Year: 1869




The approaching political campaign in this
city and State is, from all appearances, but
the prelude to the Presidential campaign of
1872. The issues to be decided In the fall
owe all their Importance to the effect they are
designed TO have or may have in the future.
Upon the action of the people on the great
political questions soon to be submitted will
depend the fate for another four years from
1872 OF the two great parties Of the country.
In the struggle for supremacy 1t is conceded
that the brunt of the fight will fall upon the
democracy Of the Empire State, and upon the
result Of the first encounter the democracy OF
tho whole country will stand or fall. Prepara-
tions for the preliminary contest in this State
are very quietly but energetically carried on.
There is no mistaking the ground upon which
the adverse parties in this State will first come
into conflict. Little has been said hitherto
upon this subject but it is as clear as the sun
at MONDAY that the democratic leaders will
present to the party platform averse to
negro suffrage and in opposition to
the ratification of the fifteenth amendment
to the constitution. Here is the nucleus of q
big-ight, and the Red Indians, with paint and
feathers, whoop and tomahawk, are out on the
warpath rallying their forces with deter
mination to carry this State, and then, with the
prestige of victory, to summon the democratic
tribes from all quarters to the great decisive
battle Of 1879.


Upon the two great national questions
negro suffrage and the ratification of the
fifteenth smendment-the Tammany leaders
have taken their stand. They are opposed to
both measures, and on that opposition they
appeal to the support Of the democratic
masses of this city and State. They have con-
sidered the first question in all its bearings,
and they are satisfied that they can command
an overwhelming majority Of the voters of the
city against it. So far as the fifteenth amend
ment is concerned, they contend that the pre-
vious Legislature failed to give their adoption
Of it an official or legal ratification and that
therefore it is still an undecided question
and must wait the action of tho next
Legislature. The hope of defeating this
measure, should the action of the previous
legislation on it be treated as not binding,
is great incentive to the Tammany leaders
to secure a democratic Legislature, and to this
end all their efforts will be directed in the fall
campaign.


Here then, is the great issue that looms up
between the republican and democratic parties
in this State, and which, though contended
for to great extent on local ground,
becomes, as regards the result, vital
national question. Should the Tammany
Regency succeed it will be from that
time forth not only the controlling power in
this State, but must, as a natural consequence
and political necessity, take the lead in shap-
ing and directing the policy of the entire democ-
racy of the country. This is the great end
and object Of the Regency. The Presidential
ball will be at their feet and they will kick it
''whithersoever they list"-towards the White
House of course. They are prepared for that.
The manner of conducting the Democratic Ma
tional Convention held in the new
Wigwam on the Fourth Of July, 1868, was a
piece Of the shrewdest political STRAIT
egy ever enacted. The whole thing was
got up by the Tammany leaders for effect,
to exhibit the weakness Of all aspiring COM
petitors for the Presidency outside of the State
of New York, and to place in contrast there
with the magnanimity Of the New Yorkers
themselves, whose delegation, after voting for
every candidate proposed, even suggesting
Salmon p. Chase-a sensation dodge-per-
mitted Horatio Seymour to be ''sprung" upon
them, and then yielded with protesting shrug
which intimated that it was none of their doing
But the whole doing was Tammany ruse,
which will soon, it is expected, bear its fruit
In the next Democratic National Convention
Tammany will come boldly forth with it's
nominee, and he will be, as already announced
by Tammany sachem in the historic Wig
wan on the Fourth of July last, John +.
Hoffman. In 1872 the fight will be between
Grant and Hoffman this is certain and inevita-
BILE; and in the meantime the opera boufe
journals may continue to play tenpins with
their Presidential candidates, or so long as the
amusement is entertaining or profitable.


The result of the coming campaign and Of
the issues involved is, therefore, of vital i'm
portance to the two great parties in the State,
and this fact accounts for the strenuous efforts
that each is putting forth to secure majority
in the next Legislature; for on the composition
of that body will depend in great measure
the fate of higher and more vital ulterio
issues.


The Byron scandal In England.


The solicitors Of Lady Byron have fastened
in the name of her family, to disclaim al
countenance of Mrs. Stoves pretended revela
ton of the causes of Lord Byron's separation
| from his wife. In the communication whic