The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-24


nected with its bearing on Governor Tilden's
chances for the ST. Louis nomination. II 1T
should conduct its business with unanimity
and indorse the Governor as Presidential
candidate without any exhibitions of dissent
his chances will be good for securing the
delegates from several other States, and
going to the National Convention with
strong body of supporters. The seventy
votes of New York are a foundation on which
a great deal can be built, not only in the
way of prestige, but of moro solid tokens
1t is already certain that Mr.. Tilden
has large majority of the delegates
to Utica, and that his friends can
give the action of the Convention any shape
they may deem expedient; but if they
should be arrogant and press their victory too
far there is danger Of angry debates and pro-
tests which would destroy the value of their
triumph.
The question which threatens the unity
Of the Utica Convention is whether
the New York delegates to st. Louis
shall be pledged. If pledged, they will be
bound to stand by Governor Tilden until his
nomination shall have become utterly hope
less if unpledged, they will be at liberty to
support some other candidate at any stage
of the proceedings. 1t is true, indeed that
the New York delegates to democratic ma
tional convention always vote as unit
and that a majority suffices to control
tho whole; but it by no means fol-
lows that an unpledged delegation would,
therefore, be as serviceable to Governor Til
den as one of whom all the members are
instructed to support him. IT, for example,
it should happen, in the course of the pro-
ceedings at St. Louis, that in consultation
OF the New York members forty should be
found to favor Tilden and the other thirty
some other candidate, that fact would i'm
mediately become known, and the friends
of the other candidate would be encouraged
to prolong the struggle although Tilden
would receive the whole seventy votes on that
particular ballot The minority of an IN
pledged delegation would be free to give
their moral support, though not their votes,
to any of Mr. Tildens rivals, whereas every
member of pledged delegation would be
bound to work for him alone. We, there
fore, assume that the Utica Convention will
pledge its delegates, unless the fear of mu-
tiny restraints his friends from the attempt.
Governor Tilden lis studiously kept this
question open, the advantages of pledged
delegation being SO obvious that he will
relinquish them only on compulsion.
Whether pledge is to be insisted on is q
question that will not be decided until the
Governors friends shall have had an oppor-
tunity to feel the pulse of the delegates after
they assemble at Utica. Governor Tilden
has been repeatedly and urgently advised to
consent to an unpledged delegation, but he
has made it point of dignity and scornfully
refused. His leading and most confidential
organ said yesterday that the district conven-
tions have declared their preference, ''thus
doubly justifying the self-respecting refusal
OF Governor Tilden to be badgered into the
indelicacy of saying what he did or
did not want" The significance of
this language is worth noting. Who
are the people that have undertaken
to s'badger' the Governor? Who are the
democrats that stand charged in his leading
'sbadgering" him, but of trying to badger"
him into an act of ''indelicacy?" The organ
itself gives the answer in despatch from
Utica, which asserts that s'some of the Gov
ernor's best and most influential friends
Governor Seymour among them"-gnve him
this advice. 1t is a new thing Ill the politics
of this State for any democratic journal to
accuse Governor Seymour of meddlesome
and intrusive improperly. The signif-
canoe of this language does not, however,
consist in its extraordinary tone toward
Governor Seymour, but in the proof
it furnishes of the urgency with
which this advice was given and the resent
full spirit in which it was repclled Mr.
Tilden would not have thought himself
s'badgered" unless the advice had been
strongly pressed, and a gentleman of
Governor Seymour's singular urbanity and
real friendship for Mr.. Tilden would not
have .'badgered" him unless he thought the
good of the party required it The way
Governor Tilden spurned the advice is a
proof that he clings to the hope of pledged
delegation. This odd disclosure will
strengthen the opposition at Utica by show
ing the Convention that the wisest Of
Governor Tilden's advisers, including the
most faithful and venerated counsellor of the
party, think that the delegation should be
sent to St Louis unfettered by instruc-
TONS
If Governor Tildcns friends should decide
to insist on instructions they will win a
costly victory. They are strong enough to
carry the point, but not without vigorous
battle. About two-ffths of the delegates to
Utica are opposed to committing the Con-
vention to Governor Tildcn. There are sew
eral who are friendly to him, but will still
vote against n pledge, and contest would
convert these lukewarm friends into open