The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-10
Senator Bayard as tho Democratic
Candidate.

Having done good stroke of work in put
ting Senator Conkling ahead Of his rivals for
the republican nomination, we now turn to
the democratic side in the hope Of rendering
it similar service We began the Sonkling
campaign under less encouraging circum-
stances. Ten weeks ago the public seemed
in doubt whether it should regard the
HERALD's attitude toward Mr.. Conkling ~ 0
joke or fantasy, but the general impression
at present is that We knew pretty well what
we were about. 1t has at least proved no joke
to Mr.. Conkling's principal rivals, and
Messrs Morton and Blaine have reason
enough to say, like the frogs in the fable.
''This may be sport to you, but it is death to
u.s." After more than two months Of per-
sistent effort we have the satisfaction of find
ing our views adopted, and Senator Conk-
ling conceded to be altogether the strongest
of the republican candidates. 1t has hap
pened to us as to the good pastor in the
Deserted Village" who changed the first
| impressions of his hearers, land they who
came to scott remained to pray" But, as
we have said, we do not enter upon our kind
Offices in behalf of the democratic party
against such stream of opposing prepos-
| sessions.
However sanguine may be Governor Til
den's estimate Of his chances, it is an esti-
mate not shared by the democratic party at
large. He will sooner or later have to aban-
| don his pretensions, and it rests in his choice
whether he will make an early and voluntary
surrender in exchange for real power or will
blindly cling toSthem until they shall have
dwindled to such insignifcance that in CIV
ing up the Presidential prize he will give up
all his political consequence We tender him
the same advice now which we gave to Presi-
dent Grant two months ago. Governor Til
den has, as yet, power enough to determine
who shall be the democratic candidate in
his canvass has not been entirely selfish and
personal, every motive of public spirit should
! impel him to exert his influence for the best
advantage of his party and the country.
To-day he is strong enough to dictate the
nomination, although he cannot be nomi-
mated himself and in this respect, if in no
other he occupies position similar to that
term tide had turned and Mr.. Blaine seemed
the coming man, as Judge Davis does now in
the democratic party AS Blaine's canvass
was an attempt to rise on the ruins of
Grant, so the canvass of Judge Davis is the
symptom Of democratic revolt against the
pretenslons of Governor Tilden. Davis is
making Roadway, as Blaine seemed at one
time to be making Roadway; and he will gain
until Governor Tilden changes his attitude in
the canvass, as Blaine continued to make
gains until the change of attitude on the part
of President Grant AS soon as the President
abandoned oil hope for himself and indi-
Gated his preference, Mr.. Blaine's growing
chances collapsed, as those of Judge Davis
will if Governor Tilden follows our advice
in the selection of q candidate. The Davis
canvass is mere form of opposition to
Tilden, and the Governor has no time to
lose if he is unwilling that the main strug-
gle at ST. Louis shall be between Davis
and Hendricks He can kill them off
as effectually as the President has slain
Morton and Blaine by giving his sup
port to Conkling. But if Governor Tilden
fights the battle for himself he will fare no
better than President Grant would have
done had he continued in the field on his
own account
There can be no doubt on whom Governor
Tilden's choice ought to fall, if he aims to
control the st. Louis Convention. The ele-
ments of the new combination are similar to
those which make Conkling SO strong COM
petitor for the republican nomination at
Cincinnati-na namely, the State of New York
acting in concert with all the Southern
States If Governor Tilden will give his in
fluence to Senator Bayard this combination
becomes not only possible but an assured
fact 1t is precisely this combination which
renders Senator Conkling SO strong a can
didate, the support of Pennsylvania being the
consequence of Senator Cameron's shrewd
perception that the Southern delegates
would act with those Of New York. There
is, however, this difference, that on
the republican side the personal
strength of tho candidate is in New York and
his borrowed strength in the South, whereas
in Mr. Bayard's case his personal support
would come from the South and the borrow
ed support from New York. But, however
derived, the result would be the same
namely, the whole South and the largest State
of the North united on one candidate. This
powerful nucleus would attract other support,
for it holds true in politics, as in better
domain, that ito him that hath shall be given
and he shall have more abundantly, and from
him that hath not shall be taken away even
Blaine in Pennsylvania as soon as it was
seen that Conkling would have the solid
support Of New York and the Southern
States, and it will equally happen to Bayard
as soon as the same powerful combination