New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-08
POLITICAL.
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE CONVENTION AT
SARATOGA.

REFORM AND NOT TfIDEN-A HAkp-MoNht NM
ANTI-THIRD-TE PLATFORM SURE UNUSUAL
WORTH AND ABILITY OF THE DELEGATEs-iHE
INFLUENCE OF THE CUsroM-HorsE KEPT FROM
THE EYE, But rELT-THE FIGHT OVER JUDGE
VAN CorT-GEO. WILLIAM CURTIS TO DE PER-
MASENT CHAIRMAN.
IBY TELEGRAPH FROM s,II CokRksf"NDhNr of ihI
S,RAroGA N. Y, Sept. To-day is the first of
earatocas short political Scarcely over half
of the delegates were in town the earlier part of the
day. and it was not until the arrival Of the late
trains tonight that il could be safely said that the
Convention was holding its preliminary meeting.
This promises to be very intelligent and respect
able body of men, far as one can judge of the
looks of Convention that has not been called to-
ge.her. Indeed, it contains an exceptional number
of men of worth and real ability. Among them are
George William Curtis, Edwin u. Morgan, Judge
Robertson, George Opdyke Senator John S. King,
William Orion, Hamilton Fish, jr., Gen. I'll. E. Da-
vies. William ii. Anthem, and ex-Speaker Cornell.
There are many present of course, TO whose mem
bership in the CustOm-house party one would rather
certify than to their worth ability All the wire
pullers of the Custom-house hand and hard at
work.
The first thing that strikes the mind is the ten
dency-rather novel one in Republican Conven-
tons in this State-to back off from the ticket
rather than scramble TO get place upon it, There
is only Ole office for which there seems TO be any
real contest that of Attorney General or perhaps
two, if we include the Canal COmmissoncrsliip, In
the controversy which very little interest how
ever is taken so far The truth is, that the best
informed Republicans are not sanguine of success
They feel that Gov. Tilden by his strenuous and
persistent campaign against the Canal thieves, has
gained an advantage over them, which the mis-
guided course of portion of the Republican press
has simply served to increase Consequently men
who have ambitions which they do not care TO put
in peril are unwilling TO lead what delegate SAID
to-day is "a forlorn hope"
In response to a question: leading Republican
said that there is the ghost of chance Tor the
ticket unless it is very strong one and unless the
candidates are not only unexceptonable, but are
men of great influence and established reputation
Another prominent Republican, who will take his
seat tomorrow for the fifteenth time as delegate
10 Republican State Convention, said, in CONVERSE
ton with some of the managers of the party " Cen
tlernen your platform must contain four planks III
must not bubble about hard money. 1t must be
emphatic and pointed on canal reform, and equally
no on the third term and it must pronounce against
sectarian appropriation. The temper of the people
of this State has changed in the last ten or fifteen
years They not going to take the hepuDhcan
party on conjecture You must be explicit Fur
thermore, your candidates must be the very best
men YOU can find. The party which has the best
platform and the best ticket will, l think, win the
next election; but it may not even do that. The
Republican party may deserve success and yet not
get it, But you may assured that if 1t docs not
deserve it there is no possibility of getting it,"
There Is prospect that this sensible advice will
be needed. The platform, as revised late to-
night will undoubtedly contain substantially
the four planks alluded to. The course of the
State press in regard to the anti-thrd term
OIL he Commercial Advertiser q
New.York and the paper of the same name in Buff
f,lo favoring such declaration, leaves no room for
doubt ON that subject, and the feeling OF the dele
gates il rather more united. This phantom of a
third term troubles them wonderfully and they Will
vote solidly against it. The hard money plank, be-
inpeyitable is scarcely discussed at ALL but it is
not believed that any opposition will be called into
play
How to helm Gov Tildens reform without helping
Gov Tilden is the problem of the hour at Saratoga.
There is no likelihood that the Convention Will
either praise or disparage the Governor by
name. though several influential Republicans
favor a personal acknowledgment of his services.
II is more probable that there will be general dec
laratiop in behalf of Canal reform, with a claim of
the credit of the work for the Republican Senate
and the mi-Repubcan Commission confirmed by
tina, Senate The introduction of the school Qufs-
ton into the Ohio canvass, and the action OF the
priests in Morristown, NJ in reference to the New
Jersey constitutional amendments, have provoked
considerable discussion and resulted In the prepa-
ration of a plank avswng the determined oppo-
siton Of the party to sectarian appropriations, and
10 any division of the school fund, demanding that
the public school system be held sacred calling for
equal taxation for its support. The resolution is
understood to have been framed by Mr.. Geo. VIII
Lam Curtis and to be strong as might have been
expected from the editor of Harpcrs Hoekly. In
deed delegates have expressed their opinion to-day
that this question will attain the proportions OF a
leading issue in the canvas before its close.
These are the principal points of the platform
which il IS intended to keep within the narrowest
possible limits The authors Of the platform are
George William Curtis and Mr.. Charles f.. Smith OF
The Albany Journal. There has been an attempt to
make il appear that the Convention is not to be con-
trollcd by the CustoIn-house Senator Conklings
absence is understood to be item in this arrange
mept In some of the delegations too, there has
been an effort TO keep the oiceholders 1T home, OF
at least ia the background. The Kings County dele
cation for instance, asserts that it is almost
entirely free from them, and claims an Improvement
In that respect on all previous delegations. But
whether the number of oiceholders actually on tie
lists is smaller than that of previous years OF not
this is none the Ices gathering which the Office
holders will control beyond doubt. In short, II
this is not Mr. S. b. CorDeps Convention, it will not
be from the lack of attempt to exercise his au-
th0rity. The most conspicuous instance OF tins mas
been given in the treatment of the Kings County
delegation in connection with the nomination for
Attoney-Gencral. The Custom-house has been
pushing all day for that Office Judge Joshua
N. Van Colt of Brooklyn, whose nomination