The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-03
10 Presidential Election In 1S79-Ths
Chance fer the Democrats.

| III hopeless condtl0n, apparently. Tnat once
powerful party had gone down 30 far, through
the anti-war policy and other blunders of
many of its leaders, that 1t amounted TO little
more than faction. The South, where o
great deal of its strength used to lie, was not
reconstructed and was in the grip of the
radicals. 1t was expected, indeed, by the
radical party that the South had been revolu-
tionized politically, and that through the negro
vote and carpet-bag governments il was lost
to the democracy. Nearly all the Northern
State governments were in the hands Of the
radicals. In both houses of Congress they had
over two-.hirds vote. The democratic Sena-
tors could be counted on ones fingers, and
the democratic Representatives were but q
corporals guard. The late President Johnson
had no party, and all the power of the govern
ment was welded by the republican Congress.
General Grant, the great hero Of the war, came
into Off e with tclat. The country was rapidly
recovering from the disasters of the war, the
revenue was enormous and the Treasury
replete with money, which enabled the admin
| istraton to pay off the debt at the rate of
| hundred millions a year. Never was q party
| stronger. Never had one such an opportunity
or means of perpetuating its power.
This was the condition of parties in 1868
and for some time afterwards. Whatever
chance the democrats might have had for
electing candidate in 1868, or, at least Of
recovering large part of their lost ground,
they threw away. Had Mr.. Vallandigham
and other old copperhead leaders made
''new departure" at that time and nominated
Chief Justice Chase, as we advised them, they
might have elected their canddate-at least,
they would have gained much strength and
have been in better position for the contest
in 1872. But the party was not sufficiently
reconstructed then; the rival aspirants for
the Presidency, factions and sections would
not harmonic; and, under this state of things,
the National Convention and party were sold to
the New York politicians, who cared more
about their State than the federal government.
Seymour was nominated by trick-by sort
of political coup dstat in the Convention-with
little expectation that he could be elected over
General Grant, but for the purpose of making
the State of New York democratic. National
politics were made subservient to the selfish
objects of Tammany and the democracy of this
State. Our New York politicians were sue
cessful in that, and it must be said they have
used their success to q good purpose. With
all that may be said against them they have
given us back municipal self-gov eminent, and
have made Tammany and our State greater
power in national political affairs. Having
attained their object they should now use the
power they possess for national purposes, and
to make the success Of the democrats in the
next Presidential election their aim.
Notwithstanding the powerful position the
radical party occupied, intrenched and forti-
fed every way, and the depressed condition
of the democratic party two or three years
ago, the latter has been gaining ground and
the former losing. We see this in the largely
increased number Of democrats in the present
Congress as compared with the last. Be-
sides the larger representation in the House
there are more democratic Senator'S Then
several Of the Northern State governments, as
well as that of New York, have been recov-
cred by the democrats, and even where the
radicals still retain power the elections lately
have generally been more favorable to the
democrats. In fact, the tide has been setting
that way since short time after General
Grant took his seat in the White House. Most
of the Southern States have gone back to their
old love, the democratic party, in spite of the
extraordinary and reprehensible efforts made
by the radicals to hold them. And now comes
the new movement-the new departure" Of
the lamented Vallandigham-the reconstruc-
ton of the party upon broader and more
liberal platform. This, evidently, is making
the dry bones Of the politicians shake. II
brings into discussion fresh issues and tends
to overshadow those Of the war upon which
the radicals have relied and on which they
still mainly rely. It alarms the radical party
and inspires the democrats with hope
In view Of these tendencies and the prospect
before the democrats the important matter to
be considered is who should be the candidates
of the party. Chief Justice Chase would be,
undoubtedly the strongest and most available
! candidate for President on broad national
grounds which the party could nominate. He
stands precisely where the democrats now
stand, as his Vallandigham letter and his
whole conduct of late show. In 1868, when
the Democratic Convention was urged to nomi-
nate him, there was doubt in the minds of
some as TO his full accord with the party, but
there can be none now. He occupies the most
prominent position in the country except that
of the President. He is a statesman of great
ability, as is well known. He has filled almost
every position in public life, and, except the
Executive chair, the highest ones. The con-
sentative masses, particularly those of the
South, would vote for him, because he has
been since the war the most earnest defender