The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-15
The Gubernatorial Contest I'm Now
York.


next Presidential election is staked on its sue
cess in the New York State election this year.
Unless the democracy can rely with absolute
confidence upon the steady support of New
York II can entertain no reasonable hope Of
electing the President in 1875 Since the out
break of the civil war Mr.. Seymour has been
once and Mr.. Hoffman has been twice elected
Governor of this State, political parties having
been so equally divided that the dem ocrats
have succeeded in one-half Of our State cleo
tons and the republicans in the other half
The two parties having such balanced strength
in this great and debatable State it is natu-
rally looked to as an index of political pros
poets, and defeat of the New York democ-
racy in the approaching election would
be a drenching wet blanket on the
hopes Of the party. If it loses this
election in New York all cool observers will
conclude that the democratic party is defunct,
that the republicans will elect the next Presi-
dent and that effective opposition can be
made only by some new political organiza-
ton. But if the New York democracy should
achieve decisive triumph this year the party
would be strengthened and encouraged by
q reasonable hope of success in the next Presi-
dental election. The prosperity and the very
existence of the party being 80 obviously
staked on the ensuing campaign in New York
there ought to be free sacrifice of local and
personal feeling by democrats who cherish q
sincere faith in their party.
Everything, therefore, depends upon put
ting strong candidate in the field against
Governor Dix, who will be the renominee of
the republican party. Seymour is understood
to have declined, Herman has declined, Beach
has declined, Potter, who would be glad of
the nomination, will not press his claims,
and Judge Church, the only democratic can
didate whose nomination would be equiva-
lent to an election, hangs back and
prefers his judicial position 1t requires but
slight knowledge Of politics to see whittier all
this shrinking reluctance tends. It looks to
the nomination of Samuel J. Tilden as the
democratic candidate for Governor And we
are constrained to admit that if all the other
prominent democratic candidates take them
selves out of the field, Mr. Tilden has good
chances for the nomination. He is q politi-
clan of great astuteness, and having been
chairman Of the Democratic State Committee
since the death Of Dean Richmond, he has
established such close relations with the lead
ing rural democratic politicians of the State
as gIves him d great advantage in manipu-
lating the primary meetings which determine
the CHOICE Of delegates to the State Conven-
ton. If neither Church, nor Beach, nor Pot
ter, nor Seymour, nor Herman, nor Ganson
exert themselves to gain the delegates, the
quiet and subtle activity of Tilden will secure
a majority Of them, and his nomination will
be an assured thing, although he is less pre-
ferred than any of the gentlemen we havs
named. The reasons why none of these
gentlemen are willing to be put
forward as candidates are well understood.
Seymour's political career ended with his
great defeat in 1868. Herman, who is one of
the purest and most upright men in the State,
found that the Protestant feeling is an insu-
perable bar to the election of any Catholic:
Beach is particular friend of Tildens and
will not run against him, although he desires
the Office, and Church thinks it would be ab-
surd to relinquish his present high Office,
whose long tenure for man of his age, is O
provision for life, unless he could see his way
clear to make the Governorship stepping
stone to the Presidency, which is the only
position he has any good reason to court
But if none of these democrats contest the
against Mr. Tilden he will prob
ably secure it. He has sedulously cultivated
his opportunities to make friends in the rural
districts, and the democratic nomination for
Governor depends upon preliminary activity
in securing the rural delegates to the State
Convention. no other democrat contests
the field against Mr.. Tilden his quiet astute-
ness will secure him majority of the dele
gates.
Mr.. Tilden is not strong candidate
Between him and Judge Church there is no
sort Of comparison in personal popularity
with the democratic masses, and if he gets the
nomination he can have no assurance of an
election whereas if Church were nominated
he would sweep the field. AS against Gov
ernor Dix Mr.. Iilden would be feeble can
didate, and his nomination, instead Of dis
and paralyzing the republicans,
would inspire them with confident hopes of
carrying the State Unless Judge Church
will consent to be the democratic candidate
and his friends will be active the party will
lose that eide in the affairs of men which
leads on to fortune" If the democrats lose
New York this year the party is virtually dis
banded and dissolved.
DANGERS OF THE FoUErH AvENUE TuHNx1. -
This great work at the upper end of the Island
of Manhattan has already caused many fatal
accidents 10 those engaged upon it. Yester-