The New York herald., 1876-09-09
Tho Democratic Puzzle.

| mour and the issue of the call for reassem-
bling the Saratoga Convention the demo-
cratic leaders in this State ore quite at sea.
| They are without chart, compass or sailing
directions; there is no hand on the helm,
and the vessel drifts. To be sure, the prob
lem of selecting new candidate for Gov
ernor to replace Mr.. Seymour would be
| difficult one even under the wisest guild
ance. 1t was perception Of the difficulty,
discord and distraction which would attend
the substitution of another candidate that
made the party so reluctant to accept the
situation and release Mr.. Seymour. The
original blunder of nominating him against
his wishes and protests might easily have
been avoided, and it was little short OF
direct insult to his character and sincerity
to force him into a position from which he
recoiled. 1t was an added blunder, involv-
ing an outrage on truth and decency, to con-
ceal his refusal after this affront. But
the Convention was not to blame for the
deception practised upon it by knot of
reckless schemers, who entrapped it into ad-
journing without making new nomination.
But having adjourned in consequence of the
absolute falsehood put forth in Mr.. Faulk-
ner's speech the importantly with which
Mr.. Seymour was afterward beset was not
surprising. No wonder that the democratic
leaders, Governor Tilden and all, dreaded
the dangers which confronted the party if
the Convention should have to be recon-
vened. The excitement, turmoil, tumult,
recriminations and damaging parade of po-
litical dirty linen, which all the waters of
Saratoga would not suffice for washing into
whteness, may we'll have given the party
pause and have raised the question whether
it was not better ''to suffer the ills we have
than fly to others that we know not Of" But
the necessity for reconvening the Convention
became imperative and the grand puzzle
which occupies all democratic minds is how
to complete the ticket without demoral-
izing TOW.
If the effect of reassembling the Conven-
tion is merely to restore the status quo and
put that body back into the situation which
would have existed at the close of Mr..
Faulkner's speech had he stated the truth
that Governor Seymour declined, instead Of
the .alsehood that he had accepted-if, we
say, the effect Of reassembling the Conven-
tion is simply to restore the status quo, the
party will be ruined by an unmanageable
division Of sentiment. It is indispensable
that the work of the Convention be 'slated"
in advance indispensable that some pro-
gramme be agreed on which can be carried
through without debate or friction. Unless
<b;c bo Iopo ha Cooyaptiop will ba n ccaDa
of wild uproar and confusion worse con-
founded" But as yet there is no consent,
no unity, no plan, no head and the evil Of
headless ticket is not likely to be reme-
died by a convention which is headless
monster. Unless it can be tanned into dis
cipline by intelligent direction and guild
ance it will founder like decapitated levi
athan in the mud.
But from what source is the needed con-
cert to come? It will not come from Gov
ernor Tilden. Like a burnt child that
breads the fire he processes on intention to
keep hands off and leave the Convention to
accom- mplsh it's own work None Of the demo-
cratic leaders believe this profession to be
quite sincere. 1t is not doubted that he will
keep hands off if plan is matured for nom-
mating ono of his friends. Among candi-
dates of known devotion to him he will not
indicate any preference. But nobody doubts
that he means to defeat, and will succeed in
defeating, any candidate who has not warmly
supported his administration. The real
state of the situation is that the anti
Tilden, non-Tilden and hnlf-Tilden lead
ers will have no difficulty in nominat-
ing any candidate they may agree upon,
provided their choice falls on q Tilden man.
SO far as he is concerned they have carte
blanche to make free selection from among
his friends but he has the ability, and,
what is more, the will, to defeat any candi-
date whose nomination could be construed
as a slight upon his supremacy. Those
| leaders who are democrats first and Tilden
| men afterward can easily restore harmony
| md secure unanimous nomination by agree
| ing upon some Tilden man before the Con-
vontion meets. This limitation upon their
choice narrows the field; but within that
| field the anti-Tilden element can nominate
any candidate it may agree upon in season
to bring its delegates into line before the
Convention assemblies. The puzzle is to
find that friend of Tilden who is most agree
able or least Objectionable to the other wing
of the party but on no other basis can the
Convention be harmonized or the party
saved from destruction.
| Political Murders and Runners.
Those innocent lambs the followers of