Year: 1864




to an end has been wholly without precedent in
the history of the country, whether regarded in its
substantial issues or In its collateral aspects In
the heart Of great civil revolution, stirring socie
ty to its lowest depths the people have been osed
to consider the elements that make up the political
situation, and to decide what direction shall be
impressed on the mighty current Of the events
passing before their eyes


Where SO many influences have combined to dis
turb the judgments of men it would be idle to look
for serenity of opinions among all the adherents Of
any party since to the natural diversities of SEN
timent and conduct which spring from differences
of temperament, character, and education, have
been added at this uncture the ealousies and sus-
picions engendered by the nature of the great
struggle in which the country is engaged. And
hence it is that in the arring conflicts of opinion
we have seen men taking sides with the Admins
tration or against it in the pending electoral con-
test without any regard to former political discri
minations The fountains of the great deep have
been broken up, and the surging waters have over
flowed oil the ancient demarcations which once in
dicated the boundaries of different political organi
cations Thus it is that we have seen coalitions in
support of the Administration composed of men
representing all shades Of former political opinion
and embracing al possible varieties Of contemporary
creeds, from William Lloyd Garrison to Edward
Everett, from John G. Fremont to Montgomery
Blair, from men like Messrs. Wade and Davis to
men like Messrs. Seward and Bates. With views
as wide apart as the poes all these dversties have
found motive for combining in the support of the
same oandidates-the only thing had in common
among them. In like manner, among the oppo-
nents Of the Administration we have seen repre-
sented an almost equal variety of ancient political
faiths Men who but recently were among the
most jealous of Republicans have united with
Democrats and Wings in supporting the candidacy
of Gen Mcclellan.


In such chao, of opinions it must needs be that
many are held in combination with each of the two
great bodies Of citizens who have been thrown to-
gether in the support respectively of Mr.. Lincoln
and General Mcclellan without assuming any
responsibility whatever for the views of their
political associates When the New York Times,
edited by the chief manager of the Presiden-
tial canvass on the part Of the Republicans, does
not scruple to act with such Jealous and efficient
allies as Messrs. W do and Davis, while denouno-
ing them as men who lead the van in the blind
race Of radicalsm and barbarism," we may be sure
that not only all political consistency, but all
sense of political identity has been submerged by
the drift of events. And within the last few days
we have seen movement, headed by SO respectable
gentleman as Major Gen. Dix, designed to con-
cliate support for the Administration on the basis
Of the Democratic party pure and simple-it being
represented by this branch of the Presidents sup
porters that fidelity to the ancient Democratic creed
must bring the loyal adherents Of that creed into
confederation with the modern Republicans under
the emergent issues of the hour. In word, they
hold that the Republican party Of to-day is the
tural home of the Democrats who would preserve
unoorrupted the traditions of that party which has
ruled the country under Jackson, Van Buren, Polk
Pierce, and Buchanan. New Republican is only
Old Democrat /" writ large"


It is known to our readers that since the disso-
luton Of the Whig party we have not wholly acted
with either the Republican or Democratic organi-
cations To the Democratic party, while il was in
power, we were almo.t habitually opposed, for
though we wsged against it no systematic opposi-
tion, we were rarely able to concur with its princ
pies or its administrative measures. We thought
at the time, as we still think, that under the lead
Of Southern statesmen and agtators it steadily tend
cd to develop antagonisms which threatened the
equilibrium of our political system, and hence We
resisted all those schemes of sectional aggrandzc
ment which were initiated under its auspices, and
which, though urged in the name Of national
interests seemed to US fraught with damsge to the
common veal.


But, while thus opposing the general policy Of
the ancient Democratic party, we were just little
able to concur with the spirit and tendencies Of
the Republican party, which being, in its origin
and constitution, a reaction against the extremes
Of the Democracy partoOk Of the dangers attaching
to all political reactions its peculiar views
of public policy to lengths out Of all proportion
with the other great interests Of the nation. And
20 it came to pass that 81 the North" and "the
South were at last arrayed against each other un-
der color of diverse political organizations. We
stood aloof from both, endoavoring far as posi-
BILE to moderate against the violence Of both with
A.