The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-12

Governor Lucius Robinson, to whom the
great Tammany ovation was given IN
Union square last evening is a well pre-
served gentleman, in the sixty-seventh year
OF his age, and will have nearly completed
threescore and ten at the expiration OF his
three years term. Ho has reached the
summit Of his ambition, and is, therefore,
free from one of the chief temptations which
beset younger politicians who aspire to
higher honors than they have reached.
Governor Robinson is solid, steady going
business man, with talents better fitted for
use than for show, and, although he
has belonged in turn to both political
parties, he has maintained an enviable rep-
utation for strict integrity. His nomina-
ton for the Governorship last autumn was
an unexpected honor, to which political &C
cidents contributed quite as much as
sense of his merits. The favorite candi-
date of Governor Tilden was Mr.. DORIS
heimer but this gentleman was not &C
ceptable to John Kelly, and as a means
of heading him off the Tammany
Boss utilized the popularity of Horatio
Seymour and caused him to be nomi-
mated by reclamation. Mr.. Seymour
did not choose to be made a foot
ball in such q game, and his resolute
refusal to accept created fasco and
crisis in the democratic party. In the in
terval between the adjournment and reas-
sembling of the State Convention John
Kelly adhered with customary pugnacious
stubbornness to his determination to defeat
Dorsheimer, and it was owing to his activity
and intrigues that the nomination fell to
Lucius Robinson.
After concealing his hand for some time
Mr.. Kelly at last allowed it to be known
that Clarkson N. Potter was his candidate,
and at Saratoga Mr.. Potter was put fairly
in the field against Dorsheimer. Every
effort was then made by Kelly to induce the
anti-Tammany leaders to unite with him on
Potter, and ut one time the movement
came near being a success. The Tilden
managers had become alarmed at the Potter
programme, and saw that they could no
longer hope for Dorsheimer's nomination.
In consultation with Mr.. Tilden before the
Saratoga Convention met, it had been
agreed, under certain circumstances, to
bring forward Lucius Robinson, and this
was done in the Convention, the anti-Tam
many delegates remaining aloof at first
and casting their votes for A. Schoon-
maker, Jr. Mr.. Kelly and his adherents
supported that elegant gentleman" Clark
son N Potter, and, to give force to their
opposition to Lucius Robinson, some Of
them added, with emphasis, to his name
the words "a democrat" But Kings
county deserted Tammany and voted for
Robinson, and then anti-Tammany wheeled
into line and our present Governor
received the nomination, much to Tam
manys chagrin. Nevertheless, it is true
that, but for John Kelly's bitter and de-
termined fight against Dorsheimer, Robin
SON would not have been the candidate.
Hence it may be truly said that the Gov
ernor owes his Office to John Kellys antipa-
thies to Mr.. Tilden's favorite candidate.
Governor Robinson is man Of too much
character to acknowledge such debt by his
official action, however deeply he may feel
the obligation. 1t is even doubtful whether,
if left to his own sense of rectitude, he would
favor the designs of Kelly in the manage
ment of the democratic party of the State.
Mr.. Kelly, therefore, thought it necessary to
appeal to different side of the Governors
character. 1t was hoped that fattering
personal attentions might have some effect
on q man who has no further ambition to
satisfy and is averse to political intrigues.
Hence the great ovation was planned which
made Union square the scene of brilliant
spectacle last evening. 1t was studied at
tempt to make Mr.. Robinson think himself
the most popular Governor We have ever
had, and, by thus working on his vanity,
convert him into pliable instrument of
Tammany politics. There is a proverb
against looking gift horse in the mouth,
and Governor Robinson is bound in all
courtesy to accept this demonstration in the
spirit in which it processes to be given, but
lockers on are not bound to ignore the
motives of SO unwonted and interested o
proceeding.
Why, of all the Governors that have filled
the Office in our time. is Lucius Robinson
singled out as the recipient of q greater
compliment than has been bestowed on any
of his predecessors? What has he done
during the five months he has been in Office
to entitle him to an ovation the like of
which was never bestowed on Seymour, or
Morgan, or Dix or Tilden SO early in their
terms, or at all? 1t cannot be pre-
tended that he is man OF higher
political standing, nor that he has yet
rendered any great or respondent service
to the State II Governor Tilden had re-
ceived such an ovation after the close of the
session, when he made his formidable as
sault on the Canal Ring, the compliment
might have seemed justified by the facts
Int NOTHING of the kind was thoupht IF TT