The New York herald., 1874-10-31
The State Canvass.

ihosc sinbuihr pOltlcal canvass wnlcn mas
taken place in this State for many years.
When it opened it seemed to be, in the main,
personal contest between two we'll known
citizens. Between Governor Dix and Mr..
Illden there was little to choose except in
those personal qualities which secure favor
and popularity They were trained in the
same school; they had been old political as
sociates; they had always held the same
views on the currency, the tariff, the fiscal
policy of the government and on that whole
range Of questions and there seemed no
other reason why the citizens of New York
should prefer one of them to the other tor their
chief magistrate than personal predictions.
Had the canvass continued to stand on this
footing the result could not have been
doubtful. Governor Dix has held SO many and
such conspicuous positions, and has always
had the good fortune to act so popular a part
in every important emergency, that III mere
personal contest between him and MIR. Iiiden
he would have had great advantages. 1t is
fortunate for Mr.. Tilden and unfortunate Tor
Governor Dix that the contest was quickly
shifted to other ground
But in passing from personal to public
grounds the canvass went through an inter-
mediate stage which is instructive to those
who reflect on it. The respective war records
of these two candidates were industriously
paraded and contrasted by the supporters of
General Dix; but meanwhile, Tilden steadily
gained and Dix as steadily lost in popular
strength. 1t was not because the people of
this State prefer Mr.. Tilden's war record to
that of General Dix but because they have
ceased to care for such points at all. 1t is
demonstrated that war records are spent
ammunition in our political contests, and that
no candidate has hereafter anything to gain
or to lose by his zeal or his slackness in the
great crisis of 1861. Even Mr.. O'Conor who
was ciassed as q pro-Southern extremist
during our great struggle, is as much esteemed
and honored to-day as Governor Dix The
time is past when political capital can be made
out Of war record, and the fact that Mr..
Tilden has steadily gained strength while his
political opponents were assailing his course
during the war attests the public sense that
all such topics have passed from politics to
history. 1t is demonstrated that our political
contests can no longer be influenced by
the obsolete questions which divided the
country thirteen years ago.
The New York canvass in connection with
the political canvass in other States proves
that another exciting topic has been consigned
to 'the tomb of the Capulets." The old stock
topic of Southern outrages has been vigorously
worked this fall, but with no practical result
beyond that Of disgusting the people of the
North. 1t has been felt that if widespread
disorder is the fruit of the republican policy
in the South, after SO long trial under re-
publican superintendence, the breaches of
order are fairly chargeable either to the system
or to inexcusable blunders in its administra-
ton. The republican party has steadily lost
ground, both in this State and everywhere in
the North, by its attempts to exploit the
Southern outrage business as means of in
fuencing votes. Appeals of this kind, like
records on the point of loyalty during the war,
are spent ammunition, which can never be
fired off again with any practical effect Mr..
Tilden has been constantly gaining in strength
during q canvass in which this class of topics
has been freely used, and if the republican
party is wise it will never have recourse again
to these obsolete grounds of appeal 1t must
stand or fall by its skill in meeting the present
wants Of the country.
Governor Dix's canvass, which opened
under fattering auspices, began to decline as
soon as his political opponents pushed him
into Identification with President Grant and
held him responsible as supporter of the ad-
ministrat1on. AS soon as it ceased to be o
personal contest between Tilden and Dix and
was changed into a contest between Grant
and dissatisfied people, in which Dix stood
as Grants sponsor and representative, every
| day brought accessions to the Tilden side. It
| is well for Tilden that this election was not
held Immediately after the nominations. 1t
was his good fortune to become the rallying
point Of all the elements of opposition in this
State. A great impulse was given to his can
vass by the October elections. Since the re-
turns from Ohio and Indiana were received
Dix's heavy majority two years ago has seemed
to the New York democracy an obstacle which
they might reasonably hope to overcome.
Questions of State policy are having no per-
ceptible influence in this contest. The pend
ing constitutional amendments are not
party question, and, aside from the amend
ments, no State measures of any consequence
are involved in the canvass. Neither party
has any distinctive policy respecting
the canals or their management re-
spechng railroads or pro rata freight bills,
respecting the methods of State taxation, the
| usurv laws the Government IF citiec or onv
other subject of State legislation. A lively
interest is indeed felt in the political COM
plexion of the next Legislature; not, however,
in relation to any laws it may pass, but solely
with reference to the choice of federal Sem