The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-03
The State Democratic Convention and tho
Tannany Risg.

The democratic State Convention will meet
under peculiar circumstances at Rochester to-
morrow. In view Of the stupendous frauds of
the Tammany Ring, and the damage the party
has sustained In consequence, every one is
saying, "What will they do with ita" "what
will the Convention do with the Tammany
Ring?' Enemies and friends alike, republi-
cans as well as democrats, are anxious to
know. The former would rather see the Con-
vention take an undecided or trimming course,
because that would strengthen the republican
| party, while the mass Of the hon est democrats
hope the Convention will denounce unsparingly
the frauds and throw overheard the Ring
leaders who were guilty of them or
responsible for them. There seems to be little
doubt that the Convention will take very
decided course and lead the party out Of the
mire of Tammany frauds and rule. We judge
so from the language and determined attitude
of prominent democrats who will be in the
Convention or who have great influence in the
party.
| In order 10 show the sentiments Of leading
representative democrats, as well as Of the
| rank and file of the party, and therefore to
get an idea Of what might be expected from
the Convention, we sent a trusty correspondent
to different parts of the State for information.
The result of his labors may be seen In the
| copious reports and interviews with promi-
nent men published in another part of the
paper to-day. Frank Herman, Ex-Governor
! Seymour, A. P. Lansing, Judge Comstock,
John A. Green, John Ganson, w. F.
Fargo and other representative demo-
Gratis hold the same opinion as to
/ the frauds in this city and the necessity of
both denonncing them and ignoring the Tam
many chiefs. Some Of these gentlemen, in
the honest indignation of their souls, express
themselves in bitter terms. Even Horatio
Seymour, who is generally disposed to trim
his sails little, and who assumes . more
| moderate tone than some Of the rest, cannot
| find an excuse for the frauds of the Tammany
magnates. The mass Of the country demo-
Gratis everywhere declaim loudly against them,
aud demand thorough reorganization of the
party. Some are particularly severe on Boss
Tweed for the speech he made In this city q
few days ago, which is regarded as a defiance
to the party and the Convention. Looking at
the odium that has been brought upon Tam
many by the conduct Of its leaders, the coun-
try democrats regard the action Of the Old
Wigwam in holding primaries this year as an
assumption, defiance and disgrace. They
consider that these should have been left to
the people.
The question is, Will Tweed, Sweeny,
Hall, Connolly and the lesser lights Of Tam
many who are implicated directly or indi-
rectly in the frauds on the city claim to be
represented in the Convention or to have
controlling influence there? Will they pur-
sue the rule or ruin course? The bold front
they assume might indicate such determine
ton. Yet we can hardly suppose they can
venture so far with the load of odium resting
nation Of the democracy. They ought, to use
familiar expression, to hide their diminished
heads. If they wish well to the party they
will not appear at the Convention, and will
neither attempt to be represented nor to exer-
else an influence there. They are past the
point of being saved, and it is useless to
clutch at straws. Should they, however, en-
dcavor to force themselves upon the Con ven
ton, it will be necessary for that body to drive
them away. If we mistake not, that would be
their fats Such eminent democrats as
Charles O'Conor, Augustus Schell, Oswald
Ottendorfer, Magnus Gross and others
the party Of this city
- h.
win The a. g or its satellites. Nor will the
country democrats, judging from the senti-
ments they express, have anything to do with
them. The Tammany leaders and the Tam
many organization ought to abdicate, volun-
tarily as controlling power in the party of
this State, for their day of usefulness 40 such
power is past. The old society may con-
tipue to exist and under new chiefs and as an
organization subordinate to State democratic
organization may be useful, but it cannot be
supreme any longer. Should Tammany be
reckless enough to fight the reformers of the
Convention and throw discord among the
democracy it may damage the party but can
not save itself.
But it is said the Ring leaders will remain in
The background while they put others forward,
with the hope that the present excitement will
blow over and that then they can resume the
reins of power. There may be some such linger-
ing hope, but il so it is groundless. The pres
ent leaders of Tammany are gone-bob, line and
snker. Then, again, it is said the rival of
Tammany, the Young Democracy, is as cor
rupt and more hungry for the spoils, and that
10 invest it with power would prove in the end
just as disastrous to the party and as ruinous
to the taxpayers. What, then, is the Conven-
ton to do9 In the first place, what delegates
are to be received from this city, 1t cannot
remain unrepresented in the Convention. This