The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-17
The Syracuse and Saratoga Conventions

The Democratic State Convention meets
at Syracuse on Wednesday Of next week.
and the Republican State Convention assem-
bles at Saratoga on the following day. The
great majority Of the delegates to the two
Conventions will be- chosen this present week
In accordance with the usual custom n
large share Of the Assembly District Conven-
tons will not only send delegates to SYRIA
cuse and Saratoga, but will embrace the
occasion to elect delegates to their several
Congressional Conventions, and 10 nominate
candidates for the Assembly. We therefore
take this opportunity to say few plain
words to both the Democrats and Republic
cans who are about TO open the campaign IN
this State.
The State Convention Of each party will
strike the keynote Of the campaign. The
contest involves principles Of extraordinary
magnitude. 1t will fix the destiny Of dis
tinguishcd political leaders, and 1t IL highly
probable that even the result Of the next
Presidential election may depend upon what
may now bee done or left undone 10y the two
old parties in this State
The recent elections in Vermont and Maine
teach the lesson that the long-uscd and
much-abused discipline Of these parties has
lost much Of its power and that large
masses of their members have arrived at a
point where they are determined to vote
just as they please, regardless Of the wishes
OF aspiring politicians aud the action Of nom
mating conventions. Nor are the manifest
atoms Of an independent spirit among the
body OF the voters less apparent in States
whose elections will occur in October and
November Tho unexpected turn Of affairs
In two staid New England States, and the
disposition everywhere shown to rebuke
cowardly or short-sighted leadership,
should convince the magnatcs Of both the
old parties in New York that these are times
when they cannot afford TO triHe with con
stituencics who demand living issues.
The Democratic State Convention must
place itself squarcy and unequivocally
against the Great Fraud Of the last Presi-
dental election, and against its authors and
benetcaries of whatever party and against
those Democratic Congressman from this
State who condoncd the crime in June last
by voting for the BURCHARD and the HART
RIDGE resolution. Nothing short Of this
will satisfy the vast constituency repre-
scented in the Convention.
As 10 the Democratic Conventions In the
Assembly districts which elect the dele
gates to the State Convention, they should
eend no man 10 Syracuse who is not sound
on this vital question, nor choose any dele
gate TO n Congressional Convention who Is
IN favor OF rcnomlnating "A representative
who voted TO condone the Great Fraud.
II the Democratic Conventions, State and
district, will take this high ground, they
will raise an issue on which they can afford
70 fight battle.
Astothe Republicans, If they hope TO stand
the slightest chance Of carrying tho State,
or OF elrctlug their fair share Of members IL
Congress and of the Assembly, they must
make no terms with an Administration that
D. trying to overthrow their party in New
York. HAYES and EyARIs and CURTIS and
FENroN and WOoDlN and their feeble fol-
lowing have proclaimed hostlitios not only
against Senator CONKLfvG, but against his
friends including lorty-nin, Nlltioths of the
party IN the State. II the Republicans OK
poet lpsuhduo these adycrsarics. Ny must
oll'r them battle on open ground ana oos-
tive issues
for tnose reasons the Republican Convon-
u9n should speak the exact truth In unmis-