The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-29

The Presidential election OF 1876 BIDS 1alr
to be one Of the most singular that has taken
place since the organization Of the govern
ment, but its popularity does not consist in
any coloring it is likely to receive from the
of the historical sentiment than there was
year ago when Lexington, Bunker Hill and
Mccklenburg were celebrated with warmth
of enthusiasm which seemed to peryade the
national heart. But this year the
present asserts its supremacy over
the past; the absorbing interest of Presi-
DENTAL contest eclipses the memories OF the
Revolution. This may be partly owing to
the introduction this year of an affair SO en-
tirely modern, and, in this country, so novel
as grand international exhibition Of art and
industry. To engross public attention with
the latest phase Of modern improvement
obstructs the play of historical recollections,
and an exposition in which the people Of all
countries are to participate is not favorable
to an order Of sentiment which can have no
life except SO far as it is peculiarly national
and founded in the traditional associations
Of the American people. If the newest
modern opera had been performed last
year on the battle ground of Bunker Hill by
the most accomplished singers of the world
it would no doubt have been an attractive
feature; but it would have blurred oil the
memories which the celebration sought to
revive. A thing so modern and cosmopoli-
tan as an international exposition is equally
out of keeping with the tone of historical
sentiment which BELTS q national anniver-
sary designed to strengthen feeling which
foreigners cannot be expected to share.
Aside from this want of consonance be-
tween the modern and the historical and be-
tween the cosmopolitan and the national tone
tennial of our Independence happens to fall
in the year of Presidential election. A
heated political canvass which kindles the
passions, jealousies and bitter party animosi-
ties of our people is not propitious to re-
vival of that common feeling Of patriotism
vices of the fathers of the Republic. If
there were public virtue enough to hush parti-
san strife during this interesting anniversary
the Presidential election of 1876 would be
indeed noble and inspiring spectacle.
What strength and animation would be i'm
parted to patriotic sentiment if this Presi-
Dental contest could be conducted in the
true spirit of the anniversary What a heal
ing effect it would have on the public mind
if the centennial year could be an "era of
good feeling" between our political parties
and between the South and the North! If
all our domestic discussions could be
dropped beside the graves Of our ancestors;
if, by a common patriotic impulse, our people
would unanimously support Presidential
candidate whose name and ancestry are asso-
ciated with Revolutionary memories; if we
could make new departure, in ''the spirit
of 49," what a renovating effect it would
have on public morals and pride of coun-
try! What is wanting is not citizen around
whom the whole people could gather with
Just confidence, but the unselfish and pa
triotic spirit which is willing to sink party
squabbles in magnanimous exhibition of
public spirit and love of country. It is too
evident that nothing of this kind is to be
expected, and that the Presidential contest
of the centennial year is to be waged with
the same intense and selfish partisanship
which debases and vulgarizes our ordinary
party struggles.
is curious and remarkable, not by any pecu-
liar hues it borrows from the anniversary,
but by the shifting uncertainty of the politi-
cal outlook. There is such lack of con-
centration in both parties, such bewilder-
ing division of public sentiment, such ups
and downs in the prospects of candidates,
that the canvass thus far resembles the toy
called a kaleidoscope in which every turn
Of the instrument presents a variegated new
image. This Presidential canvass is like the
whirl of eddying waters just below a cataract,
in which nobody can detect traces of the
current they will afterward assume. 1t is
still uncertain in what settled channels the
Presidential streams will flow. There are in
dications that the eddying waters may gather
into n Conkling current on one side and
a Tilden current on the other, but so much
depends on the chapter Of accidents that it
~ NV suiS W Au"no any PASoSeAoho' VuSS Nv
present Conkling and Tilden are the fore
most candidates on their respective sides.
Each has the great advantage of going
to the national convention of his party
with the strong support of the Empire
State. Each has the prospect of powerful
allies outside of New York. Tilden being rs
sure of the democratic delegates from New
England as Conkling is of the republican
delegates from Pennsylvania. Each has a
vague hope of support in the South and
other parts of the country, but neither knows
what changes may intervene to disappoint
his hopes. 1t is, nevertheless, great deal
for candidate to get long start of all
his competitors in his own party SO
early in the race, and this is the
odv,ntaoe of the two New York candidates