The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-09-05

VI ueu, nave nominated MI. 1uuen ioi
Governor" 1t is not much of a token, but it
is something; and now that we come into the
autumn political season We must look crIu-
cally at all men. One swallow does not make
summer. but it is not too much to THINK OF
summer weather when We see swallow IN 'he
sky. One nomination, even from as Classic
town as Ithaca, does not secure the Governor
ship, but it gives the candidate an apparent
if not the presumptive right to consideration.
The late Mr.. Greeley on one occasion iaid IL
down as an axiom that in free country any
citizen could run for the Presidency, and, IT
he was not modest, be sure of at least one
vote. MIR. Tilden already has one nomlna-
ton and although it is q small one, he will
accept our fluctuations on the result, and
allow US to examine the situation in which 1t
places him.
The democratic party in New York was
never in more forlorn condition, so far as
candidates are concerned than at the present
time. Loyal democrats, who respect the ira
ditions of party and do not crave extra politi-
cal trouble in the exercise of suffrage must
regret the days when ''Boss" Richmond and
Boss Tweed carried nominations to tho
conventions in the lining of their hats Then
q convention was body of record, and dele
gates were selected for their screaming
powers, their duty being to indorse, with sun
paralleled enthusiasm" whatever the Boss
decreed Recent transactions have imposed
delberative duties upon the democracy In
the exercise of these functions candidates
have risen and fallen with strange rapidity.
The situation is not an easy one.
Governor Dix seems to be an
inevitable candidate on the republican
side. That party must take him from
necessity and not from love. No democrat
has been named who can beat him. Judge
Church seemed to have the faculty, but the
Judge preferred bird on the Bench to pros
pective pair of birds in the executive chairs OF
Albany and Washington Governor Seymour
is named, bnt it would be incredible that he
could accept nomination. II he did we
fear that he would not have staying power
in the race. Mr. Seymour has generally been
nominated for Office, and not because he was
MIR. Seymour, but because he was not some
body else. That is an advantage in some re-
spects, but it becomes monotonous. 1t would
be hard to convince loyal democrats who be-
ieved in war, that when Mr.. Seymour ran for
Governor in 1862 he meant to prosecute the
war and not injure Lincoln's administration.
Mr. Tilden has better record as a war demo-
crat than Governor Seymour, Tor Mr.. Til
denis patriotism was as manifest when hostil-
tiles ragged as it was when peace came-a cir
cumstance in which he differed from Governor
Seymour, and, indeed from the greater body
of the democratic party.
But We are not about to fight the war over
again in the canvass for the Governorship.
We must consider Mr.. Tilden in his complete
relations, not merely as war patriot. He is
distinguished and meritorious citizen, widely
versed in affairs, with generous, ripe expert
ence, who possesses the confidence of the best
classes, and who showed that he valued public
welfare higher than political expediency in his
warfare upon the Tweed dynasty of Tammany
Hall. That is an achievement to be remem-
bered to Mr.. Tilden's honor in the next gen.
Grafton even more gratefully than now. But,
like the compromise speech of Webster, the
popular sovereignty" dogmas of Douglas,
the fierce protectionist hallucinations of Clay,
the ''higher law and ''irrepressible conflict"
oracles OF Seward, it was not the achievement
calculated to make man an available candidate
for high Office. When a citizen assumes the
responsibility, and in most cases the patriotic
responsibility, of acts like the overthrow
ot orl Ila fba 6icfi ocfc oPC
Webster and Seward, he must find his reward
in the gratitude of the next generation, and
not in the suffrages Of the present. man
may be too great, too conspicuous in his party
to be it's leader. He may inspire awe, or
reverence, or fear, like Calhoun, and Sumner,
fdence which a Tree people give to their Chief
Magistrates The stony-iaced, silent, inscrut-
able Grant, who never contributed an idea to
politics in his life, who took Office because
the party could not refuse him, was more
acceptable to the people than man of
genius and courage like Greeley, or, indeed,
than any man in public affairs. He had no
political life. He had no ideas on contested
affairs and, consequently, offended no men Of
ideas. No party was sure Of him all parties
hoped that be might serve them, and accord
ingly ne gained and possessed-and we are
not quite sure that he does not still possess
the overwhelming confidence of the practical
men OF the land.
MIR. Tilden has no such hold on the people.
General Dix, on the other hand, is in many
respects like General Grant He has never
politician. He has never wasted his strength
seeking to sail over stormy seas in treacherous
weather. When there were burning questions
abroad the old Governor contented himself
with railway management aud snipe shooting.
But when Office became simply the doing of cold
duty without the necessity of political manfes-