The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-10-04
NEW YORK DEMOCRATS.
First Day of the State COnyen-
ton.
A Lively Fight Between Tammany
aud Anti-Tammany.

Hill was chosen temporary chairman. Mr.
Hill said:
The country has witnessed the spectacle of
an administration in possession of the federal
government, repudiated by majority of over
quarter of million electors, and this strange
result was accomplished by means of corrup-
ton most foul and fraud most atrocious. For
the first time in American history fraud was
triumphant, and unblushingly boosted of its
power. But while the present administration
has obtained its power by unlawful means, and
while lis tenure may well be questioned, yet
during the short period of its existence it has
exposed the error of that policy which its party
has pursued ever since the close of the war. 1t
has partially adopted the policy of Cancellation
and local self government, which the Demo-
cratic party has for the past ten years insisted
upon. 1t has endeavored to win the approval
of the people by promising the very course
which last fall we demanded should be pursued.
Every position in reference to the southern
question which we assumed has been justified
and affirmed by its adoption by our opponents
in power, Its course has justified the wisdom
and statesmanshio of the Democratic party
towards the South. Already peace and pros
perity are returning to that section, business in
terests are revivipg and an era of better feeling
is at hand. The Democratic party will inter
pose no partisan obstruction to carrying out its
own policy by its opponents. We will uphold
the acting President in all his honest efforts to
pacify the country and restore fraternal feeling
among all the people; and we too, with Mr..
Curtis, will bid him God speed iu his good work.
The President need have no fear from us,
but his great danger is coming from his own
political household. The circumstances to
which allude as significant are the late utter
ances of the Republican statesmen and con-
ventions which are now reverberating through
out the land. The Southern policy of the
President is being assailed by the very party
that placed him in power; the good results of
that policy which we are now witnessing in 4he
Southern States are liable to be retarded OF re-
voked. The late convention of the Republican
party of this state at Rochester repudiated the
Presidents policy. So hostile have the leaders
of the Republican party in this state become
that they even refuse by an overwhelming
majority to pass resolution which declares
that the Presidents title to his office was as
clear and valid as that of Washington. The
policy Of civil service reform, to which both
parties were committed in the last campaign,
and upon which great stress was laid by Mr..
Hayes in his letter of acceptance, and which
did more than anything to secure him the sup
port of independent men, was declared by the
president of that convention to be nauseating
adopted by that body, the only object and eff
feet of which was to ridicule reform and to
demonstrate that no reform in the civil servi ce
is necessary.
The country must see by these demon stra-
tons that the Republican party in this state
last fall it obtained support from the people. 1t
has taken its position and is now committed
beyond recall. More than ever then it is meet
that the Democracy of New York should be
true to itself and by as brilliant a victory as
that which we achieved last fall, again demon
strate that New York is still for reconciliation
and peace, for local self-government, and civil
service reform.
The secretaries announced the rules of the as
sembly, which were adopted. The roll was
then called The credentials of the Corning
delegates were received from the Albany dis
trct The contesting delegates from Brooklyn
handed In their credentials. The chair decided
that New York should be passed, as were the
contested delegations, and no lists of contes.
tants has been furnished. A long and bittel
wrangle ensued. Apgar endeavored to read the
rule of the last convention relative to cOntes
tants, but was howled down. After several eff
forts he succeeded in reading to the effect thai
the state committee in preparing the roll of the
convention, shall recognize only credentials
coming from sources recognized as regular by
the last state convention Morrissey and Kelley
both rose to present credentials. Kelly was re
ceived with great cheers. An indiscribable
scene of confusion ensued. Kelly said he was
willing that the contestants should sit in the
convention till the committee decided on theil
claims. Morrissey said every seat from New
York was contested, and he claimed the righ
of contestants to seats in the convention till tht
A long debate followed, on motion that TIT
committee on credentials be appointed by tht
chair, with an amendment that each delegation
appoint a member of that committee.
Ira Shafer was speaking and Kelly arose t
speak, when some one in the crowd said SSH
down you big headed loafer'', Qaughter) a
which both Kelly and Shafer looked inguiring
ly. A call was made for three cheers for Kell,
| and they were given with vociferous will.
1t was finally resolved that the committee Of
| credentials be appointed by delegates, one from
| each congressional district the vote standing t
| LA, which was received by the Tammanyite
| with lively demonstrations of rejoicing. Re
| cess till o'clock.
After protracted executive session of III,
| committee on credentials the doors were open
| ed at o'clock this morning when it was learn
| ed that the committee had decided to admi
| the Tammany delegates entire by vote of 1
| to s, The vote to admit the Kings county dele
| cation headed by Mclaughlin was unanimous
| In the first Albany district the Corning or ney
ticket delegation was admitted by by vot
/ of Is to 8.
The convention re-assembled at 40. Th
| names of the committee on contested seats wa
| announced and that this committee would NEE
this evening, and it was requested that all th
| contestants be present. Convention adjourne
| till 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
TOday's proceedings in the convention ar
considered to have made two points clear: Isl
| that the anti-Tammany men from New Yorl
city will be allowed no position whatever in tn
convention, and second that those who favo
the new state ticket will carry their point. TIL
Tammany men are outspoken in declaring tina
party policy, discipline and organization forbi
further parleying with factions, and that Their
must be square issue between the supporter
of the regular and the irregular organization
The known sentiments of large majority Q
the committee on contested seats renders it Ger
tain they will report unqualifedly in favor Q
seating unqualifedly the Tammapy and e1
Guiding the anti-Tammany delegates Allen
Beach still seems the favorite for the nomlne
for Secretary of State. T. Olcott's renomina
ton for Comptroller there is no opposition to
and Ross nomination for Treasurer appears
be nearly as well assured. The nominee for Al
torney General apparently must be taken cas-
of Albany, and Mr.. Schoonmaker of Ulste