The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-27
Tho Democratic Canvass for Cover
nor-Ict Tiidcn Keep His Hands

cations show that the success of the canvass
for the Presidency depends upon success IN
New York. 1t may be said of New York, as
was once said of Pennsylvania tina. rs this
State goes goes the Union The Empire
State has become the Keystone State, and
the republicans have shown their appreci-
alton of this by nominating for Governor
gentleman whose name rcvives all the mem
cries of the war md all the efforts of the
Empire State to save the Union. What dothe
democrats mean to do ? And this means really
what is Governor Tilden going to do? Gov
ernor Tilden is not only the candidate for
the Presidency, but he is the busiest
shrewdest and ablest politician in the party
1t is for him TO name his candidate, or, imi-
tating the chivalrous, Romnn-like conduct
of Mr. Conkling, to withdraw from the cam
vass altogether and allow the will of tho
Convention to find expression in the nomi-
nation of the candidate who best represents
the aspirations of the democracy. The Gov
ernor's probable action is now tho problem
of the hour.
Governor Tilden goes into the canvass
with noble array of henchmen. He has
Dorsheimer, Marble Church, Hewitt, Potter
and others, oil of whom have served the
party we'll and who merit from the Gov
ernor and the party the highest considera-
ton. Mr.. Dorsheimer, especially, has
earned from Mr.. Tilden q sincere md
hearty support He has been the Jonathan
of our David. He led the Tilden forces when
tho skies were dark. To his courage, his
eloquence and enthusiasm we owe not only
that Tilden was nominated over every OPP
ponent ut st. Louis but that he was nomi-
mated on platform that did not dishonor
the national credit. To Mr.. Marble we owe
the platform, and in his nomination Mr..
Tilden would have journalist who has
stood by the party in good report and bad
report, who has followed its forlorn standard
with unvarying enthusiasm through hun
dred defeats. 1t would be gracious recog-
milton of services which no other democrat
in the State can equal for Mr. Tilden to
insist upon the Convention accepting Mr..
Marble
The difficulty with Governor Tilden, how
ever, is that he is too astute. In this re-
spect our honored fellow citizen reminds us
of Buchanan. He has spent many years
in finesse, wire-working and intrigue, in
making and unmaking combinations, that
the habit has become q second nature. It
was said of the late Emperor Napoleon that
studying his character was like opening one
door and closing another going from cham
Der to chamber and never coming to an end.
10 IN bo
icism. We see one door open to-day
and another tomorrow. To-day we are
told he means Dorsheimer; tomorrow,
Hewitt; the third day, Marble. We
have no doubt that Hewitt, Marble and DORIS
heimer oil rest content, confident in their
heart of hearts that each is the chosen armor
bearer. 1t is just rs probable-and we
should not be surprised at all if we SO learn
in time-that Governor Tilden has in reserve
a surprise of his own-a 'great unknown, n
dark horse, some animal or spectre that he
has kept hidden to present to a surprised
convention, just as he presented Bigelow,
Fairchild and other special pet candidates.
who were believed to be republicans until
he vouched for them as democrats. 1t would
not at oil surprise us, therefore, to see the
facility and tondness for surprises and stage
effects which have marked the whole politi-
cal life of Governor Tilden suddenly flare
into new life in this question Of the Cover
norship.
Mr.. Tilden will see, if he ponders the sit
uation with care, that an attitude of this
kind will be peculiarly unfortunate. If
| Marble and Dorsheimer and Hewitt are each
of them sure of his support--and, no doubt
each one is sure; if by reason Of what he
has said or refused to say; by reason of what
| he has limited or his friends have limited in
his name, he gives out that he supports two
or three candidates Mt the same time, some
one must be cheated When n politician
descends to refining and fnessing, to the
suggesting of one policy when he means an
other, to playing off friend against friend
as q temporary expedient, the result must
in the end be disastrous. 1t is pre-
cisely as if statesman were to incul-
cato the lesson of Machiavelli to princes rs
serious presentations of policy without
considering the exquisite irony which
underlies them. II was habit Of this kind
which brought Mr. Buchanan to his ruin.
The temporary advantage which it gives to
a politician in q canvass like this in New
York is more than lost in the distrust it
spreads throughout the ranks of party.
The democrats deserve to be frankly treated
now above all times. There is no such
genuine and widespread acceptance of Mr.
Tilden rs leader rs will Justify him either in
assuming an attitude of dictatorship, like
that of Henry Clay in his reign, or of triang
with the affections Of friends to win tho
support of enemies, rs was the habit
of Buchanan. of whom it was said
that, like Queen Caroline of England,