The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-11
candidates as the high contracting parties
might dictate. On the floor of the Conventions

candidates as the high contracting parties
might dictate. On the floor of the Conventions
the customary scenes were enacted Unknown
delegates forced themselves into notice
as individuals upon whom the whole political
responsibility of the nation rested; persons,
obscure even in their own election districts,
set up as spokesman for the citizens of the
Empire State, and sophomore ward politicians
undertook to berate the Nestors Of the demo-
cratic party and the acknowledged leaders of
reform. Mr.. Tilden was the mark for the
small shafts of a dozen ambitious nobodies,
with more impudence than brains, and there
was nothing in or about the Conventions to
distinguish them from any other old party
gatherings of similar character, or to render
them in any way worthy of the character OF
the great independent uprising at Cincinnati
and Baltimore.
For these reasons we have rebuked the SYRIA
cuse Conventions, which purported to be revo-
lutions against old party usages, and for these
reasons we should have rebuked the Utica
Convention had anything different from the
old hackncyed routine of political intrigue and
chicanery been expected of it. Both parties
now stand on about the same footing in this
respect, and the people will have to look to the
character of the candidates and the
chances of honest government under them
in making their selections. The ticket
at Syracuse was nominated by Mr. Tilden and
Governor Seymour, Mr.. Herman being o
- ~ IL 90
General Dix is well known, and the other can
didates associated with him are respectable
enough in point Of character and capacity.
No person can gainsay the personal worth OF
Mr.. Herman, and his political record is good
but is wholly and consistently democratic.
The republican organs denounce him for
alleged opposition to war when the rebellion
was Matching, but it will scarcely answer their
purpose to revive such dead issue in view of
the extreme anti-war record of Lyman Ire
main, and even of the former sentiments Of
General Dix The truth is, that many of our
best and purest citizens opposed the war until
it became an actual fact and necessity for the
preservation of the Union, and all such un-
meaning charges should be buried in the same
grave with secession and slavery. Mr.. Herman
is Catholic, and, as we have said, the re-
ligious question was dragged into the con-
troversy Immediately upon his nomination by
q leading republican organ which thought
proper to denominate him ''bigot." It
is remarkable that nothing is said of
religious danger or bigotry when any
other religion than the Catholic is represented
in nominee, and hence it is not difficult to
discover where the bigotry originates. In q
country where entire religious freedom exists
any allusion to the religious faith of public
officer is in conflict with the fundamental prin-
ciples of the government and should be re-
sented by all honest citizens. Those timid
persons, however, who fear that Catholicity
and political freedom cannot exist together
may be consoled by the recollection that MIR.
Herman in the State Constitutional Convention
made q forcible argument against sectarian
appropriations Our objection to Mr.. Ker-
mans nomination was and is that it does not
seem to meet the occasion Of great, indepen-
dent, popular uprising, as the nomination of
Chief Justice Church would unquestionably
have done; and hence, both in the undignifed
and hackneyed character of the proceedings
and in the selection Of candidates we believe
the Syracuse Conventions have cast away the
strength Of the Cincinnati movement if it is
to have any strength at all, and, instead of en-
tering the canvass as the representatives of q
revolution of the people against old party
usages, will have to take their chances Of
failure or success on the old issue of one set of
politicians against another set.
What II To He Done with the