The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-11

Ths Last Movement Before the Battle
where WIN the Deuaseratic Forces Coz
The republican and liberal armies are now
fairly in the Geld and have chosen their
leaders and taken up their positions for the
decisive battle of the Presidential campaign.
The former Is In an excellent state OF disci-
pine, with an ample supply Of stores and am
munition, an efficient commissariat and an
experienced general at its head. The latter Is
composed OF raw troops, with inefficient arms,
short rations, volunteer commander to plan
Its evolutions and aykward squads to execute
them. But it ID animated by the hope OF IN
controlled plumber in the event Of victory; and
the desperate fighting that distinguishes an
army that has been promised the soaking OF
city in case it succeeds in capturing 1t is pro-
verbal The republican forces hold the
citadel, and as they have strengthened
and improved 1t during the term OF their
occupancy 1t will necessarily require heavy
artillery and practised gunners to bring down
It's solid walls. There is ON immense treasure
laid up behind its ramparts, in which the
whole country is interested; and as this has
been heretofore safely guarded by the general
in command. and as the public peace has been
preserved, the public welfare promoted and
the laws properly enforced under his authority,
his arms are strengthened by moral infiu-
enoe that cannot fail 70 prove valuable aid
in the final engagement. Thrice is he armed
who hath his quarrel just Is q maxim whose
practical truth has been already well tested
and established in the experience Of the chief
under whose banner the republican columns
are now ranged, and it Is not likely to falsify
itself in the present instance But there is
| another element yet to come into the field; and
the question Of the greatest interest at the
present moment relates to the probable dispo-
sition to be made Of the democratic forces.
Are they to be held as neutrals, drilling In
quiet nook by themselves while the battle is
raging around them, or are they to JOIN the
hostile ranks and to take an active share in the
fighting on one side or the other2 This is the
problem which the politicians all over the
Union are now endeavoring to solve but which
cannot be determined until the warriors of the
democratic camp shall meet In council at Bal
timore on the 9th Of July, after the glorious
Fourth shall have passed and the annual sup
ply Of squibs and powder crackers shall have
! been exhausted
On the broad principle that the election Of
General Grant is a foregone conclusion, which
nothing is likely to change, it matters very
little what course the wavering democracy may
eventually conclude to pursue in the Presidsn-
tal campaign, 80 far as the present prospect
is concerned. The people have failed to dis
cover in the crusade against the President any
sound reason for Withdrawing from him that
confidence which four years ago gave them the
electoral votes Of twenty-six States Of the
Union out Of thirty-three represented in the
Electoral College, and hence the contest may
already be looked upon as decided and the
Presidential succession settled for four years
to come. But party that in 1868 polled over
forty-seven per cent Of the popular vote
of the country has something at stake
in the future, and hence it becomes
important that the democrats should choose
their policy prudently and wisely at this time,
and take such o position as will strengthen
their chances Of success in 1876 They are at
breaking up of old organizations they have the
opportunity to decide for themselves whether
they will scatter hopelessly or lay the ground
work Of a powerful party that cannot fail to
achieve victory at not distant day. Some of
the leaders and organs of the democracy en-
terrain the belief that any abandonment Of
their own lines at this time and any endorse
IS u. -
ranks would be fatal mistake, and would
demoralize their forces in such manner as to
prevent their reunion in the future but these
are principally politicians Of the copperhead
| type, who would not value democratic VIC
tory unless it brought back with it the old
institution Of slavery the payment of the Con-
federate debt and the expunging of all those
amendments which they hold to have been
illegally engrafted on the constitution. There
are others who are personally dissatisfied with
the action Of the Cincinnati Convention
and who are opposed to the endorsement
of Greeley at Baltimore, while willing that
some less Objectionable outsider, such as
Adams, Davis, Trumbull, Cox or Thompson,
should be put forward as the standard bearer
OF the democracy. These advocates Of COM
promise and coalition with the liberals, pro-
vided their own personal inclinations are
studied in the selection of candidates, have,
however, little argument to use in support Of
their peculiar views. They seek strength
from the republican party to elect
their ticket, yet refuse nominee
who is too republican for their di-
gestion- They desire to unite with the liberal
movement, yet strive to destroy the liberal
movement in advance by overthrowing the ac-
ton of its Convention.
The nomination or endorsement of Horace
Greeley at Baltimore promises the only hope
of future to the democracy. As we have said,