The New York herald., 1878-10-07
HORA7IO SEYMOUR
The Retired Statesman on The Action
at Syracuse.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE PORTRAYED.
Emphatic Condemnation Of the Slate
System in Conventions.
THE DUTIES OF A STATE COMMITTEE.


UTICA, Dot. s, 1878
In an interview with Ex-Governor Seymour to-day
he was asked mis- views upon tho action Of the Syra-
cuse Convention and readily responded to the inquiry
81 look upon political conventions" he SAID, mot
merely bodies which the particular parties
which they represent but they affect the general
welfare. They part Of the machinery Of our
government Parties will always exist IN
try. They Will shape Its policy and influence pros
perty. They can only act through conventions.
Their nominations 1ll the Offices The public,
therefore, is concerned ir they act In ways
that lead them 10 put forward with
reference to other things than their fitness
tor the places for which they are presented. Tho
general welfare Is harmed II. at the conventions OF
either OF great partics the action Is disordsry
or II any ends are sought which interfere with the
calm and earnest purpose 10 present the names or
the their ranks to fill places which
elections ars be hold. II Tor regret with
evcrygood citizen when ne feels that political
nations made ny either party IN ways that cause
dsrust regard to the persons they present for
the support OF the electors.
EFFECT ANGRY PEELSa.
~ think the press coored too highly The PASSIONS
displayed At Syracuse. II 10 natural that the re-
portcrs their abstracts Of debate should notice
the character Of speeches rather tho characters
u Luo SpeakcEa Gouoo tuc uoTbu anu NOISY WOTuS
OF unwise men, those ambitious OF notoriety 60
out to the public, rather than what Is
said by those whose words have weight
from their positions and their wisdom. Sun
Il Is clear that there much OF the angry feeling
shown which always exists where parties try get
advantages each other by strategy rather than
by FAIR by exercise Of their strength In
Most OF this ieeng dies But still harsh
many lasting feuds, and the fact that
discord disheartens those who wish uphold their
party their principles 1t is fortunate that the
nominee at Syracuse bears character SO high that
the disorder attending his ssiecnon In no way
pairs confidence OF the public his Integrity or
capacity"
CAUSE THE TROUBLE.
s'What Of the disorder Syracuse 2"
your correspondent asked.
ssrhey were many," the Governor replied, s'arow.
ing ou: OF the rivalry and collisions among
leading men. AT this time moro than over within
my recollection the mass OF the democratic party
IN accord in their feelings and purposes. Tney fsol
they have been cheated out OF the fair results or
the last PRESIDENTIAL election. they know
thut In this State they have been Kept
ought OF their rghtiui control OF both branches OF
the Legislature W violation OF Official oaths and by
q Disregard Of legal rights winch tend in no light way
70 impair tho security OF the ctlzcn in all respects,
anG 10 dsmoraiize the social ana Political organiza
tion OF our STATE The democrats only tied
by this Of wrong, Dut also by faith that they
doers. While this Is the position oi body the
party some OF It's active members nave allowed
that tney sndang gsrsd rights aud
interests Of those whom tncy arc uuder obligations
led their friends into iacous trays and into
mon efforts 10 upnoid what tney all deem TO be right
ana 10 put down what they all ieel 10 be wrong. rho
blame Ior this Is pretty equally divided among these
c0ntcstants"
iSDoRsEMESr GOVERNOR ROBINSON.
AS an example oi tue way these tnings are brought
about tho Governor spoke OF the matter OF the u
dorsement OF Governor Robinson. hostile article.
which he had not seen, was blished In New York
democratic paper about MN, and called general
condemnation oil It's purport by the democratic press
and voters even by those VIII aid not ike bis action
IN all respects, Tor no governor ever did
satisfy all " only served to help not to harm, the
Governor ana insured Tor him u warmer commenda-
ton than Is usually accorded 10 their officials State
conventions.
"lt The matter had rested here, continued the
Governor, mo harm would have been done Bus all
parties have restless, ambitious men seize hold
oi everything win cn VIII give show oil strength,
aud numerous volunteer defenders oil the Governor
sprung up VINO sought to mad to make enemies
win whom they could comUat Ia his behalf In tins
way they created more false IDEAS OF the strength
OF hostility 10 INN than by MS
open enemies. Eveu whom, by the uDan nous
vote OF the Convention. his administrator VAS
approved, there those who seek make this
the triumph OF facton and not the voice Of
great party. There Is no one SO hurtful as the
friend VINO fights his battle IN your name your
cost Oi the same nature Is the friendship OF men
who magnify the hostility to Governor riidcn at the
very umc men II 10 important that tho condc mna-
ton should be earnest and unanimous oil the fraud
wnch he has we'll sad 'has cheated the majority OF
the pooplc out OF their rights"
In answer 10 the question what Governor Robinson
or Tiden thought oi the action OF sucn men, Governor
seymour SAID he had no means OF knowing He did
not believe tney know the maze or Iner names
by mischief makers, IL would be u grave Impeacn-
msnt Of the honor Of Governor Robinson
70 grow up the democratic party
his account, HIS connections had led him
duty led MIN 10 act WIN ho was gladly received
and cordially supported Tor It's highest honors, aud
BY mono more generously than those agains. whom
Ia the past he had thrown his votes At tue polls
IMMEDIATE CAUSE oy THE ROW.
'whas caused tnis state OF feeling among delegates
bc!ore they won't into convention ~ asked.
Tho Governor, alter stating that he had gwen some
thought " that SUBJECT continued :-"rhe delegates
represent a parry having common views pur
Thoy come 10 the place o meeting expecting 10 mud
VINO are iu the success OF .ne com
party. But little time after they get togethtr
with view oil consulting az to their action, tneir Or
ganizasion and their nominations. they nnd that an
ouside body has taken upon itself 10 vine snail
be 10 officers, who shall make up It's committees
and, and virtually what It's action shall osm
for them, aud, us the ladies say Of lnsir dresses
cut biassd.' those who come up 10 present tho
nave a far voice, nnd that tnsy are merely
10 carry out, not TO make u policy OF action.
do not know when the state Com mi ttee eil into
TINS system OF deciding at their meetings IN advance
about all questions Of OrRanizatoD, committees, 10.
IL Is many years since have ia the habit OF
tending conventions as q delegate am sure such
practice would not have been tolerated thsn,uand
Iney ought not 10 20 allowed now. IL must be clear
to every that they Will mako III state Of feeling
among dcegatos, and transfer power from tnom 10 u
mere committee which does not the general
iseiing aud wishes. tor they 10 in tneso
specis until year has passed away afsr cleo
tion. Ths system converts The place OF meeting into
mere battlefield ior the coutro OF tnis Stale commtce
this gave 10 all the contests syracuse-aIl the
manW vering ana all the harsh wofds That laction
was deemed triumphant winch gained The majority oil
TINS committee IL s due to that OF last year say
that they did not on hs OCCASION attempt exercise
all these powers But still tho idea remains that IT'S
control gives advantage to those VINO mold ~, which
virtually enables thcm 10 shape anu direct tne po-
hticai action OF the state. Inis system should ut
once be discarded IL Is wrong IN principle and mis-
chicvous In slccL'
rHE FIGHT FOR rHs coNMfrTxR