The New York herald., 1876-03-18
The Political Situation in the
Old Keystone State.
A SPIRIT OF DRIFT PREVALENT.
The Coming Democratic and Republican
State Conventions.
THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

conventions, and yet there IS very little open ACTIVITY
either side looking to the contest of the delegations
their setng up' in the interest of any aspiraut
Old politicians whose political lives back to tho
days Of Jackson claim this uncertainty and quctncss
is without precedent. There Is strife, and but
little discussion either delegates to the national
conventions platforms Presidential candidates The
inclination OF political leaders and managers is to drift
with the current and yet no perccptibo current has
been evolved by popular agitation or discussion This
puts the leaders in bad way, for they lack the
courage TO strike out line OF policy and bring tho
people In conformity to it, SO far rs tho political
sentiment OF tho State is shadowcd forth by lcgis
lntors and politicians at tho State capital this is as
true OF party 1t is OF the other Possibly the
spirit OF 'driit' more manifest with the democrats
than the republicans, simply because the former have
worry little hope of carrying tho State in any event
They have no State candidate for tho LOUIS nomna-
ton sswth any pretensons," while in the matter OF
platform, far it may national finances,
they are as irreconciabe the democratic Congress
men.
TnE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION,
which meets this day week at Lancaster the repub-
cans will meet a week later in Harrsburg), promises to
bc largely attended by local politicians But few men of
prominence influence in the party will put in APP
pcarance delegates, although the recognized leaders
will doubtless conveniently mould and direct
tho proceedings When said Pennsylvania has
candidate of for the ST. Louis nomination, took
account OF the efforts OF few politicians, whose
ideas back the Buchanan regime to bring out
Judge jerry Black as a candidate. democratic
organ in Pttsburg has pitched the Judge 'penn
sylvania's iavore son" for tho being and in his
own county OF York the Democratic County Conven-
ton has indorscd the dea but it has gone iurther
The newspaper adopted II as hobby to advertise IT.
sell, while the Judges democratic neighbors deemed
the a 1T ono for personal compliment to his
rreeminenl abilities or all names mentioned in the
democratic list
GOVERNOR HENDRICKS, OF INDIANA,
seems to be the avorite in this State, not ag
gressivo rcformer who will bring the power OF Her
cues 10 bear in disinectng Washington political and
Official life but rather statesman whose capacity
trimmer and skul avoidance OF any
decisive utterances on the financial ques-
ton brings him in conformity with the
average democratic way of thinking in Pennsylvania
1t would be unjust say that this is all that
mcnds Governor Hendricks steady going people.
lie is regarded safe man, OF undoubted purity in
public and private life, and with record that is
hardly assailable. have canvassed the Legislature
pretty closely and md that Governor Hendricks the
FIRST choice OF four. ths of the democratic MEMBERS
and this fairly indicates his strength with the home
politicians This is particularly the in strong
Monroe, Columbia Luzerne and schuykill counties in
the east and westmoreland Clearned Centre Fayette
and Greene in the Passing to counties where the
democrats are not in large majority. in the
ties named Governor Hendricks not strong Still
It is conceded here, and by all the leading pol
iticians | have met, that far as tho
democrats OF Pennsylvania have acnoice, the Indiana
Talleyrand ILLS the BILL but II is only choice based
expediency and not devotion TO him a leader
any exaggerated estimate OF his qualities states
man. Democrats who fully comprehend the needs OF
the hour are yanly searching for candidate who will
make short work of Washington jobbery-something
in the Bristow line-but their aDors have not been
rewarded with success.
GOVERNOR rILDEN's NAME
is brought forward as aggressive reformer but the
Pennsylvania democrats attribute their defeat IN
Ohio last October and in Pennsylvania in Novem-
Der 10 what they call the Governors .'pg-
headed hard money crusade" and will have none
of him, unless II be shown he is the
only man VINO can float the ship Success being
the drst duty, let Tilden's friends provo TO a
mathematical certainty by the Worlds arithmetic
man that he alone OF all democratic aspirants
succeed the Electoral College, tho Pcnnsyl-
vania delegation at ST Louis VIII be at prepared
sylvany :" which Is tho Alpha and Omega of Senator
camerons political creed. as well Keystone politics
CURTIN FOR VICE PRESIDENT
The Hendricks movement has gained considerable
hcadway in this State owing TO the association OF ex
Governor Curtins name with it as candidate for Vice
President BY some indcscribablo Methods which are
not put paper, IL has been made the understanding
with democratic politicians from the Delaware TO the
Ohio, that the nomination OF ex-governor Curtin for
the second place tho ticket will be peculiarly ac-
cepabe to the Indiana politicians who are managing
the Hendricks canvass OF course II has taken
the shape OF bargain-only quiet, little
understandings proper recognition OF the weight
from this State. Ex-Governor Curtin, after several
years OF coquetting, has finally his political
tunes with the democracy, aud the feeling quito
mon that an appreciation OF this should be shown.
few years ago, when he was ouly in quas. sympathy
with the democrats they elected him delegate the
Constitutional Convention on his return from the
Russian mission. II Is claimed his nomination would
add largely 10 the democratic strength especially with
the soldier element but others maintain tins would
be nullcd by Bourbon losses the Ex-Governor is not
popular with the class who pile up big majorites IN
''aull Berks" They point warningly TO tho Greeley
campaign. and insist square light with square
men square issues. Colonel Aleck Mcclure, tho
energetic aud capable editor OF the Philadelphia Times,
is managing the Curtin Vice Presidential movement,
but his influence is not oyerpowerng with The Cones
toga democrats
oTnER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
Pendlcton, Thurman, Alien, Bayard Hancock, New
Jersey Parker and Tlden he latter satcd)
have developed very hltlo strength. Hancock was
formerly svortc son." but from the fact that civil
and not military qualifications considered
the prime essentials, he has lost his prominence.
Thurman would PROBABLY suit the temper OF the Penn
sylvania democrats well Hendricks for
the feuds In Ohio. Bayard has few friends among tho
people Of the counties bordering on tho MARYLAND line
but not sufficient to create ripple tho Convention.
Tiden, II he could make hts peace with tho Western
democrats would rapidly grow IN favor; but the act
cannot be disguised that The Pennsylvania democracy
in much more cordial sympathy with ohio ana In
diana financial Issues, and especially specie resump
tion, than they are with New York, Connecticut and
New Jersey.
THE DELEGATES AT LARGE
The Lancaster Convention viii be composed OF 251 |
delegates. As convention their duty Will be confined
10 eIectng four delegates largo the ST. Louis Con-
vcntion, and two Presidential electors at large The
dsrict delegates and electors will be reported by the
delegates from each Congressional district Consider
able rivalry IN quiet way mas bcon developed In the
canvass delegates at large which is assumed TO be
position holding forth greater promise IN the event
OF success than a district delegatcship From
the western part OF the State the candidates announced
arp n cV.Ilu Efafr of
noreland county, very warm trend OF the Hendricks
nomination; Colonel J. r. Barr, OF the Ptsburg Post,
committed through his paper for the Jerry Black inn
possibility; and Ex-Governor William Biger. Clear
held county. supposed 20 DO friendly TO Governor TIL
dep IN quiet way. From the centre and the east
the leading names mentioned those OF ox-United
States Senator Buckalew. Of Columbia county friend
OF Hendricks; Hester Clymcr, OF Berks, who socks
personal compliment Tor himself rather than TO advance
any onels Presidential aspratons slato SenaIora