The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-24
Will Judge Church Accept NOmi.
nation for Governor.

at some length the reasons why that gentle
man will not permit the use of his name as
candidate for the democratic nomination.
Whatever force those reasons might have il
this were an ordinary canvass they ought no
to be allowed the weight of feather when SC
much is at stake. If the democratic party is
beaten In New York this year it is past pray
ing for. Can the democrats elect the next
President without the vote of New York !?
But how can they expect to carry New York
in 1875 if they lose the State in 1874? To
adopt military phrase, New York is the key
of the position. 1t is. indeed, supposable
enough that the democracy may succeed in
this State and yet fail to elect the President !;
but that it can carry the Presidency with New
York voting for the republican candidate is
too absurd an idea for any rational creature to
entertain. 1t is perhaps, barely possible that,
after losing New York in 1874 the democrats
might regain it in 1876; but such q change of
fortune would be improbable. and as it could
not be known until after tho election even if it
should occur, the democratic party would not
be encouraged and inspired during the can
vass by the moral certainty that it had
cure hold on this great State, which has as
many electoral votes as all New England. One
of the most important elements of political
success is confidence but the democratic
party will have no solid ground of confidence
if it loses New York this year.
Judge. Church is man of too much polit-
cal sagacity not to recognize the truth of this
cfo ~ no uif
modesty will not permit him to say, nor
scarcely to think, that the whole fortune of
the democratic party is staked upon his per-
sonal action, and his sense of the proprieties
OF his high judicial position imposes on him
an additional restraint. 1t is sort of moral
necessity for him to talk in the nolo episcopori
vein, even to his intimate friends, and they
are exceedingly maladroit in trying to inter-
view him on the subject. They should have
respect enough for the delicacy of his position
to forbear Fostering him with interrogatories,
and sense enough to see that the effect of their
indiscreet interviewing is to tempt him to
commit himself against being candidate.
Why should they annoy him with ques-
tons and soundings which place him in
an indicate dilemma between his
dignity and his judgment? No sort of regard
should be paid to the expressions of reluctance
extorted from his modesty Dy foolish super
serviceable friends who are indicate enough
to approach him on this subject The cam
vass in his behalf should proceed without ex-
posing him to any imputation of inspiring or
favoring it. He is the one democrat who
could certainly be elected, and the party is
not strong enough to take any risks. With
out consulting him at all. or paying any re-
gard to his personal reluctance, the Demo-
cratic State Convention should nominate him
by reclamation, and put upon him alone the
responsibility of declining and defeating the
hopes Of the party.
We are confident Judge Church would not
decline nomination which came to him in
this spontaneous way. He is man of strong
party predictions and great public spirit,
with magnanimity enough to make personal
sacrifices if the honest judgment of the party
should decide that they are necessary. To
be sure he would be compelled to resign at
once his position on the Bench, the new
judiciary article of the State constitution
vacating the Office of Judge when he con-
sents to be candidate for any other than q
judicial Office He could not retain his
position as head of the Court of APP
peals and await the result of the cleo
ton. If defeated as candidate for
the Governorship he would be o mere
private citizen, losing both Offices by running
for the least important. But defeated for the
Governorship he could not be, though he
would descend from an Office which has for
him virtually life tenure to two years Office
with about half the salary But there are
counterbalancing advantages or, at least,
counterbalancing chances, which are worth his
consideration. BY saving New York to the de-
mocracy he would have done more than it is in
the power Of any other man to do to put the
party on the road to success in the Presden-
tial election. His own title to the democratic
nomination would be among the least. A
man who trlumphs over so strong, respected
and widely known candidate as Governor
Dix gives a demonstration of his popularity
such as no other democratic statesman has
either the ability or the opportunity to fur
nish. Carrying New York as candidate for
Governor he would more certainly carry it as
| q candidate for the Presidency, and New York
is too important State to be put in any jeop-
ardy. In personal qualifications he is fully
the peer of any democrat named in connec-
ton with the Presidency. His financial
views are as sound as they are
decided, and since the Indiana democ-
racy, in a convention over which Governor
Hendricks presided, has Endorsed the Pendle-
ton heresy of greenbaok reputation, the dem
ocratic party needs Presidential candidate
whose financial opinions require no exculpa
tory explanations Judge Church is precisely
such man. Educated in the political school