New-York tribune., 1876-06-26
.r11 nFN THE ABsoRBING THEME.

FL .IIII1DEN HE
AN EXCITING OPPOSITION To HIM PROM Nfw-YoRK
WORK IN PUBIc AND PRIvATE-sodE RICH
INCIDENTS. .
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THR TRIBUNE.l
ST. LOUIS, June 25.-The hotels of st. Louis are
fast filing with the delegates 10 the Democratic
National Convention. Many familiar faces appear
among the arriving crowds. and they give rise 10
curions reflections For more than three-quarters of
q century it was customary TO assign place In
Fourth Of July professions soldiers of the Revolu-
tonary War, Fifty years ago these men marched
on such occasions with toerably full ranks, One by
one they disappeared until single white-hared
veteran too feeble to walk alone represented the
army of Revolutionary patriots, and year or two
later he was gone also. Democratic Pohtlciahs OF
former generations however, either must have DIS
covered the fountain of perpetual yonth as once III
four wears they are allowed to awaken from their
Rip Van Winkle sleep and to JON in the grand re-
union at the National Democratic Convention
Unlike those of the Revolutionary soldiers thelr
ranks never seem TO grow thinner; and so accus-
toned have the attendants become at these quad
renna gatherings to welcome the delegates or coun-
selors, the men VINO were active as Democratic
politicians and statesmen at earlier day in the
history of the Republic that very little surprise
would be caused if Thomas Jefferson should answer
TO the roll when Virginia is called. Andrew Jack
son should rise to cast the vote of Tennessee TOR
William Allen. To be sure the Young Democracy
come TO these Conventions in great numbers
but the "Old Democracy lend pictuTesquenesS
and dignity TO their meetings Some OF these men
will return TO Washington after the Convention adj
iourns and for four years more they viii prosecute
cotton claims before the Treasury Department saw
ing enough money in the mean time 10 pay their ex
penses 10 the next National Convention Others are
hidden in unfrequented districts Of the South and
others still amass wealth on the Pacific coast. But
once in four years they return 10 convention, and
write letters on the political stuatton welcome M
dustrios and enferprising nterviewers and respond
20 complimentary serenades. These men who have
come down TO us from former generation are IN ST.
I0uis today. They carry s back in Imagination TO
the olden time when they were Senator's and Repre-
sentatives, members of the Cabinet, and foreign
ministers Next week they Will have disappeared
for four long years.
..- TGAIMANY's STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
The great political battle now raging here has
developed almost into life and death struggle be-
tween the friends and supporters OF Gov. Illden on
the one hand, and Of his opponents maTshaled under
the banner of Talnmany Hall, on the other. The
latter seem TO have staked their whole political
future on this contest so bitterly do they enter INTO
il; and if they succeed in nothing else, they have
quarrel in the Democratic party Of New-York, and
aroused popular interest in it here in ST. Louis that
entirely oyersadows the contest between the cand-
dates themselves. The great question which the
thousands now gathered here are engaged IN SOLVING
n not who shall be the nominee OF the Democratic
party for the Presidency, but whether Iammany
Hall shall succeed in beating Gov. Tilden or not.
II is not easy TO estimate the result OF the last
two DAYS work. On the one hand there
can be no doubt that John Kelly and his
followers have succeeded in planting doubts IN
the minds of some of the Tilden delegations from
the West andRSOuth while on the other hand the
bitterness with which they have entered the cru
sade against Gov. Tiden and the fact that most OF
them are believed to have personal reasons for OPP
posing him or acting in the interest OF the Canal
Ring. have disgusted many and actually made
friends for Gov. Tilden, The Governors supporters
have borne themselves with much dignity, have
abstained from personal abuse, and have, on the
whole made favorable impression. Ii cannot be
discovered that they have lost much ground since
Friday evening, nor have the accretOns TO their
strength been great. The fate of all the other can
didates depends on the issue OF the Tiden and anti
Tden fight and until that is settled else can
be said to haye much standing as a candidate.
The remark is frequently made that Gov. Tildeh's
fate will be that which Mr. Blaine met with at
CinSinnat Gov. Tilden is now certainly stronger
than Mr.. Blaine was at any time. If be does not
have majority Of all the votes cast on the first bal
lot he will have almost One-haf of them, with a
tendency to gain subsequent Tol-oalls. To over
come this will be far difficult than ii was for
Gov. Hayes to secure majority at Cincinnati and
if ID is done at all it win only be after long and
exciting struggle All estimates of the vote on the
first or any other ballot made tonight are neces-
ssrily very imperfect and unsatisfactory. After the
delegations hold their meetings tomorrow the mate
rial will be at hand for at least intelligent guess
On this subject.
Whatever the Convention may find to talk about
when comes together Just in its uncrystalhzed
condition il is nothing but huge 1ilden debating
society While the friends of all the other candi-
dates named are quietly at work, nothing is heard
in any direction except controversies TO Gov. I'll
dens availability, Tildens strength weakness in
New-York. There have been large additions to this
debating society within the last two days. John
Morrissey has como ready to stake large sums on
Gov Tildens ability to carry New-YOrk through. at
the same time saying that he has noreason to be per-
sonslly friendly TO man whose friends have twice
turned him out Of conventions. Mr., Morrssey is
not "a great aid to Gov. -Tilden before
the people. but he carries weight in o
Democratic crowd. The TamInany train. has
come labeled with its medallion Of John
Kelly, and disgorgng about 100 Tamlnany workers,
ofyhom F. 3. Spinola. Owen Murphy. and Capt
Rypders seem to be fair specimens. 1t supposed
that 'Tammany would take care TO send on as
respectable crowd nossble, IN order not TO belp