The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-03
RADICAL BLUNDERS IN NEW YORK
POLITICS.

From the NJ Y. World.
The PROSTATE condition of the Republican
party in this State must be puzzle to Re-
publicans in other parts of the country, who,
although their strength is declining, main
tain the efficiency of their political organiza-
ton. But in New York, both city and State,
the party is broken by intestine feuds, and
will be beaten in this election by at least
hundred thousand majority. 1t is like an
army which has degenerated into O mob by
loss of discipline.
The Radical party in this State has been
brought into this condition by a series of OBJ
vious blunders, some of them committed by
General Grant, others by the local politicians.
Grant began muddling New York politics
from his jealousy of Fenton, whom he sus-
pected of aspiring to the Presidency. After
the withdrawal of Thurlow Weed, Fepton
exhibited more address in managing and
manipulating the party than any other politi-
clan in the State. Without any high or COM
manding qualities, he is cunning, active,
dexterous, and has more skill as a political
intriguer than any other of Mr.. Weeds sue
Cessors.
4 He caused himself to be twice elected
Governor, and then United States Senator;
and was generally recognized as the leader of
the Republican party of New York. Fenton's
ascendancy troubled two men-Conkling and
Grant. Conkling could not bear to be
eclipsed by man whose talents in debate he
despised, and he undertook to supplant his
rival by whispering in General Grants ear
that Fenton was aiming to be his successor.
If Fenton was permitted to control the Re-
publican party in New York, he could send
delegation favorable to his claims to the
National Convention in 1872, and might
prove q formidable competitor for the Presi-
DENTAL nomination. Conkling having aroused
Grants jealousy, and caused it to run in
the same channel as his own, the Joint
efforts of both were directed to the
overthrow and humiliation of Fenton. The
first step was the appointment of Murphy as
Collector, and the decapitation of Fenton's
friends. The next step was the bribing of
delegates at the Saratoga Convention, depriv-
ing Fenton of the fruits of his activity in
working the party caucuses. BY these means
Conkling and Grant won a barren triumph
They gained control of the organization, but
lost their hold upon the party. They gave
Fenton and his friends the strongest motives
for wishing its defeat in this elections and
the effect of their suppressed hostility is
manifest in the spirit of discord which per-
vades the party throughout the State. Grant
and Conkling made great blunder in begin
ming their war on Fenton so soon. If they
had left him undisturbed until after this
election, he would have kept the party united;
and although it would have been beaten in
charged upon the bad management of Gene
raj Grant. But Fenton's friends will now be
able TO say, after the election returns are in,
that the party was ruined by the gross incom.
petence of its new leaders. Their premature
attack on Fenton will aid him in regainine
his asceHdancy. Instead of destroying conf
dence in him, they will have destroyed al
confidence in themselves; and by natura
reaction the party will rate him higher after
witnessing the disastrous effect of repudiatine
his leadership. By precipitating the quarre
too soon they have ruined the party in this
State, without in the long ran weakening
Fenton's influence over it.
Another egregious blunder was the attempt
10 weaken the Democracy in this city by the
new election laws. If Grant had possessed
any political sagacity, he would not have at
tempted to put them in operation after they
were passed. II depended on his discretion
whether those laws were executed or not
He was no more bound to send an army here
than to send one to Boston or Chicago. His
doing so Is less an act of tyranny than an