The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-13

The ysroat Lihorel-DomOCreS1c Meeting
Of Last Night-Openiag OF tho state
Campaiga.
With the glamour and glare of torchllght'
gaslight, fireworks and incandescent calcium
in the tones of q hundred orators and the deep
mouthed thunder of the applauding Masses
the liberal-democratic campaign in this city
was put vigorously under way last night. That
as a display to the eye it did not equal in bar
barrie picturesduen6ss the democratic campaign
openings of years gone by, when rich. spoil
fed Iammany was King, is true; but that 1t
exhibited strength of responsibility above
its predecessors, while equalling them
in numbers, though r. not in boiste-
rousness, is also true. ThS coaiinon
chip was launched in flying colors, ana FROM
Uses, so far as New York city is concerned, to
turn over to Horace Greeley all that democ-
racy can in November next. Nominally
coalition meeting it was really democratic
demonstration The speeches ALL to be sure,
carefully avoided thet difficult thing in party
speech of giving offence TO any party being
particularly punctilious in making it question
~
sonality, in fact. This course, however, cam
not disguise the fact that the tone of the lead
ing democrats who spoke was that of justifica-
ton to their fellows of the course
they had taken in accepting principles
and candidates from an ofshoot OF
their old-time political foe The liberal
republicans addressed themselves as to new
allies. The speeches took an instructive
coloring from the audiences yet, whatever
might be observable ON this score, it was
evident that the masses had poured out re-
solved to support the ticket, and democrat and
liberal were hailed heartily alike.
OF all the addresses made last evening none
perhaps will be scanned with the interest
which Mr.. Francis Kernan's, the coalition
candidate for Governor, will evoke. Not by
any means labored, and entirely free from
reference to himself personally, it was
declaration of union with the liberals on the
great ground of reform BETTING
man in his position. If wanting
in anything it was in that force of rhetoric
which. to be deeply effective, must spring from
the depths of the soul In word, it was
weak in that for the basis of its attacks on the
administration it relied on facts accepted ut
second hand. His allegations against the rule
of the republican administration he relied on
the voices of the liberal republicans to prove.
What this wants in directness it gains, how
ever, in subtlety, for it is saying in round
about way to the country, ''Out of their own
mouths they ore condemned" With this ex-
ception oil carping criticism to his re-
marks must cease. Outside of the unre-
dressed wrongs to the people, allowed
to override public safety by the republicans,
he addressed himself boldly to the watchword
of reform. Here he was more effective. He
was not very precise or partcularizing in
pointing out where the wrongs were to be
redressed but his appeal for the permanency
of reform, federal, State and municipal, was
hearty, well conceived and fully justified by
his record. He would bury the past, and with
his face to the present and the future join
hands with all who pledged themselves to the
reformation of political abuses. 1t is very
evident from all this that Mr.. Kernan's idea of
the campaign in this State is to take !:
out of the war, the constitutional amendments,
the old bittternesses and the new feuds,
and make it an issue between the honest
intentioned of all parties and those who are
dragged along at the heels of corrupt
administration. Whatever may have been the
tenets of democracy in the past, he discards
from it all that the sword of the nation has cut
away, all the disjecta membra which the over
whelming majority Of the people have declared
| to be buried. In contrast for moment with
Charles o Conor, whom people are fond to say
he resembles, he clings only to what is alive,
and sees no credit in watering plant with
his tears whereof half the branches are rotten
There is q difference between principles pure
and simple and the policies of circumstance,
misnamed principles, which together 60 to
make up party platforms. To the un-
| thinking partisan this distinction is not
appreciable, and they are COMPOUNDED into a
blind, incurable idolatry. That men Of mind
and courage are to be found who, in crisis
like the present, can separate these dead poll
cies from the undying principles and again
boldly accept the best policies Of the hour is q
matter of congratulation and hope. They
leave the stain upon those who cling in pas
sion to the dead, dishonored past, which was
deep on Lancelot:-
His honor rooted In dishOnor, stood,
And faith unfaitnful made him falsely true.
Viewed in this light Mr.. Kernan's utter
ance will place him in satisfactory position
before the citizens of the State, and entitle
him honestly to the support Of oil who are
opposed to the policy represented nationally
| in the administration and locally Nv lie sur,
porters in the Empire State.
We are not aware that General Banks threw
any new light upon his position, which he has
so fully defined on other occasions, yet his