New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-28
THE UdY 1T rs DONE.

Several little circumstances of political sig
niicanco lave come to light within the past
few days which illustrate the beauty and
majesty of the American system of popular
government. In the first place it has been
discovered that the principal supporters OF Mr.
Conkling in the Syracuse Convention were,
almost without exception, the representatives
of strong Democratic districts MIR. a. Ii. Cor
nell, Gen. George II. Sharpe, the Hon. A. ii.
Latin, and other energetic engineers OF the
movement for pressing our superb Senator
uD0n the National Convention, so littlo repre-
sent the sentiments of the people that they
could not even secure the vote of the commu-
mites in which they live. The Senator's own
district went against the Republican party at
the last election, and there Is no reason why
it should not go the same way again And
among the delegates to the National COnven-
ton the same curious rule prevails that MIR.
COnkling's principal uppOrters-OrtOn, Phelps
Bailey, Gardner, Wheeler, Lawson, and so
on-are all accredited from Democratic strong
holds. The Republican districts do not seem
to have wished for Mr.. Conkling; he has been
forced upon the Convention by the represent
atives ~ i minority.
ever the Republicans are pretty well assured
of their local strength they think what VIII be
best for the party In the State at large, or
what will promote its interests in the greater
contest for the Federal Administration. Look
ing at the situation from this elevated point of
view they are very far from desiring the
nomination of Senator COnkling. But your
practical politician" who lives in a Demo-
cratic community considers the subject in a
different aspect. For him the great thing is to
"redeem" his own particular district, because
that means Office and money for himself indi-
yidually; and he knows of no way to redeem
it except by vigorous working Of the Fed
eral machine Hence he is in favor of that
candidate who commands most effectually
the services of the National Government,
can draw most freely upon its exchequer,
and employ at his will the multlform
agency of the best Civil Service on
the planet in defeating the wishes of majority
of the voters. Perhaps it is going too far to
say that in the matter of candidates he pre-
sumes to indulge at all in the luxury of choice.
He takes the goods the gods at Washington
provide, understanding perfectly that he can
get nothing from any other source. all that
he wants Is a cllluluate Ill WHOSE iboeieSO 'no
machine will be driven to its full capacity.
A second circumstance which bears a sort of
family likeness to the incidents at Syracuse is
reported from Washington. Gov. Hartranft
has been at the capital, colloguing with MIR.
Blaine and it seems to have occurred at once
TO the practical politicians" that job was
in contemplation to transfer the vote OF
PENNSYLVANIA" ThereupOn it was an
pounced. as if by authority, that Senator
Cameron "would not allow young man like
"Gov. Hartranft to step in and control the
delegation in Republican National Conven-
"tion." Senator Cameron wants the control
OF Pennsylvania for himself, and when he gets
through with it he is going to turn it over to
his son Don. Hartranft is good enough
youth in his way, but he must not trespass on
the Cameron property. There is no mention.