The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-07
PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS.
A Singular State Contest, with Loci Fight,
Ringing on Samuel }. Tlldsn-
Colonel McClure's Definition of the Status
in City, State and Nation
PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 0. 1879.

Alex Mcclure, "would III my judgment be the
greatest possible calamity that could happen to the
party the country" Colonel Mcclure is one OF
Pennsy lvanias astutest politicians. and his utter
ances command the respect OF the influential men
IN and out of the democratic party. The HERALD
CORES pondent found him in the editorial rooms OF
the Times surrounded by portraits OF prominent
American Journalists and statesmen and. after
cordial welcome in response to u question. he
said 1.-The contest in Pennsylvania this fall Is
comparatively unmportant. We are to elect State
Treasurer only. and the Treasury is bankrupt in
the sum of million and half of dollars there is
neither money nor influence i'll it,
.How happens that y
"rhere was a time when the Treasurership q
Mace of power and influence. We carried q balance
of So goo in the Treasury. the control of which
gave the Treasurer prominence. but the general
prostraon OF business throughout the State neces-
STATED reduction of taxes while the Legislature
made appropriations largely III excess OF the State
revenue. The result unavoidable. That excess
last year about $l.700.0o0 and We are short in
our appropriations for charities. school purposes
and other regular expenditures"
Are the Legislature and the Treasurer in har-
monyy'
mo. The democrats elected the Treasurer two
years ago, and the republican Legislature didn't
care to give him any more money than 1t had to;
but the real cause of embarrassment is the re-
ducton forced by the business prostraton.'
..But isn't that of the past?'
"Yes The uprising in business interests is gene
raj and more marked than ever knew it. particu-
larly in pennsylvania's specalties. There is hardly
an idle furnace the State and that naturally affects
the coal interest"
.But coal is very cheap
eyes here; but that is due to the anthracite COM
petitions brought about by the failure of combi-
nation"
THE STATE CONTEST AND TILDEN's HAND
If the Trcasurership is so unimportant. and there
is nothing else to be settled this fall. how do you
count for the excitement here and the bitterness of
| the ight?"
1.-THE State government is republican. with the
| exception of the Auditor and the Treasurer. The
candidates for the latter office equally estinlabe
| gentlemen, and, far the. best interests
| of the State are to be affected. it really
| makes no difference which Is successful. So
| far as they are concerned the result will
indicate nothing No outsider would be warranted
| in making Presidential calculations based on tho
issue of the present campaign The answer to your
significant q uestion is SIMPLE Philadelphis demo-
Gratis are auarrelling bone. the meat of which
| is Samuel j. Tden and his chances in the next con-
| vention. At the head of the regular democratic
ganzation is Mr.. Wallace. by long odds the ablest
manager in the party. Against him and the
vaax havo raised the ssandsrd Of rebellion in
| the interest of Tiiden The Sheriff's Office
fought hard to onst the old set are nortaed to and
the men We put in office worse yet. NOW. we must
get them out The fight in phil.deiphia is d battle
wins. Tllden will have no delegation II the
rebellion succeeds. Tilden will 20 TO tho Ma
tional Convention with Pennsylvania solid for him.
On the surface 1t is fight for local control; in
ality desperate battle for supreme control of
state is not unusually excited about it, in reality the
greatest interest is felt in every democratic centre
Working now at q disadvantsge He lacks an organ
| ization. Wallace. on the other hand. has the long
established organization and Is personally familiar
with all the interests that control localities through
the State Ho Is decided in opposition to Tlden.
and his opponents will hna It diihcuit TO outwit
| is a great deal OF sympathy for Tilden as man
cheated ont of the Presidency Country democrats
feel that he ought to have another chance and be
vindicatcd by inauguration.
| THE YORK FIGHT.
| "How does the Robinson-Kclly light affect the
| Pennsylvania contestY
Peculiarly A great many democrats who dislike
! Tilden are warm friends OF Robinson and hope for
his election. II Robinson to be beaten the
| test Tilden would go on the same. Doubtless
| but doubt il his defeat would have much weight.
Kelly has friends here. No sympathy is felt for
his hight All democrats mere prefer the success OF
| aud the republicans ought to be abo to elect
| Cornell
| vana estimation he did in 1852"
| enc; Tilden is greatly Weakened by the cipher
|
not least the HEEALDs exposure of the quarrel with
Cyrus W. Field. The last. in particular. seems to
veal him III tho character OF INSCRIPTIONS spccu
lator guisc which, to say the least is not generally
attributed to statesinanshp. Very many democratic.
who are not exactly prepared to assaii Tilden for
lack of integrity are weakened in their trust aud
confidence in HIM ~ n man. And thon IN regard to
| himself and not sufficient to gain his end. The
| whole question had resolved Itself to matter OF
barter. Tildcns friends were IN it, as well as the
Others aud they failed in their purpose, even with
the weapons for success in their hands. Why should
they 80 to Florida to dickcr-and fail? The Oregon
| attempt was the most awkward and stupid blunder
on record. 1t involved all the moral tnrpitude pos
sible in any transact ion-and failed. The election
of Samuel J. Tildcn would be the greatest possible
calamity to the party and the country"
pENNsYLvAsIA's FAvoRIIE
"You supported Tildcn in lST6Y
III did as n choice between the sectional policy of
the republicans and tho then conservative policy OF
Tilden. NV preferences and those OF conservative
Republicans generally are for Senator Bayard among
tho democrats. as the man who could most thor.
oughiy command the united democratic vote aud
give the largest measure OF prosperity and tran
quillity to the country. lie would not have. Of
course, tho personal strength Of a candidate from
New York or Pennsylvania, but he has the character
for which tue country looks. lie is tho only man,
believe. who can command the united democratic
vote aud that OF conservative republicans rs WELL
And further. believe he is the only democrat who
would have reasonable chance for election. You
sce IL the next campaign IL to be sectional the sue
cess of tho republican party is n certainty. II the
republicans make 1t sectional and the democrats
conservative the latter stand possible chance OF
success"
chow about GrantF
well, we fell very enthusiastically into tho HER
AIDS wake. and rdiculod our Legislative committee
who pur posed joining the California hppodrome. out
ofcxstcncc. 1t would have done him good either
as a citizen or u candidate AM FREQ to say re-
gard Grant the most available and formidable re.
publican candidate for the Presidency. lie might
divide the south largely under the lead of conserva-
tive democrats both in and out OF Congress. iur-
Their believe Grant would DO the most conservative
! President the republicans could find. IL the South
believed the republicans would have solid North
| against them IL would break by states In favor OF
Grant or all the civilian candidates Blaine has the
best hold on the popular heart. Hes IL more popu-
lar with the country at large than any man
! since Clay aud Lincoln. As for Conkling
! he Ia played OUT. so Tar az Penn
/ sylyania il concerned no one knows him. Ho has
never been among He IL regarded as an asterc,
| unapptoAohable person. Cameron Is his devoted
| friend and IT he could would have served him in
Cincinnati in 1876. Pennsy went to that Con-
/ hc cad Of Cabinet Mnster--au