDer
must have taken q far sadder shape and colorlng.
The future must have appeared to them bitter with
ravehous and unsatistled hunger, and terrible wltn
| the misery OF scattered hopes-a weary tramp
| through the valley Of humiliation.
Sucn is yesterdays after story of the battle