The New York herald., 1876-09-14


vention got through with its task yesterday
more briefly and smoothly than the public
had any reason to expect There was no
row, no wrangle, and, although there was
contest for the nomination, it was attended
with no more heat than is incident to such
contests in an ordinary political convention.
In the first informal or trial ballot Mr. Rob-
inson led all his competitors, and few
changes before the vote was declared gave
him clear majority. His nomination was
then made unanimous by acclamation. The
Convention washed no dirty linen, made no
attempt to pay off old scores, passed
over the late fasco in discreet silence,
and expressed its continued good will
to Mr.. Seymour by restoring his
name to its original place at the head Of the
electoral ticket. The Convention conducted
its business in short metre and promptly
adjourned, to the great relief of it's men,
bers and the anxious fears of the party.
1t cannot be doubted that the republican
victory in Maine contributed to this result.
The democratic party has reason enough to
be alarmed at the unshalzen steadiness Of
the republican phalanx. The democratic
reform cry has as yet made no impression on
the country so far as can be judged from the
elections which have thus far been held.
The republicans of Maine have SO far ex-
ceeded their most sanguine expectations that
waverers in other States will incline to stand
by their old party flag. When American
citizens change their party it is in the hope
of being on the victorious side but since
the Maine election the omens of victory are
not with the democrats. A large proportion
of the prominent liberal republicans and
independents had already enlisted under
the Hayes and Wheeler banner, and the ma
jority of the rank and file will no longer
hesitate to follow their example. But if the
republican party can hold its own and recall
its stragglers it's triumph in the Presidential
election is assured. Nobody understands
this better than the democratic leaders, not
withstanding their squirming reluctance to
confess it. The Maine election proves that
the average republican will stand by his
party-proves that the reform cry of the
democrats has fallen on needless or incredu-
lous ears. When it is seen that the dis
affected republicans, who mutinied four
years ago, are fastening back to rejoin the
ranks and that they ''do not listen to the
voice of the charmer, charm he never so
wisely" regular republicans will be apt to
think this an ill-selected occasion for desert
ing to the enemy. Tens of thousands who
had been debating with themselves whether
the time was not rife for change of par
ties, and whether it was not wise to forsake
sinking ship, will be determined by
the Maine election to ''wait little
longer" The democratic party will make
no more proselytes this year, and if the re-
publican party should be relatively any
thing like as strong throughout the North
ern States as it has proved itself to be in
Vermont and Maine Hayes and Wheeler will
easily be elected
1t was fortunate for democratic har-
mony at Saratoga that the reassembled
Convention happened to meet just at the
point of time when the magnitude of the re-
publican victory in Maine was made un-
deniable by authentic returns. In this de-
pressing conjuncture John Kelly had no heart
to make a fight against Governor Tilden. 1t
had become so doubtful whether any can
didate could succeed that the anti-Tilden
democrats did not think the nomination
worth fighting for. Two weeks ago Kelly
opposed the nomination of liberal republi-
can for Governor with contemptuous, insult
ing bitterness. But he had no vehement
speech to make yesterday against the i'm
policy of taking up anybody. but regular,
lifelong democrat. On the contrary, he
'.roared you as gently as O sucking dove, an
twere any nightingale" But, aside from
the dripping wet blanket of the Maine cleo
ton, there were much stronger reasons for
opposition yesterday than there we're on the
30th of August. Until Maine had been
heard from it was universally conceded that
Mr.. Robinson was put outside the pale
of choice by the fact that Mr.. Dorsheimer
another liberal republican, held the second
place on the ticket What a change must
have come DER the spirit of John Kelly's
dream when, after feeble resistance, he
consents to have the two chief places on the
ticket given to liberal republicans The
Maine election is the only thing that has
occurred to change his mind; but when
did politician ever so abandon consistency
or make such face-about? Instead of pro-
testing against one liberal republican he
now consents to the nomination of two.
Aside from the fact that Mr.. Dorsheimer
was already on the ticket the nomination of
Mr. Robinson is the strongest and best that
could have been made under the circum-
stances. Lucius Robinson is an able, up
right, experienced man, who understands
the history and working of the State govern
ment as we'll as any man in the State. No
body will dispute that he would make an
exceptionally capable Governor if he should