New-York tribune., 1876-04-08
THE PRESIDENCY.
POLICY OF THE DEMOCRATS.

EoN-PARTiSAS CANDIDATE STRONGLY FAVORED
JUDGE DAVIS VERY POPULAR.
IRON A sr.FF CORRESPONDENT or THE rRTDUNE.l
WASHINGTON, April 6.-The attitude Of the lead
ing Democrats with regard to Presidential candi-
dates is puzzle. They reticent on the gen.
eral question and uncOmmunicatiye as to the merits
of particular men; in fact sort Of free masonry OF
silence seems to be abroad among them Republic
cans say they are dis outraged and demoralzed but
they are not; they are only discreet. lhey
see that nothing is to be gained by
committing themselves to the candidacy OF
this or that promin mt asprant, and that by
avoiding personal pariisanship they keep an ele-
mcnt Of weakness ont of their party No one knows
better than they that the Democratic party needs
all its strength and resources in the approaching
conflict to cope with its antagonist. Some bitter
lessons have been learned by these leaders during
the last few months-btter but profitable They
have found that GFantism has not taken the soul
out of the Republican party as they believed year
ago. but That it is still a vigorous, hcahful organ-
Zation that will throw the dead weight Of its neck
and 90 into the race 10 light of foot and strong OF
limb as ever if tine politicians do not handicap 1t
with bad candidate at Cincinnati. They have
found too that all the disclosures Of corruption in
thc National Administration do not incline Rcpubli
cans TO join the Democratic party. Thus they are
faced with the problem of how to elect
President with Democratic votes alone The
prospect would be dshcartenlng were there
not still hopes of gross blunder at Cin-
cnnaii, and the schemes and intgigues OF the Re
publican politicians here in Washington unquest!on-
ably give color to such hopes. Like skliiui
player al cards who holds weak hand, the policy Of
the Democrats is to keeAquiet, look cheerful, and
wait for the mistakes of their over-condent anaGo-
nis:s. Their Convention meets fortnight i1ter
tEan that Of the Republicans. There will thu be
time for their leading men to consult AMI f0in
programme, and with body Of delegates unpledgcd
for the most part, without decided preferences and
entirely willing TO take any road thatappears to lead
to success there will bc difficulty about carrying
out whatever plan there may be made. Should there
lie a factous element like tho nationlsts OF Indiana
and Ohio, the great balance-wheel of the united
Southern delegation will keep Ii in order.
There is no longer any talk Of an old-fashioned
Democratic ticket. IL was plentiful and noisy
enough at the beginning o the session, but 1t has all
died away, little by little Tho Hendricks en-
thusasm has eyapOraed; Bayard Il only fasci-
Mating dream impossible Of realization. Of
Thurman ;hare is some solid residunm remain
ing, but it diminishes day b. day Tilden's
strength may be great, but, if so, 1t is not well
known TO his party associates in Washington.
The name Of Judge Davis, spoken in whisper few
weeks ago is now on all mems lips. Nine Democrats
out of ten in Congress if asked to-day, not for their
preferences but fer their opinions as to VINO the ST.
Louis nominee is likely 10 be, would reply, Judge
Davis or some new man.
So it vii be seen that the party is likely to try
again it. 1872 policy. The qualification it re-
ouires Of candidate is ability to draw off Repubh-
can votes. In one two contingencies it is thought
that a straight-Ou. Democrat, ii uutncturcd with
ouibonsm and possessed Of an unassailable record
might accomplish this-such contingencies as tie
nomination of sir. Morton or Mr. COnkling at Cln-
cinnati ii ne Republicans should put either OF
those Objectionable statesmen forward, the Demo-
Gratis would perhaps venture 10 run Mr. Thurman,
hut it now appears certain that they VIII
rot take the risk Of nominating Mr.. Hendiicks,
and in all probability they VIII choose
Judge DAVIS or som. man rot mentioned at all
as yet. whose record viii have the merit Of being
short and good. The tendency to turn aside from
the cNrectant line Of old party hacks and find
fresh man is very marked. If the Republicans take
tie ONLY sensible aud safe course open to them and
select candidate in no way tainted with the vices
of Grants Administration the Democrats will have
10 make bcld bid for Republican votes or lose the
fight. and from the talk of their leaders here 1t
would look as If they were prepared for such
IN emergency. Indeed there is nothing they
arc not ready ~ DO to save them
selves from another defeat. They might
even nominate Charles Trancis Adams if they could
thereby double their chances Of success bnt much
more probable step would be 10 nm some one with
brilliant war record like Gen. Hancock, with the
view of taking the soldier vote away from n civilian
Ike Mr. Blaine. 1t will be seon that tho st. Louis
II. Ii.
movements for controlling that body are still in
solution, and the most influential Democrats mean,
if they can, to keep them so until the Republicans
do their Work at Cincinnati. Then there will be
rapid capitalization, but not till then.
1hi, policy Of delay may be stigmatized az want
ing in boldness, but is it not the wsest tho Demo
Gratis can adopti What else can they 10 that prom
isej good reultsi Their Investigations, upon which
they counted so much, are having no effect on tho
pubc mind except to disgust sensible folks with
the investigators as well as the Investigated. Their
proposed civil service reform consists in knocking
of hundred dollars or 50 from the mcager salaries
of The Government clerks. Their attempt to deal
with the currency question has turned out ridicu
lous face. There remains nothing but to take adj
vantage of the mistakes Of the Republicans, in case
they should bluude- and nut in the field the better
and more popular ticket of the two.
These Democratic leaders have a shrewd conpre-
hcnson of the situation. They know that the bal
ance Of power in the coming contest is in the hands
of a class Of men who going to vote on the per
soha merits Of the candidates, with little regard to
platforms or the party names uponthe tickets lfthe
Republicans nominate Mr. Morton or Mr.. Conkling,
or any nan known TO be connected with the White
House clique they believe they can beat him by
whomsoeyer they may pit against Lin, provided he
be- thoroughly honest man, with no suspicion of
Bourbonsm about him. If, on the contrary, first