The New York herald., 1879-08-27
GOVERNOR ROBINSON'S CHAN NCES.

PARTY CANNOT VOTE FOR HIM-sHALL HIS
EXcELLENcY CONTROL POLITICS IN GOTHAM?
To EDITOR THE HERALD:-
1t must be promised that Governor Robinson has
done some acts which commend him to popular ap-
prova without regard to party. His vetoes of Ill
advised and extravagant legislation have received
much deserved praise In these respects he has the
hearty support of the democrats of this State. 1t
is not to be supposed that the party will nominate.
that the people Of this State will elect candi-
date who will the economic policy of
Governor Robinson's administration. In pre-
pairing to give why Governor Robin
should not be again nominated, good
policy less than justice demands that
full credit be given his administration for the good
it has done. Not to do would be unfair to
create presumption in favor of the Governor.
Very likely also the open and defiant opposition to
Governor Robinson by Mr.. Kelly and the Tammany
Society has offended many rural democrats, and
thereby has reacted in the Governors favor. AS
rule country democrats take precious little interest
in the squabbes for ascendancy of democratic lead
ers in New York city. 1t is easily that anti
Tammany is anti only because it is not strong
enough to control Tammany. Just soon as it gets
sufficient votes anti becomes Tammany, the old
leaders step down and out and some man be-
comes the "boss" 1t is just this that Mayor Cooper
and his party struggling for now. 1t is not
to be supposed that democrats through the State
tearing their shirts with excitement
the question whether Cooper Kelly
shall control Tammany. Mr.. Cooper's al
lance with the republicans last fall. whereby
he and republican city officials were elected
has probably rather prejudIced his with good
democrats. They look upon such alliances as de-
moralizing to the party, and Mayor Cooper's sue
cess, secured by such means, cert iniy cannot put
him III good party standing His opposition Mr..
Kelly was not founded Oh any principle. for MIR.
Cooper's highest ambition was to become such
boss as Mr.. Kelly is. Ii majority of New York
democrats had sustained him he would have sue
ceeded without any trouble; but it is way to win
the confidence OF party by conspiring with its OPP
ponents its betrayal. This, viewer, a matter
with which country democrats have neither right
nor wish to interfere. The democrats of New York
city must settle 1t among themselves as best they
GOVERNOR RoBINsoN's WEARING SORROWS.
Governor Robinson is an exception to this nearly
universal feeling among country democrats. His
soul is vexed night and day because New York city
deino don do he thinks they ought to do.
Worst of all, he seems to think because lie is Gov
ernor-with a big G-that he is responsible for
all this. l. dreadfully trying to the poor aud
do not wonder that he has said he did want a
denomination. Unfortunately the Governor has
somehow got the idea, which is a tearfuly undemo-
cratic one, that he is the only man who can Will
Keep things straight. and SO he is willing to accept
II the people want him. 1t is wonderful how much
popularity Governor Robinson's against Tam
many has given him among republicans. Probably
no other democrat i'll the State would have felt
called upon as Governor to interfere i'll local politi
cal squabble. such interference opposed demo-
Organization. 1t Is natural enough that republicans
should enjoy this warfare of democratic dow
ernor upon the democratic party in its stronghold.
II is common notion WITH the republicans that
their party has all the virtue all the patriotism and
political Intelligence in the country Tammany, Us
mass of democrats, upon whom republicans have
never made much impression, is altogether evil.
Republicans IN New York city regarL themselves rs
better than republicans sewhere because they are
in a smaller minority than in other places. Anti
Tammany democrats better than Tammany,
partly because they fewer. and partly because
tl-l al hN
citation with themselves in the work OF defeating
the democrats. That Governor Robinson holds these
undemocratic notions may, suppose, be attributed
TO his former republican aihliauons. The basis of
the democratic idea is belief i'll the rule OF the
iority. ln Governor Robinson's overweening desire
~ regulate the New York city democracy according
to his notions he violates another fundamental den-
ocratic idea-the right of local selfgovernmen One
the important issues in this fan campaign. and
one which the democratic party is strongest is
its cham onship of the personal liberties OF citizens
against unwaIranteo interference. Governor Robin
sons course has made IL impossible TOR him To htly
represent this iuea ln his unwarrantable and ile-
gal removal of General smith from the Office of
Police Commissioner Governor Robinson strikes u
blow at the personal rights of ctizens uujusti
fable than anything We have complained OF III re-
publican legislation.
HOW JUDGE wEsrDnooK REGARDS RoBrssoSs
Judge Westbrook. aole and exhaustive judi
cal decision, has characterized this act 1t de-
No words OF private citizen can add to the
by high judicial authority of an act which
Is wholly indefensibe. For the democracy
nate Governor Robinson after this Judicial condem-
nation OF his illegal acts would be little less than
ant-Tammany, Kelly or anti-Kelly, but question
whether the personal aud sted rights of brave
soldier and reputable citizen shall be protected
against illegally exercised powers of the Executive
OF the State. Under the conclusive argument of
Judge Westbrook Governor Robinson could,
and perhaps would. DO impeached and de-
posed from Office for this act Some re-
publicans in Rochester have proposed for
Lieutenant Governor official VINO has been
indicted by the Grand Jury for official misconduct.
but IL is be hoped by ali democrats that this sort
OF folly will be lett to their opponents IL Will be
wa lv fNip tn M
be lett for while to into all manner OF fooi-
ishness, while their own party pursues q wise and
reputable course. But strange AS IL may seem 10
many, IL IL outside of rather than ia New York city
that the impOlicy of renominating him Is most cer-
tain conclusive argument against Governor
Robinson at this time s that he does not eujoy the
confidence of the agricultural and industrial classes
because Of his aflliatoD with railroad and other
corporations. 10 prevent discrimination against