New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-03
TILE pEuocRAnC CONVENTION.

The Democratic Convention whose sessions
at Utica were concluded yesterday did some
wise and some weak things; its work upon
the whole being better than that of the aver
age Conventions of that party in this State.
The call of the Convention, to begin with,
was. from merely party point of view, a
mistake, since it ruled ont from participation
in its proceedings all except the Tammany
wing of the party in this city, and all OppO-
nents of the Administration who are not
Democrats, in the State. This, If they In
tended seriously to contest the State with the
Administration Republicans, was blunder.
No argument is necessary to show that In
the present condition of the Democratic party
they need all the strength they can
bring into the canvass themselves, with
such other assistance as it is possible
to call into alliance with them. Equally mis-
taken was the pOlicy-viewed simply as
question of policy-Of rejecting the Apollo
Hall delegates so uncercmOniOusly, and
driving them out with as much lack of judg-
ment as of courtesy. For the party these
things were not wise, though in their in
fuence upon the public welfare we are
disposed to think they will be productive
OF ROOuy 5luCO tHty ihuSJ uiStCh CHC ulo-
Indignation of parties. All movements in the
interest of the close corporations which at
present call themselves " the great parties"
have a tendency to weaken instead of strength
euing those organizations, and to release
honest citizens from all allegiance to them.
The Convention itself as has been stated in
our Utica correspondence, was above the aver
age of Democratic Conventions upon the score
of responsibility. The Reform movement has
somewhat thinned out the disreputable and
disorderly element which used TO be so con-
spicuOus feature under the Tweed regime,
and better class Of men are beginning to
appear as delegates. The only occasion for
disorder-the rejection of the ApOllOlEIall dele
gation-passed off very quietly, the latter
retiring from the hall without any demonstra-
ton to distract the proceedings.
The resolutions are carefully drawn, and for
the most part good. The Jefersonian gene
ralities with which they open are much more
pertinent than the usual clap-trap for which
they are substituted, and the condemnation of
the Salary Grab and Credit Mobilier iniquities
is as square and positive as could be de-
sired. "All Congressman, Democratic OF Re-
"publican,n who in any way participated in
either of these wrongs, are condemned, and
there is no mealy-mouthed exception in the
resolutions to spare party friends. much
more pronounced condemnation of the Salary
Grab however, was the action of the Convention
in refusing to reappoint Mr. Kinsella of Brook
lyn, Salary Grabber of the last Congress- upon
the State Committee. 1t might be said that
the resolutions were only words and were
cheap, signifying nothing. The action with
regard to Mr.. Kinsella was something more;
it led out prominent member of the party
by the ear and administered to him the
rebuke he deserved. All honor to the party,
or to any party, that in these degenerate days
has the courage to enforce its doctrines upon
It's own representatives. The last resolution,
inviting the cooperation of the Liberal Repub-
licans, involved no great sacrifice, and was not
unnatural.
The ticket presented is in point Of ability
a fair one, although the Convention seemed
to labor under the disadvantage of not being
able to secure the acceptance Of such men as
they desired to put forward. The selection
of Mr.. Raines for Treasurer does the Conven-
ton and the party credit, and gives an assur-
ance of earnestness to the professions
of economy and reform in State Gov
eminent embodied in the platform.
Aside from the nomination for Treasurer, the
ticket is not remarkably strong, and that of
the Republicans, nominated last week, has
the advantage of having been selected with
more regard TO local claims. The ante
cedents and records of the several can
didates are set forth in our Utica cor
respondence. The Convention has, upon
the whole. done its work better than many of
its predecessors. though, from all accounts,
the delegates did not exhibit much of the en-
thusiasm Of anticipated success. We may