The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-27


was shown In tho Convention ct Cincinnati
must not be attributed altogether to an ap-
prehension that its deliberations will be for
nothing. The meeting Of q convention OF
otice-holders. of men to whom politics IL
bread and butter, is apt to be more exciting
than convention Of gentlemen who have
not known power for political generation
and who have to fight for victory at tremen-
dous odds. The very fact that there should
be 60 much rivalry between democratic
candidates, that there should be strife
between the partisans Of Tilden and
Hendricks unknown in the democratic
party since the Douglas and Breckin-
ridge time, shows that, in the minds Of GER
tain delegates at least, there is the hope that
nomination means election in November.
Looking at the cam paign from an impartial
point of view, the chances of victory are in
favor Of the republicans. Whatever hope
there was Of triumph by the division of the
republicans on the third term question, on
tho merits or dement's Of Mr.. Blaine,
on the finances, on the State opposition to
Mr.. Conkling, Mr. Morton and others faded
away with the nomination of Hayes. That
nomination united the party and for mo-
ment the qualification which this union pro-
duced WINS accepted as an augury of victory.
But nothing is more uncertain than can
vass for the Presidency. Hayes and Wheeler
have yet to tread the wine press. We are all
waiting for the Fourth of July to be over, for
this '76 enthusiasm to abate, for the st.
Louis people to declare themselves, before
we 60 into the merits of the platforms and the
candidates. If the democrats can hold the
South as it is now-practically unit in their
interest-and if they can hold even fraction
Of the power they won year and half ago,
they may win the Presidency. The republi-
cans have too much to carry to make their
race walk-over. And if the Convention
which assemblies to-day is wise it may nomi-
nate the next President.
In some respects tits strong Convention.
The States seem to have sent good men, and
especially from the South. In some States
we have animosities Of an unfortunate char
acter, which threaten to break out in the
Convention, and the effect of which will be
to injure the States themselves. There is
the quarrel in New York, the quarrel in
Ohio between Allen and Thurman. There
are extreme views on finance and other
points to be reconciled. But these quarrels
are not so bitter as many that pressed them
selves on the Republican Convention The
fight between Tilden and Kelly, for instance,
is no more bitter, even if it is more noisy,
than that between Conkling and Curtis. There
was hardly a State among the republicans
which did not suffer from internal dissensions.
The democrats as general thing are unit
on one point Who is the man
to win? There is kind of sentiment for
Bayard in the South, for Allen and Hen
bricks out on the prairies, for Tilden in
New York; but this sentiment is in no case
overmastering, like that which Douglas and
Clay inspired, and which animated the fol-
lowers of Blaine at Cincinnati The enthu-
siasm for any democrat is tame compared with
that which followed Blaine and Morton and
Conkling to the banks Of the Ohio. For this
reason, therefore, we expect wise and con-
sentative Convention. The delegates care
more for the party, for success, for principle,
than for a mere man. No matter who is
nominated there will be hearty acqui-
escence in the nomination; for the
prizes before this Convention are not
limited to the Presidency and Vice
Presidency. Even if Tilden should
be beaten, as with all of his strength
seems probable, there could be no demo-
cratic administration which would hesitate
about offering him She State or the Treasury.
II he failed in the Convention it would be
q failure like that of Seward, the loss of the
Presidential Office only to be the Premier of
the new administration In this sense,
therefore, the canvass Of men like Tilden,
Bayard, Hancock, Thurman and the rest, is
not wholly in vain Victory means the
State Department for one, the Treasury for
another, the command Of the army for
Hancock, if it could be arranged, and the
division Of spoils enough to provide for
hundred statesmen.
1t is as difficult to forecast the results of
this Convention as it was in the Convention
at Cincinnati. New York is divided. Ohio
is divided. Pennsylvania is without force.
Illinois has no candidate. Beyond q chival-
rous sentiment for Bayard rs pure, lofty,
noble name, which would honor the party,
there is really no sentiment about the Con-
vention. Mr.. Tilden is the strongest candi-
date. But it is not o strength upon which
he can depend. 1t is not like that which
swept Cincinnati like q prairie fire
whenever the name of Blaine WINS
mentioned. It is rather feeling
which has been diligently fostered by the
able and industrious men like Dorsheimer,
Watterson, Hewitt and others, who have
had the Tilden canvass in charge, who
have said for six months that ''rilden can
win." that ''he can carry New York, that
there arc o large number of republicans
"Tilden republican," would flock at
orca a., h;a standard Thece onYuione have