The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-26

ocrats. They hold assured control of ma
jority of the electoral votes on which the
democratic party depends for success, and
are, accordingly, in a position to dictate the
candidate if they chose to exert their power
But they wisely abstain from any attempt to
force their preference on the Convention,
and express their readiness to surrender any
preferences which have been indicated by
their State conventions if it shall appear
that some other candidate would have q
better prospect of success. Governor Tilden
having thus far deployed more Northern
strength than any of his rivals, majority
of the Southern delegates are provisionally
for Tilden, but they are willing to transfer
their votes to any other candidate as soon as
they shall see that some other would COM
mand o larger support in the Northern
States. This is so different from the dicta-
torial spirit exhibited by the Southern dem
ocrats in former times that it deserves notice
and recognition. The old breed of ''fre-
eaters has become extinct. There
are no longer any signs of the Southern
arrogance which was determined to rule or
ruin. The Southern democrats have ceased
to be Bourbons, ''who learn nothing and
forget nothing" and give evidence of having
laid to heart the severe lessons of disas-
trous experience. The exhibition of politi-
cal sense and sanity which the South is now
making at st. Louis is worthy Of commend
alton.
In order to estimate this spirit of defer
ence and forbearance at its full value we
must advert to the fact that this is the first
Presidential election since the outbreak
Of the civil war when the South has had
any real political power. In 1864 the
greater part of the Southern States con-
sidered themselves as ont of the Union, and
took no part in the Presidential election.
In 1868 and 1872 they were either excluded
because they had not accepted the recon-
struction measures, or their States sup
ported the republican ticket by the negro
vote, carpet-bag influence and federal CO
ercion. But within the last three years the
democrats have recovered control of every
Southern State except South Carolina,
and the recent decision of the Su-
preme Court which virtually annuls the
Enforcement act, deprives the republican
party Of it's chief lever in Southern elections
The democratic party has this year q more
secure hold on the South than it ever had in
any Presidential election previous to the
war, for even in 1860 the Bell-Everett ticket
received all the electoral votes Of Kentucky,
Tennessee and Virginia and barely missed
those of Missouri, whereas the democratic
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may be, will receive all the electoral votes
Of the South, except q pitiful seven from
South Carolina. And yet, although the
party is stronger in the South than it ever
was before in any Presidential election, and
although the party in the North is SO weak
one, or three to one, without the
Southern electoral votes, the Southern
delegates bear themselves with the utmost
modesty and reserve at st. Louis and pro-
Tess entire willingness to relinquish their
own preferences in favor of any candidate
on whom a majority Of the Northern dele
gates can agree. This is the first time in
our history when the Southern democrats,
with any approach TO their present power in
their own section, have shown a submissive
Difference to the Northern wing of the
party. The republicans will of course say
that this is mere stratagem, and that the
South 'sstoops to conquer" But, conced-
ing this to be SO, it must still be admitted
that the South has learned some wisdom,
for she has never stopped before in ma
tional convention when backed by so much
real power at home.
This yielding and compliant disposition
on the part of the Southern delegates may
have decisive influence at st. Louis in
certain contingencies that may arise. Such
of them as are counted for Tilden are not
thick-and-thin Tilden men such Of them
as are counted for Hendricks are not first
and-last Hendricks men; they all stand
ready to yield their present choice in favor
of new and rising candidate. They would
60 over en- mdsse to Bayard, with warm &C
CARNATIONS, if Tilden should fail to get two
thirds and majority of his supporters
should take up the popular Delaware
Senator. They would so with equal facil-
ity, though with less enthusiasm, to
any other candidate whose Northern support
should designate him as the winning man.
This plastic condition of the Southern dele
cations is the most unique feature of this
Convention. 1t is a potent variable element
which battles calculation. Other delegations
have favorites whom they mean to stand by !;
the Southern delegations have no favorites
whom they are not ready to relinquish.
Their only stable preference is for the
strongest man, and they are watching TO find
out who he is. If the early ballots convince
them it is Tilden they are for Tilden but
they acknowledge no allegiance that can bind
them to him for moment after they find he
cannot get two-thirds, and his whole strength
may at any time suddenly cave in by the de-
sertion of his Southern supporters. But if
l u Il 49, zA~. = ~.