New-York tribune., 1877-10-04
DEMOCRATIC BEAR-GARDEN.


A SCENE OF UPROAR AND CONFUsION-LACK OF
SPEAKERS IN THE rLDES FAc1oN-JOY or
1AMMANY AND THE CANAL IlNG-HOPE THAT
TIE "oLD SET" WILL RETURN TO POWER
lBY TELEGRAPH TO The rRIBuNcl
ALBANY n Y. Oct. 3.-The Tlden wing Of
the Democratic party got very bad black
eye this morning at the first session OF
the convention. 10 say that they got it, hardly
does justice to the operation; they solicited IT, even
insisted upon it. II it be permissible TO paraphrase
John PhpnIx's description OF the terrific fight, IL
which he held his antagonist down by inserting his
nose between his opponents teeth for that purpose,
it might be said tnat the ilden party fitted its eye
to the fist Of tie opposition, and would take
no refusal. The whole affair could not have been
conducted with a greater regard fof the feelings
of the other side If the rules OF the przerng bad
been adopted which the convention strongly omitted
to adopt in place of the less appropriate rules OF the
Assembly. There has been no convention in this
State in recent times 50 nearly resembling contest
within the ropes.
The convention and the spectators filed Tweddle
Hall with a great mass of humanity, in which not
one feminine face was Wis. BILE, and in which the
snort hairs and Tammany roaghs had a good deal
the advantage Of the gentlemen. Mr. Kelly took his
seat in about his usual place, in the middle
aisle on the Ief-haud of the char. Mr.. Morrissey
from the stage. Each chiefjain surrounded by
his followers The new ticket party had their lead
ers judicousy distributed throughout the nall, and
if WAS evident that they were to have their usual
abundance of good takers, the most conspicuous be-
ing ex-senator Lanng, Clarkson n. Potter, Dewitt
&. West William Purcell, George N. Beebe, John d.
Townsend, Augustus Schel and John Kelly. Ii was
equally evident that the same lack Of leaders,
which has so often endangered tne Iiiden party
in past conventions was to endanSer, II not to
wreck it IN this. Ever since the Illden regime was
established it has been without good takers con-
ventions, and the votes have always been cast in
spite Of the arguments. THIS was doubtless due to
Governor 1ildeus habit Of absorbing all the power
IN himself. He could always manage convention
at arms length If he had but few young men
TO carry out his ideas. In consequence, he did
not gather the strong men of the party about
bIm, and when he was taken away there no
leader left The only speakers Of note the Tlden
side to-day were Z. X. Apgar, the young secretary
af the State Committee Sidney T. Fairchlld, the
father of the Attorney General. Rufus w. Peckham
of Albany and General James McQuade, of Utica.
There is every reason believe that these gentle
men had a majority OF the votes when the conven-
tion began, but they could not hold them when the
effect of their own blunders was added to the su~
peuor generaship of the other side.
Il had been rumored somewhat that the opposition
wonld begin the battle over the nomination Tor tenn
norarv chairman by moving to pat Clarkson Mot
t ,he,r candidate of the night before, in place Of
david b. Hill. and while 1t was not generally be-
lived that any such attempt would De made, Mr..
Mapone. chairman of the State Committee, gave any
one an opportunity TO make the issue, by waiting
deliberately some seconds after asking If there were
any affections TO Mr. HIPS nomination. Ihere was
none bnt the very ar was 30 full OF contention
tbot II hroke out oven before Mr.. Hid could reach
the chair.
Augustus schell having been appointed one OF
y committee of which Samuel Hand, OF Albany,
,vas the other member, to conduct Mr. Iilll 10 the
boi rose and declined to serve, the ground that
tbre we're other persons on the floor claiming to act
- dolegates fro n New-York, although not sent by
the reoIlar organization He preferred not 70 serve
nntil his standing as a delegate had been passed
rnon. When MIR. Schell got this out III his thich
and clumsy way, pent-up Tammany let itsei out III
,onuipe short hair cheer. In fact, lammany was
Glad Of chance to cheer for when. moment AFTER
the "unanimouso Charley Walker, the great BAR
room wit of the Democrats walked up the aisle ana
shook hands with Mr. Schell the spectacle OF these
two eminent statesmen in friendly accord, set Tam
many ON fire again. Mr. Hill was received WIN
onnlause. AS was also hs speech. The refrain OF H.
an arragnment of what the short-haired rheto-
ricians. to-day, delighted in calling, Inc great
Presidential crime was evidently pleasant to tLer
cara and there was even a show of applause at the
alluslon to Mr. Carter.
I'm, 80 ,,o,or x.as a conventon which was spOlllng