The New York herald., 1879-09-22
alsssr.. Ttiden, Kelly and Robinson.

rank first in this interesting democratic
trio it is not so clear that the name OF Mr..
Kelly should stand before that of Governor
Robinson. We have arranged them in what
seems to us the correct order of their i'm
portance in relation to the pending
political contest in this State and
city. Governor Robinson. may be a
more considerable man than Comptrol-
ler Kelly, but it SO happens that he
is mere counter in the political game
played between Mr.. Tilden and Mr.. Kelly.
The stake for which Mr.. Tilden is playing
is the Presidential nomination OF the DEM
ocratic party. The stake for which Mr..
Kelly is playing is the control of the patron
age of the New York city government. In
the collision of interests between them
Governor Robinson is supported by
the one and opposed by the other,
less from motives of friendship or
enmity than because his election
would promote Mr.. Tilden's Presidential
chances, and his defeat would aid Mr.
Kelly in regaining control of the city gov
ernment Governor Robinson is therefore
a mere football in the contention of these
two politicians.
Notifying as it may be to Mr.. Tilden's
pride, it is nevertheless fact that he is
pitted against John Kelly in the political
arena and that an individual with whom he
would disdain to compare himself may
possibly hold the key which is to lock
the doors of the Democratic National
Convention against Mr.. Tilden's aspira-
tions. According to present appearances
Mr.. Kelly will receive votes enough to de-
feat Robinson and elect Cornell, and thereby
furnish conclusive argument that Mr..
Tilden, if nominated for the Presidency,
cannot carry his own State. Governor Rob-
inson, if defeated in the election, will sink
out of public notice. But the struggle be-
tween Messrs. 1ilden and Kelly will con-
tinue after the election and be carried into
the National Convention Of the democratic
party.
Mr.. Tilden. as politician, has been sim
| gularly unfortunate in his personal con-
| nections. Mr.. Kelly, who now stands in
his path, first came into prominence in
| State politics as Mr.. Tilden's most ardent
and efficient lieutenant. It was by Mr.
| Kelly's strenuous and unfinching aid that
he secured his nomination for Governor.
Mr.. Tilden was the political creator of
Lieutenant Governor Dorsheimer, and Mr..
Dorsheimer has also turned against him
and is the spokesman of the anti
Tilden democratic faction. The confding
hen, which sat upon ducks eggs and saw
her fancied chicks take to the water in spite
of her maternal clucking, is too true an
image of Mr.. Tilden's political experience.
| Mr. Tilden is not so much the victim of
misplaced confidence as of the peculiar
constitution of his personal character, in
which cold intellect predominates over
| social qualities. He lacks the Invaluable
capacity of attaching men to him by other
ties than self-interest He has none of that
personal magnetism, that warmth of nature,
which makes troops of friends. With the
chivalry of Jackson or Clay or the genial
frankness of Mr.. Blaine, or the lovable,
social disposition of Senator Bayard, Mr..
Tilden might have been the idol Of his po-
litical party. 1t is unfortunate for him as
public man that he never had polit-
ical friendship with any other root than
self-interest.
Mr.. Tilden's failure to inspire genuine
| personal attachments explains most of the
| singularities of his political career. He
| came very early into politics.; he was a
1 young protege of Martin Van Buren and
Silas Wright; was Jealous supporter Of
| the policy of his political chiefs; was the
close ally Of Dean Richmond when Mr..
| Richmond was the controlling spirit of
| the democratic party Of the State and yet
Mr.. Tilden's party never nominated him
for any important Office. He saw SO many
men every way his interiors promoted over
his head, and found himself growing old
| without any other recognition by his party
than place on its State Committee, that it
is no wonder feeling of jealousy gradually
took possession of his mind. He was neg
lected and sighted, not because he lacked
ability, but because he was deficient in the
qualities which insure personal popularity.
When the Tweed Ring gained its ascen-
dancy in State politics Mr.. Tilden's jealous
| temper was put to another severe trial. He
! Justly felt his superiority to every member
of that greedy cabal, and he hated it with
all tho intensity which comes of sighted
selEjmportance. The accusation which has
been so often made that Mr.. Tilden was at
one time an ally of Tweed is utterly with
out foundation. There was never day or
an hour when he did not loathe and detest
that corrupt gang, whose favorites had
eclipsed him and obstructed his political
promotion. It was not in his secretive
nature to make bold and open fight
against the Ring while it seemed strong,
but every friend who was at that time
in Mr.. Tilden's confidence knew how con-
stantly he plotted against it and how thor
oughly he hated its members and all their
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