The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-31
THE DEMOCRATIC OUTLOOK.
Tho worahIp OF Harmony and Some OF the
Plans for Promoting n.

ALBANY, Jan. 29.-The Democratic outlook
is not particularly encouraging There is n
| lack OF vgor and vitality apparent in the leader
| ship and in tho rank and file. The local organ
| izations last year fell IN easy prey to the third
party movement. Sixty thousand Democrats
! voted tho Greenback tckn. in November. not
| because they expected tito succeed. but because
success had become matter OF no concern to
| them. The quarrels Of the Democratic managers
| have bred discomfort among their followers.
| Unless something is done to cure existing evils.
tho future is far from hopeful.
| The sick patient will not die. however. through
any lack OF attention. A thousand sclf-suffl-
cient political physicians have examined tho
case and while the diagnosis OF each differs
from that OF tho others. they all prescribe har
| mony. IL is the universal panacca for every i'll
to which tho flesh Of politics Is heir. II they
have to slit the throat Of the patient TO give him
tho remedy in hypodermic injections. or hold
his mouth open with n iackscrew to make him
swallow II. thoy arc resolved that he shall take
harmony, and that. too. in strong and copious
draughts. But when it comes to the details Of
administering this sovereign cure. the doctors
| fall out among themselves and intensity tho
| bitterness OF the strife
A couple OF John Kelly's representatives from
New York wero up here. not long ago in the in
terest OF harmony. One was gentlc-voiced
| lawyer, OF mild. persuasive manners. whio the
other. who was heritage from tho reign OF Mr..
| Tweed. was loud-mouthed. and swore good
doal-in tho name OF harmony. OF course.
| These cmissarles brought an olive branch In
| one hand and the layout Of q thimblc-rigger in
the other. Or. dropping metaphor. they came
to say that Tammany would support the re-
nomination OF Gov. Robinson. provided he
would dismiss the charges against Gumbeton
and the other county officials and would pledge
himself. in advance, TO veto any bills which the
Legislature might pass looking TO n restriction
OF John Kelly's power. II Is unnecessary. per-
haps to add that they did not unfold tho
true inwardness Of their programme to every
body with whom they talked. Harmony was all
that they protested TO seek. and Tammany was
TO make the first concession by coming to tho
support OF Robinson. They were received by
the Democratic politicians here with good
deal OF on-committal politeness, and 1t Is
barely possible that they went away happy in
tho belief that their mission was successful
They exchanged only n few commonplace
words with Gov. Robinson. II he had caught
an idea Of what they wanted. he would have
given them an expression OF opinion which
would have made their ears Jingle.
The secret OF tho Governors weakness with
the politicians and tho source Of his strength
with the people are both traceable to the fact
that he will not trade He holds his position in
trust for the benefit OF the State. and refuses to
use it oven for his own Advancement When
the Convention Of 1877 met and 1t was apparent
that the defeat Of the old ticket was inevitable.
the faction that controlled told the Governor
that they would nominate any candidates. ex-
ccpt Bigler ana Fairchild that he chose 10
name. He unhesitatingly replied that he IA
vored the denomination OF Bigler and Farchild.
and that he had no second choice. Why a man
should refuse such good chance TO dicker after
his own programme is beaten. is one of the
things that the average politician can't under
stand. But Lucius Robinson is essentially
honest and essentially obstinate. excellent quail
tiles In an Executive. but not always productive
Of harmony. He began his political life rs n
Jackson Democrat. casting his first vote for Old
Hickory longer ago than can remember. He
proved the courage OF his convictions by OPP
posing the spread Of slavery. and acted with
tho Republican party. But in 1864. while he
was serving as Comptroller Of the State. the Re-
publicans carried through the Legislature n
bill to pay the interest OF the State debt in de-
preciated paper. He denounced the scheme as
an act Of bad faith and partial reputation. and
then and there parted company with the politi
cal organization that favored it. Tho politi.
clans who examine this record have some rea-
son TO fear Gov. Robinson. They cannot trus
him to do in the name OF the party what he
would refuse 10 do in the name Of Justice and
equity. H. is the intensest kind Of Democrat
but he does not always cut the robes OF his
faith according to the pattern furnished by Tho
Convention.
, After the Tammany representatives had gon,
home. other self-constitutcd delegates cam,
hithcr from tho interior OF the State. calling
Justify for harmony in tho name OF the hay-lof
and cheese press Democracy. Some Of then
n l., bnlI n In V.,,,,
Mems Convention-immediately after the al
iournment Of the Legislature in which IN,
, doctrine Of harmony shall be somi-ofllcialll
proclaimed. But when they are reminded tina
conventions called TO promote distractions in
variaby result In personal quarrels. they shrlnl
| from the experiment. aud helplessy inquir,
, what is TO be done.
( The only practical suggestion. amid n clouC
Q OF improbable theories for promoting har
5 mony in the Democratic ranks comes from
Senator Herman. who brought it to Albany dur
r Ing tho Christmas recess Of Congress- II hai
@ been under discussion now for n month. and i
o seems to be gaining in favor. 1t is simply
4 | proposition to renomina.e the present Stat,
. ticket For the first time in our political histor,
Q the people are TO be called upon next Noyemho
TO elect Governor Lieutenant Governor.
Secretary OF State, Comptroller an Attorney
y General, and Treasurer. 1t is such doubling
up OF elections rs Will not occur again unit
@ 1885. But why should the denomination of tn,
: present Board Of State Officers promote har
@ mony2 because every faction Of the Demo
10 cratic party is represented in that Board Ii
= 1876 Mr.. Tden = friends controlled the Con
10 vention. and they nominated Robinson an,
i Dorshemer. They are perfectly satis0" will
y Gov. Robinson, and he is their first che acc 70
reelection. But some Of them have quarrele,
with Mr.. Dorsheimer. and il they could hay
n their way would defeat him. But he mean
- time, has strengthened himself with some win
q were his opponents three years ago. and hi
, denomination would be received with poculia
4 satisfaction 10y those who are not extremists
n but who favor moderate middle course. MI
- Beach, tho Secretary OF state. represents whu
Is called the " old SETTLE men whose politca
influence and power date back beyond 1874
His nomination in 1877 was hailed rs a triumpl
n OF tho anti-Tilden faction. His denomination
. on the same ticket with Gov Robinson woul
n indicate that tho split in tho party was healed
= MIR. Olcott has made such n good record a
, Comptroller that his denomination IL ponarull