The New York herald., 1870-10-24
Tho New PolssienH power-Tke Parties q
the Future.


political world are much the result OF fixed
laws as changes in the material world All
really great statesmen recognize this fact and
shape their policy accordingly. Tho failure
to recognize it has proved more mischievous
10 nations and more fatal to public men than
any other course. History Ii full OF examples
to show the truth OF this. One may be men
people, because it comes home to all of us.
We refer to the dogged and foolish conserva-
tism Of the old States rights and pro slavery
party of the South That party lived always
in the past, and clung to old ideas, even to the
point OF rebellion, when these ideas aud the
| system founded on them were undermined by
the development and progress of the country
and public opinion. We have seen the coase-
quence in great civil war and in the destruc-
ton OF both the extreme States rights theory
and African slavery, which was the corner
stone Of it, SO it is with similar great revolu-
| tons ia other parts Of the world IL is this
obstinate adhesion to the past and resistance
to progress which is Shaking the monarchies
and aristocraciss Of Europe to their foanda-
tions, and which has been the cause of many
revolutions there during the hast century.
| These mutations in the political world,
which result from change in the condition or
growth Of uatious, give rise to new parties or
10 modification Of the policy Of old ones !;
for, as we said, those which do not march
with the times become extinct or powerless
In this age, too, we see greater and more
rapid changes than were seen in preceding
ages. The quickenlng influence of the modern
agents OF civilization-of the telegraph, rail-
roads, the public press aud the surprising dis
coveries in science and mechanical art--males
one year Of the present equal to century Of
the past. We are bounding forward with won
derfai ceerity. Tho material progress of the
age operates powerfully upon political affairs.
Hence we see political parties drifting into al
alliance with these new powers Of material
development. This is more apparent in the
United States than elsewhere at present,
because we keep up with the times more than
any other people, although the same effect will
be produced in all civilized countries sooner
or later.
The railroad Interests OF this country for
example, begin TO exercise powerful nfiu-
ence with and through political parties, and
in both the national and State legislatures.
In fact, they nearly supreme. In many
cases they are irresistible. The capital in
vested in our railroads approaches the amount
of the national debt, aud the gross income from
them sweils up to hundreds of millions annu-
ally. The power this vast sum gives, ii con-
centrated, ia greater than that Of the federal
government itself Talk OF the power Of the
old United States Bank. or even Of the exis +
ing national banks, powerful az they are, that
is small in comparison. Then look at the
thousands upon thousands OF employees, con-
tractors aud agents of these railroads, together
| with these pecuniarily Interested in them, and
| il will be seen At once what an Influence they
have in elections and over legislation. We
| know, indeed, that nearly all the State iegis-
latures can be controlled by theta, aud that
they can do pretty much n they please with
Congress- Besides the power which their
enormonS capital and control over the voters
give these railroads there, is perhaps, ma
iorIty of the members in both the national
and State legislatures directly interested ia
them. The telegraph system, too, though
welding less capital, and lass powerful, is fast
becoming another great power in the land.
| The magnates who control that, as well as
| those more influential ones who control the
| railroads, begin to form an alliance with
| political parties. The sagacious leaders OF
4 ot tho mo
the value of such combination aad are work
| ing to effect that.
Our Tammany leaders, with their usual
tact, are in advance 10 this new movement.
They have captured already the two great
lines of railroad which centre at this city the
Erie aud New York Central. Jay Gould,
Fisk and Vanderbilt find it to their interest to
be ia the same boat with Tweed, Sweeny
Hall and the Other Tammany magnates, and
these latter gladly accept the powerful aid Of
the railroad kings for political ends. While
the republicans are foundering about in un-
future but the personal popularity Of General
Grant aud while they are spending their
strength in abuse of Tammany, the democra-
tic leaders are quietly grasping a power
the railroad powsr-which viii secure 10 them
the State, with all its spoiIs, aud lay the
foundation tor a more extended influence
in / he republic. Nor will such .
com hiuatiou Of railroad chiefs and in
terests with political parties be limited
to New York II will extend throughout tht
country. But New York being the centre o
great trun K lines of Erie and the Centra
being 9 already in alliance with the Tammany
leaders here, the democrats have the best pros
pect Of securing this new and mighty pOwe