The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-25
Governor Morgan's Strength ms Cam
didate-Nho VIII BE the Democratic
Nominee.


1t will puzzlo tho Democratic State Con-
vention, which is to meet at Saratoga next
week, to find candidate for Governor who
is as strong in his own party as Mr.. Morgan
is in the republican party. Horatio Seymour
might, indeed, more than meet this require
ment; but Mr. Seymour has SO often de-
clared his immovable purpose never again to
be candidate for Office that he is quite out
side the pale of choice. But with the single
exception of Mr. Seymour there is no demo-
cratic citizen of the State who equals or APP
proaches Mr. Morgan in the ability to turn
the resources of his own party to the best
account. Dorsheimer who has heretofore
been Governor Tilden's favorite candidate,
would make q small figure in canvass
against Mr.. Morgan. Dorsheimer is demo-
cratic neophyte; he has been too recently
transplanted to the party to have struck
his roots deeply into the soil, whereas
Governor Morgan has enjoyed the
full and steady confidence of the republican
party from the day it was first organized up
to the present time Seymour is the only
democrat in the State who possesses in an
equal degree the confidence of his own party
but Seymour has made himself an impos-
sible candidate. There is no room for
doubt that Mr.. Morgan would make n wise,
safe and discreet Governor, for he has twice
held the Office to the entire satisfaction of
his party and the public and he might
have been elected third time if he had not
preferred transfer to the Senate Of the
United States.
Whether Mr.. Evarts would not have made
q stronger and more popular candidate has
become n mere speculative question but
while it remained practical question the
only body authorized to pass upon it de-
cided in favor of Governor Morgan. The
nomination of Mr.. Evarts might have opened
more spirited canvass for the appeal in
that case, would not have been to the repub-
lican party merely, but to the whole
body of intelligent citizens. Multi
tudes who care little for party politics
would have been proud to vote for Mr..
Evarts as means of testifying their admi-
ration of great abilities, high character and
conspicuous public services. Mr.. Evarts
would have made n more dashing canvass.
He would have excited the enthusiasm of
many who care nothing for mere party poll
tics. But old stagers like Mr.. Thurlow
Weed, who are "hackneyed in the ways of
men, judged that the enthusiasm of volun-
teers is of little account in comparison with
the steadiness and discipline of regular
troops; and this Judgment controlled the
action Of the Convention.
1t does not need Mr.. Weeds political ex-
perience and astuteness to appreciate the
reasons why he preferred Mr.. Morgan to Mr..
Evars. The basis of Mr.. Weeds reasoning
is that the republican party has On assured
majority in this State whenever all its men,
bers can be brought to the polls He thinks
nsfull republican vote equal to victory and
that there is no need of counting out
side support if the republican party
can be thoroughly reunited and
inspired with sufficient zeal. The dem
ocratic canvass of 1872 was signal
demonstration Of the futility of depending
on volunteers instead Of the regular political
army. The Greeley canvass was lively and
spirited at its opening, but fell fiat in its
subsequent stages, because two sullen and
disguised democrats stayed away from the
polls for every liberal republican that was
induced TO vote the democratic ticket. Mr.
Weed has no faith in that sort of tactics, and
when a man of his ripe experience differs
from q sentimental politician like Mr.. Curtis
there is strong presumption that the old
pilot has q better knowledge Of the intri-
caces of tho channel than the amateur. Be
this as it may, the Republican Convention
thought it safer to follow the counsels of
Mr.. Weed and nominated Mr.. Morgan
There was no necessity for counting the sup
port of the liberal republicans and
independents, for they had already
given hundred proofs of their in
tention to support the Hayes ticket.
Their votes were secure in any
event. They will support Morgan with as
much zeal as they would have supported
Evarts but the nomination of Morgan has
greater tendency to keep the Old Guard
steady and efficient. AT any rate it was
safer for the Convention to follow the judg-
ment OF an old leader like Mr.. Weed than of
sentimentalist like Mr.. Curtis, although
the latter presented an admirable candidate.
1t is easy to say that machine politics" won
the victory but veteran politicians are more
likely to succeed than irregular troops The
latter may have more dash Mt the outset, but
the regulars are more reliable in the crisis of
the battle. In choice between discipline
and enthusiasm Mr. Weeds judgment in
politics resembles that of General Sherman
in military operations. The Saratoga Con-
vention accepted Mr. Weeds strategy, and it
is now too late to revise its decision. 1t is
as idle to speculate on tho vote which Mr..
Evarts might have polled to ask what
would have happened IF your uncle had
4. L. l.. -. 49, IL.