The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-24
THE REFORM RECORD or GOVERNOR TILDEN
4 Review Of the Chances Of Thurman, Dayard
and Hancock.
WHAT THE SOUTHERN DELEGATES SAY
A Strong Opposition Set In to a
Military Man.
THE ANTl-TILDEN MEN AT WORK.

ST. LOUIS Mo-, juno 49, 1875
NJ Montgomery Blair, VINO has been In active
political life for the past forty years and whose expert
and sagacity entitled his views to consideration,
entered into conversation with the correspondent OF
the hERALD 10 day. and the views hc expressed will be
found OF the interest since they nssmilste with
those Of other prominent men now IN ST. Louis Mr..
Blair locks we'll wiry and vigorous as ever, with his
eye full OF fire when he took part In the exciting
scenes OF the Convention OF lS4s
coRREsPoSDgST-You have attended may national
conventions, believe, Mr.. BlairS
Mr. BLAIR-Yes, have been . delegate in
tional convenonsthose Of 1874, lSas 1852 and $780,
at the Lincoln Convention In 1868 aud ls72-thst to
say, ono republican and hvo democratic was not
delegate IN 1896 or 1854
CoRREsPoxpEST-You havo political
tests in sucn bodies
Mr. BLA,R-wcll yes; In all the conventions have
attended except onet here have been hard fights
over the nomination, but In nearly all, the choice
having been made, harmony was restored The Gree
ley Convention IN Baltimore was the only entirely
harmonious Convention l in.
CoEREsPoSDEST-Who do you regard as the strongest
candidate before the Convention up to this timer
Mr.. BLAm-oh, Mr.. Tilden certainly. Everybody
ADMITS that he is the strongest candidate yet named
though his defeat; outside the
Convention than inside, however, | believe. have
canvassed the vote, but understand that sher
wood mon who have been figuring take . large
jority OF the delegates Tor him already
CoRREsPoNDESr-Do you regard him the strongest
candidate who could be placed before the country
Mr. BLAIR--I do decidedly; Governor Tilden is the
strongest before tho country because he eliminates
from thc all issues. that Of reform He
makes il tho paramount issue; his opponent
is strong all other issues. Hayes
hard money man, and is sound tho
school question. The only point good against him is
that he represents party under whose domination
al the existing abuses The existence Of these
abuses acknowledged in tho platform Of his party.
The republicans have therefore confessed judgment on
the reform question, and II tho plaintiff comes in
asks for judgment the court give it. The radical
platform admits that these gross abuses Of which tho
country complain have grown up in the government,
and they propose to correct thcm but then they do
not propose TO turn out the party and the who
havc been In power while tho abuses have been
created
CoRRxsrosDxSr-Do you know Governor Hayes psr.
sonallys
Mr.. BLAIR-Ycs, know him well
CoRRxsroSDESr-Do you regard him A. tho man TO
correct these abuscsy
NJ. BLAIR he was in Congress while they
listed, and he made any attempt them
He tho army but he never made any distin-
gushing mark there. He is we'll rounded, pleasant,
nco gentleman, who will be entirely in the hands OF
his party. In nominating him and declining TO nomi-
the efficient prominent OF the party. they
have acknowledged ihst their leaders not worthy
or the confidence OF the country but they suppose
they get the confidence OF the people
by nominating ono who Is not known MS
leader, but who Will. nevertheless, be IN the
leaders hands and not the hands OF the reormcrS
They have not put forth man OF decisive character
and vigor. VINO VIII insist on having his own way.
Their candidate been IN iormcr years OF
Ohio, and has been IN Congress, but he has never
shown a desire to clear the Augcan stables which
wanted cleaning then much He made
sign Now, II the democratic party are gong 10 put
up man who mas been passive on the subject Of re.
forn US Governor Hcyes has been, tho argument viii
be just strong that the democrats do not want
reform, AS It has been on the other side.
CONSEQUENTLY think, then, tho question Of
reform depends wholly gu the candidatey
Mr. BLAix--Not altogether; lhc TWO parties have
incrcnt principles The radical party IS IN itself. a.
ihown by PLATFORM great consolidation central
zation party. IL advocates tho concentration OF
In the central government and, as necessity
his concentration ot power Is followed by large ex
.,end urcs OF money hy the government. and corrup
aon must cnsuc as naturally stone cast INTO the air
returns earth by law oil gravta,on. The democratic
party, the other hand, is known To MAINTAIN what
Are called States rights views THIS means simply a
distribution OF certain powers among the States and
more simple aud economical government at Washing
ton. Capitalization u the synonym Of corruption
This the r, TACT why Brstow WAS defeated ut
Cincinnati told Mr.. Brisiow SIX months ago that,
Tor reasons hive now given u was impossible tina, he
could be nominated The republicans with inc centra.
eaton principles could not 20 ior man who would
purge and simplify the government and bring down
taken his party and should DO a democrat What took
place CINCINNATI only the verihcation OF what
said to the Secretary rather 10 the Assistant Sec
retnry OF the Treasury. six months ago.
CoKREsroSpg>r-Nou tnuk the republicans made y
mistake Ia refusing 10 nominate Br,siowy
Mr.. BLAR-l do. hut u WAS Quo which, from the
constitution OF the party, was natura' II the demo
cratic party should initiate the RADICALS in defeating
The nomination of man who has sisnalized himself
Is an earnest reorm.r by his own acts
There would tc good grounds for accusing OF in
sincerity In reform professions rs there tor
making such our opponents. In
such unfortunate event the whole character OF tho
contest would DC changed.
CoRRKsroNpkxr--What do you think Of the oppos.
lion To Mr.. Tlldcny
Mr. BLAK--wel man who enters with earnest
upon the work OF rciormcr Mr. Bris,ow and
Governor Tlcn have done l. obliged to make enemies
in h's own party Unfortunately, although the demo-
are think, IN dead earnest IN tucir
sympathy with reform, there are rings and ndiyid-
uals IN that party which are not any more
honest than they ought be- aud they have friends
high in position and rrcproachable personal charac
ter perhaps who feel aggricvcd that those wtom they
like should be crushed down by the iron hand OF
form. This the reason. tank, why we have
large delegation here opposed 10 Mr. Tildcn composed
OF some very estimate gentlemen.
CoRRrsroSpKST-whai 90 you think OF tho Tammany
opposition To Governor 1idcny
Mr.. BLnR--weli class that entirely with this ring
opposition OF which have spoken Although John
Kelly h, personally, as honest man as ever lived,
st.li In setting upon Tilden and combining with men
who have cnmiucs against ridden he y IN danger OF
being conroundcd. by men VINO do understand
the refinement OF politics tn New York. with the nero
Rng opponents o the Governor The truth Is that the
detect OF kcliy's mind want breadth He
ought be able to when the democrats OF the state
Df New York, in Convention assembled, resolve ulln
mousiv favor Governor Tilden and rest his claim
the with their associates the Union
on his great service 10 the party in reforming the ia
tic administration, THAI no personal objections or per-
sonzl preferences cr other gentlemen ought to be al
lowed to interfere with the carrying out OF The Wishes
Of his State in the National Convention Mr..
Kelly ought 10 have made known .hIs
opposition In the state Convention and 10 have fought
the battle out there. lie dUcs himself great wrong
and dsappoints his friends, OF whom am one. aud
claim 10 he . warm one, IN keering silence ~ that
time when he had his day ia Court aud coming here
now will OF the great party that has hon
Csssssroxpxsr-Do you believe that Tiidcn would