The New York herald., 1879-09-09
why Not Make II Unanimous.

| the State thlS 1all That defeat would cause
them intense disappointment. Mr.. Kelly
and the Tammany braves have officially de-
clared that they prefer a republican Cover
nor to Mr. Robinson. The Robinson
people have, with equal positiveness, as
serted that they will nominate their man
even if he is to be beaten. Now then, as both
! the factions are ready under certain circum-
stances to welcome defeat, why not make 1T
unanimous? Why not, we mean, deter
mine at once and beforehand to give New
York to the republicans?
1t would really not be sacrifice of any
great moment. 1t would only be adding
one more to the republican successes.
These have carried California; the news
late last night shows that they have carried
Maine also, and by apparently consid-
erable majority; they are almost GER
tain to carry Ohio; why not give
them New York, too? We address
this query to the democrats who are
gathering for heavy quarrel at Syra-
cuse and who, if they could only make up
their minds to accept defeat in November,
might save themselves a great deal of
worry and bad language. We do not see
why they should hesitate the character OF
their opposition to the republicans is not
such as promises success ; a divided army
has hardly ever beaten united one and
an army whose wings are led by generals
ready to cut each others throat was never
known to beat one united, we'll disciplined,
and obedient to a single commander, him
self skilful, enterprising and determined
to succeed.
The democrats of course still entertain
some hopes of electing President next
year Having allowed their opponents to
elect the Congressional delegation in Cali
fornia, they are now compelled to rely upon
the popular vote for success; because, with
California sending republican delegation,
the House, voting by States. is evenly di-
vided; or rather it is republican, un-
less Representative De la Matyr, green
hacker, should choose to cast his
vote for a democrat, in which case
he would make tie. But this is only by
the way. The democrats hope to carry a
majority of the Electoral College next year,
and this hope gives them periunctory in
terest in the New York election this year,
success in which they think will help them
in 1880. But if they will consider their
situation carefully they must see that this
hopo is vain and illusory, and that they
might as we'll give New York to the repub-
licans and so make it unanimous.
For practical purposes the country must
be regarded as divided into two political
parties, and no more. On the one hand
there are the republicans, possessing the
administration of the federal government.
solidly united, very ably led, and deter
mined to retain the power which they have
held for eighteen years. Opposed to them
is-a mob. Several parts of this mob call
themselves the democratic party; another
part ranges itself under the national" ban
ner another part under the greenback
flag and still another shouts "Anti-
monopoly" All these factions or fractions
fight each other as much as they fight the
common opponent; and. as though this
were not enough, in almost all the great
and important States even the democratic
fraction is split up into sub-fractions, all
bitterly quarrelling for predominance In
Massachusetts, General Butler is carrying
off large part of the democrats, leaving
the remainder sin the air." so to speak
in New York we need not describe the sit
uation which leads each of the two
factions to welcome defeat rather than come
to an understanding within the party in
Pennsylvania the Randall faction and the
Wallace faction, in Ohio the Ewing and the
Thurman men, in Indiana the Mcdonald
and the Voorhees, men, and SO on all along
the Western line; each faction labors for the
defeat of the party rather than the success
of rival.
If the opposition to the republicans
could gather under one head, no doubt they
could sweep the country. They would
make very formidable party, and the re-
publicans could not face them. But, di-
vided as they are, it is not possible they
should succeed, nor, we will frankly add,
ought they to succeed. The very grounds
upon which some democrats still hope for
success next year make their failure not only
probable but also desirable. Why are
the democratic leaders quarrelling with
each other oil over the Northp Why do
the factions rage against each other
in this and other Northern States? Mainly
because they all count upon o very large
number of electoral votes as q certainty in
any event; they reckon upon the one hun
dred and thirty-seven votes of the "splid
South" as a certainty, no matter how the
Northern democrats may misconduct them
selves, how they may fling away their
opportunities, or whom after long
succession of demoralizing intrigues
they may nominate. There is not a
democratic leader ambitious of the Presi-
dental nomination but says to himself,
''No matter what happens in the Northern
States have always safe under my lee the