The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-29

Louis for the last two days The Tilden
canvass had been so complete and so
adroifiy managed. II had been conducted
with 40 much quiet efficiency aud such
oonsnmmnte skill for months previous
% the meeting Of the Convention,
that the less alert and less dexterous can
didates had no chance when the battle
opened Whatever else may be said or
thought II Mr.. Tilden, il must be conceded
by friends and enemies alike, conceded by
democrats and republicans alike, that he
has proved himself one of the ablest and
most astnte managers that have ever app
peared In the politics Of this country. Apart
from his own wonderful address and activity
his chances for this high honor were worry
slender. lie had never held an impor-
tant ONCE until he was elected Governor
Of New York. less than two years
ago. lie has never been in Congress; he
has never held position Of trust under the
federal government; he has never had an
opportunity to make himself conspicuous
at the federal capital which Thurman,
Bayard and Hendricks have bad opportuni-
ties 10 acquire; and yet. by the sheer force
Of his abilities, by his extraordinary capacity
for politics, he has eclipsed them all in the
estimation OF his own party, and IL selected
by the Democratic National Convention rs its
fttest standard bearer in an election of great
importance. The selection Of q citizen Of
his limited experience in official life and
total lack Of experience in federal affairs
over the heads of SO many democratic states
men who have had superior facilities for
making national reputation is q tribute to
his character and capacity of which
he may be justly proud, whether he
wins in the Presidential race or
not. As he is q citizen of OR own State and
an esteemed fellow townsman. we have too
much local pride to be indifferent to his
brilliant success at ST. Louis, and We offer
him our sincere congratulations.
Governor Tilden's nomination is not, how
ever, equivalent to an election, for this
Presidential election is to be one of the
most vigorous and most closely contested
that has ever taken place in the history of
the country. The result is so doubtful
that the canvass will have all the interest of
game in which the skill of the players
keeps the Judgment of the spectators in sus-
pense. The chances are so doubtful that
public expectation will be kept on the qm
rice throughout. 1t is safe to say that we are
entering on one of the most interesting, Wig
orously contested and doubtful Presidential
contests that have ever taken place since the
organization Of the government.
In estimating Mr.. Tilden's strength as a
candidate we will put New York aside until
we have weighed his chances in other
States. To be sure New York is the
grand pivot of the canvass, for if Tilden
should fail to carry this State he has no
chance Of an election but we prefor,t to con-
slider the effect of his nomination in other
States before coming to the main point on
which the election will turn. Outside of
New York, in the country at large, Tilden is
undoubtedly the strongest and most popular
nomination the democratic party could have
made. conclusive proof Of this is the
tactics adopted by his opponents at st.
Louis The sole ground on which they rested
their opposition was his alleged inability to
carry New York. Now, he may carry New
York or he may not; the chances are very
doubtful, with perhaps q preponderance
against him, but the form taken by the
opposition to him at st. Louis was conces-
sion by his opponents that he is the strongest
democratic candidate elsewhere, taking the
country as q whole
But any estimate of chances from which
New York is excluded is like the play of
Hamlet with the part of Hamlet left
out The Presidential election will be
decided by the electoral votes of the Empire
State, and Governor Tilden will have hard
battle to fight here against powerful and for
midable adversaries. If he wins in this
State he wins everything; if he loses this
State he loses all. With his own party di-
yided and his republican adversaries thor
oughly united, with the whole influence of
the federal patronage exerted against him,
and the discouraging effect Of probable re-
publican victories in the October States, he
enters upon an unequal contest, and moth
ing but his remarkable ability as q political
strategist can give him the victory against
such odds.
But whether Tilden wins the election or
loses it the country has reason to congratu-
late itself on the result at st. Louis The
vote on the platform, which Immediately
preceded the first ballot, was u sure augury
Of the nomination Of Tilden, and
it was SO splendid q victory for
sound ideas on the currency that
great and depressing load of anxiety is
lifted from honest men and true patriots.
We heartily congratulate the country on the
fact that both of our great political parties
are sound on vital questions. We
give no credit to the manipulators
and wirepullers of either party for
this reassuring result; the whole praise
belongs to the people. If the dema-