The New York herald., 1871-09-26

tion meets at Syracuse tomorrow, for the pur-
poses of nominating the State ticket and pro-
claiming the platform of the party for our
coming November election. On the same day,
and for the same purposes, the republicans of
Massachusetts, will meet in State Convention
at Worcester; and in both cases the elements
of split exist, and there is some danger Of
bolt from the regular party organization.
In New York there is division Of the party
over the spoils of our Custom House very
| much resembling that which divided the demo-
| cratic party of the city and the State between
the so-called hardshells and softshells under
| Pierce's administration. The main cause Of
that quarrel and split, by which the State was
lost to the democrats, was first in the appoint
ment, by President Pierce, of a hardshell as
\ our Custom House Collector, and next in his
removal to make room for softshell. In the
first Instance the "softs" threatened bolt,
| and in the second the ''hards" bolted;
| and hence that democratic split 10 New
| York which opened the way whereby the
republicans first came into possession of t he
State Under General Grants administra-
ridiculous farce between the ''outs" and Sins"
of the republican camp in reference to the
Custom House spoils. The removal Of Mr..
Glinnel and the appointme mt of Thomas
Murphy as Collector Of this port has soured
the Fenton-G Greeley faction to the point Of q
revolt and the delegates of this faction will
60 to Syracuse to- morrow with the removal of
Murphy or the defeat of General Grant as their
ultimatum.
Senator Conkling is the recognized chief Of
the Grant-Murphy division of the party, and
Senator Penton is the leader of the Fenton-
Greeley faction. Fenton, it is understood,
would lay down his arms with anything like
promise of the support of General Grant for
the Vice Presidential nominal ion next year;
but Greeley, it is evident, will agree to no
| compromise which does not include the head
| of Murphy and free run of the Custom House
for Mr.. Greeley and his frie nds. Hence we
think the re is great danger of a bolt from this
Syracuse Convention; for, In addition to Mr..
Greeleys implacable hostility to Murphy, our
venerable and patriotic sub-soil philosopher has
become thoroughly convinced that the one term
principle In reference to General Grant (may
the saints preserve us) has become impera-
lively necessary for the salvation of our free
institutions. But Mr. Greeley, nevertheless,
begs the question, for in long and violent
TRADE yesterday against our Collector he
speaks of him as "a disgrace to the republi-
| can administration, which we heartily sup
| port" and as a source of ''weakness to the re-
publican party of this State, which we labor
to restore to power" In fact, as between
Murphy and Tammany, Murphy to Greeley is
the greater evil, and, while he may not support
party identified with Tammany, he will not
support party identified with Murphy. 1t is
morally certain that if this republican State
Convention recognizes or tolerates Murphy
| Greeley and his followers will bolt, aud Fem
ton will probably feel constrained to 60 with
him. But will the Convention recognize Muir
ply as party man in good standingP Backed,
as Murphy is, by the President, yes; for we
understand that the Grant Murphy men have
secured decisive majority of the Convention,
and that their delegates are all of one mind
| upon the subject.
Notwithstanding, then, the demoralized
and confused condition of the democracy In
consequence of this terrible war and these
damaging disclosures against Tammany, the
general result of our coming November elec-
ton may be considered doubtful; for with
republican split, which is probable and with
wholesome democratic reorganization, which
10 expected, the democrats heavily as the
odds now appear to be against them, may still
rally to their ticket and save the State, and 80
lay the foundation in New York for still
another ''new departure, and a popular one,
too, for the Presidential contest In this view,
Mr.. Fenton or Mr. Greeley, in consideration
of services rendered to the democratic cause,
may yet become the democratic standard
bearer in 1872 free trade and all for who can
! limit the transformations Of men in party poll
tics in the scramble for the spoils and plunder !?
And there is hope, too, for the democracy
In Observation-Disclosures Is hope for a great
victory on their side through the bold and
vigorous campaign Of General Butler against
the old rusty republican Bourbons in that
quarter 1t is reported, and it Is probable, that,
| against all the Bourbon leaders and nearly
all the republican newspapers in the State,
General Butler has secured majority In the
regular party State Convention. He has
notified bis delegates that he expects a
hard and protracted fight in the Conven-
tion, and calls upon them TO come down
to Worcester, each man fortified with
three days rations, and says that
by the time these rations are exhausted fresh
supplies will be coming in. Among the ottho-
dox Massachusetts, Puritans the idea does not
appear to be seriously entertained that General
Grant goes for General Butler, although Butler
goes heartily for Grant. But outside of Massa-
chusetts the idea Is seriously entertained
that the secret Of the extraordinary popular
strength developed BY General Butler in this