The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-28

1914. That wonderful wave advanced from
the West. 1t elected Allen in Ohio before it
elected Tilden in New York and CASTOR In
Massachusetts, 1t began in 1873 with Aliens
election and eliminated in 1874 with demo-
cratic victories in majority Of the States.
When Tilden and CASTOR were elected in
November, 1874, they had the advantage of
great democratic victories in the October
States Of the same year-victories which
disheartened the republicans and filled the
democratic party everywhere with hope and
confidence The democrats have nothing
to expect from the October States this year.
Instead of carrying Ohio by majority
seven or eight times as large ss that by
which Allen was elected they are likely to
be beaten by much larger republican
majority than was given to Hayes last year.
SO that the influence of the October elections
viii be on different side from what 1t was
when it contributed so powerfully to Gov
ernor Tilden's success in 1874 The ebb Of
the tidal wave" and the almost certain loss
of the October States would make it unsafe
to estimate Mr.. Tilden's strength by his
adverse changes in the situation.
But there are material changes in other
respects In 1874 there was strong liberal
republican element in the politics of the
State, the relics OF the Greeley movement of
1872. This element was courted by giving
Lieutenant Governor and in various other
why's. The liberal republicans accept the
nomination of Hayes and seem glad
OF an excuse for resuming their old
party connections Mr.. Fenton, who
sympathized with and abetted the liberals
active support. Senator Conkling who,
from motives very different from those of
the liberal republicans. was cold toward
Governor Dix when he was running against
Tilden, will exert himself with all his
power and efficiency in this years election.
The temperance party, which consists almost
entirely of republicans, will all vote for
Hayes, whereas in 1874 they cast nearly
twelve thousand votes for their own candi-
date for Governor. and weakened General Dix
to that extent. For these various reasons
the republican party of New York will be
stronger and more formidable in the coming
election than it was in 1874, when Governor
Tilden was borne into Office on the '.tdal
wave," and General Dix was weakened by
dissensions and lukewarmness in his own
party.
We have referred to these facts in the stu
alton in no spirit OF hostility to Governor
Tilden, for the greater part of them have no
special bearing on his candidature. Most of
these obstacles lie equally in the path Of
any other democratic nominee for the Pres
idency. Bayard or Thurman would equally
suffer from the subsistence of the ''tidal
wave, would be equally damaged in this State
by republican victories in October, and would
have just as hard contest against the thor
oughly reunited republican party. None of
these untoward circumstances have any
of Governor Tilden but what they do show
is that, with the strongest possible candi-
date, the democratic party will have hard
and doubtful battle to fight in New York.
The contest will be SO close that the demo-
Gratis cannot afford to go into it crippled and
weakened by dissensions or GOODNESS in their
own ranks Some other candidate would be
more likely than Governor Tilden to restore
harmony and inspire enthusiasm in the New
York democracy. With any candidate the
quarrel between the Tammany and anti
Tammany factions would, indeed, go on and
be carried into the State Convention, but
with the great difference that the nominee
for the Presidency would be in no
way involved in it or weakened by
it. Both factions would support the
Presidential candidate with equal zeal
if he were anybody but Tilden but
with Tilden in the field one of the fac
tions would be as hostile to him as to its
immediate opponents. Whether Mr.. Til
dcns great reputation MS q reformer would
counterbalance this source of weakness is
problem which only time can solve, but the
great falling off in the democratic vote Of
the State last year, when his reform record
was rs bright as it is now, may Justify
doubts. 1t is certain that no democratic
candidate will have any strength to spare in
this State, and that, unless the confidence
Governor Tilden has inspired as reformer
would overbalance the personal hostility he
has incurred, the party will not be strength
ened by his nomination.
CHoArE on SPECIAL INJURIES. Mr.. Choate,
the lawyer opposed to rapid transit. argues
that enc reason why the steam line should
not be built is that it would be special