The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-13

leading candidate in the democratic party is
Samuel j. Tilden the leading candidate in
the republican party is Roscoe Conkling.
The only disturbing element in the repub-
hcan camp is the opposition of a social up
town club called the Union League, headed
by George William Curtis, writer
on manners and fashionsAand show 10 be-
have" The only disturbing element in the
democratic camp is the opposition of a dark
lantern Know Nothing lodge called Tam
many whose members call themselves
'.Wiskinskies" and ''Sachems," and have
grips and passwords, headed by John
Kelly. Each Of these leaders-Mr.
Curtis and Mr.. Kelly-have newspapers,
and thus make their opposition manifest
The motive underlying the course Of Mr..
Curtis is his desire, as a New Highlander, to
aid the New England candidate, Mr. Blaine.
We are at loss to know what animates Mr..
Kelly, unless it is that in the Waterloo rout
of Tammany last fall the Governor, who, by
the way, is splendid horseman, would not
ride with Kelly's mad troopers into the val
ley of death. If this is the grievance
of Mr.. Kelly, he does not see, what was clear
at the time to every one but himself, that if
Governor Tilden had taken his part in that
contest the democratic State ticket would
have been beaten, the tide of democratic
success would have been arrested, and the
Governors aspirations for reform would have
stood condemned and repudiated. Gov
ernor Tilden showed true craftsmanship
-. L
Convention about to choose democratic
leader for the campaign.
The strength of Tilden lies in many direc-
tions. He is a man of ripe attainments and
unsullied personal character. He has lived
to the full vigor and completeness of life,
with the respect of all who know him. Ever
q consistent and prudent democrat anxious
for the success and discipline of the organi-
cation, he has never failed to remember his
duties as patriot and citizen. When the
slave power aimed to coerce the democratic
party he protested against its arrogance and
took part in the revolt of Van Buren,.
When the secessionists sought to destroy the
Union and to use the democratic party
to that end he showed himself believer in
the Union and in the measures necessary to
its preservation. When the hordes of cor
ruption and ruffanism under Tweed and
Sweeny conspired to rob the treasury, de-
grade Justice and dishonor the State, Mr.
Tilden led the democratic war upon them
These are high claims for democratic recog-
milton. They give the Governor the prom
inence in the party which Seward held
among the republicans twenty years ago. and
which no democratic leader has held since
the death of Douglas. Tilden can be king or
the Warwick who makes the king. Sound on
all the issues near to patriotic hearts, upon
finance, reform, economy in administration,
the preservation of the Union and the resto-
ration of our credit, he has behind him the
imperial power of the Empire State. How
far this will carry him in the strifes and
mutations of politics we cannot say. Our
experience of conventions has shown
to availability-the power to lead to
the capacity for running-for US to
be over-sanguine as to any nomination.
Tildens prominence is more like that of
Seward and Douglas than the unchallenged
mastery of jefferson and Clay. He has many
rivals. Chief among these are Bayard and
Thurman statesmen whom any party should
delight to honor. In the strifes and muta-
tions of the preliminary canvass the
Governor may find it necessary to
sacrifice ambition to duty. 1t is in
this sense that we say he can
award the crown if he cannot win it. If the
infationists of the West or the reactionists
Of the South should press him hard he has
victory sure. He can defeat imitation by
naming hard-money Thurman and over
come reaction by giving the party an in
trepid candidate like Bayard, who will
stand by the integrity of the Union while
doing justice to every section and State.
However the battle goes, therefore, there can
be no democratic victory that is not Tilden's
ultimate triumph.
Turning to the republican camp, we see
Roscoe Conkling in somewhat similar
position. He too, can win the crown or
give it. He represents in his party some
what different clement from that of Tilden-
the administration. Although this is re-
garded as weakness by some OF the lively
old fogies who sit about the smoking room
of the Union League, and wish to reform"
an administration that did not make them
members of the Cabinet, it is really a source
of strength. The claims of Blaine, Morton,
Hayes, or any other republican thus far
named, to run as an anti-Grant reform"
candidate. is the veriest can't There is not
one Of these candidates who is not as much
Of Grant follower as Mr. Conkling. For
seven years they have supported Grant, ac-
copied his patronage, done his bidding, ex-
cused his faults. voted for his measures, and
never protested against crimes that culmi-
nate in Belknap, and tampering with
crime which bears fruit in Schenck. The
prescription of Sumner, the dismissal