The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-03
The Political Situation-The Ciaptrap
and Humbus CT the Canvass.

have conspired to give it special zest. 1t Is
contended that the result will determine
the fortunes of Mr. Tilden as a democratic
candidate for the Presidency The repub-
licans feel the influence of the abnormal
and ovcrshadowng personality OF Grant,
and those who are the officious and ostenta-
tious friends Of the General argue that the
vote of New York will more or less deter
mine the possibility of his being republic
can candidate for the Presidency. 10
this we must add the eccentric course
! Of Mr.. Kelly, whose ambition has
| driven him into an attitude of rebellion--we
NAV almost say of revolution-against the
democracy. The consequence is that what
has been one of the btterest canvasses ever
known in New York will result in the cast
ing of as large vote as we are accustomed
to see in a Presidential year.
1T the same time it seems to us that there
is good deal of humbug in these consid-
erations. We cannot see how the failure or
success of Mr.. Robinson will affect Mr..
Tilden. Mr. Robinson's canvass rests upon
one question-Has he been a faithful Gov
ernor. and would the interests Of the
State be safe in his keeping for
another term? II Mr.. Robinson should
be defeated Mr.. Tilden's opponents will
say that his nomination is not neces-
sary to carry the State for the democracy
that any other candidate can do as well.
If Mr.. Robinson is beaten it will be said
that the revolution against Mr. Tilden is SO
widespread that he has lost his hold upon
the State, and that to nominate man who
is sure to be opposed by a powerful sec
ton of his own party will throw away
the State Mr.. Tilden has steadily dropped
since the last election. The fercest light
of criticism has beaten upon his character
and developed traits that the American
people are the last to appreciate. Fond of
finesse, mere party manager, skilled in
the dark and devious ways of political
control, anxious to make canvass upon
grievance and a disappointment,
appealing for support to the fact
that his friends lacked the courage to
Mexicanize the country at the time of the
Electoral Commission, complicated in the
intrigues that attended the close OF the last
Presidential campaign Mr.. Tilden, with
all of his ability and unquestioned services
to the cause of reform at the time of the
Tweed developments, should not be con-
sidered as serious candidate. To blend
his fortunes with those Of Governor Robin
son is to give him an Importance which does
not belong to him; and the introduction OF
Mr. Tllden's name into the democratic can
vass is part of the humbug and claptrap
of politics.
The canvass for Mr.. Cornell is largely
affected by what is known as sthe Grant
movement" This is a peculiar phenome-
non. The towering personality and illus
trious name Of Grant---even the honors re-
ceived by him in his visit to foreign lands
are made use of by coterie of desperate
| political managers for no other purpose
than to revive their fallen fortunes. 1t is
said that if Mr.. Cornell carries the State
it will be because he is the special repre-.
sentative of General Grant, the personal
candidate of Mr. Conklug. This does Mr..
Cornell injustice, and is one Of the hum
bugs of the canvass. Mr.. Cornell stands
upon his own merits. Republicans should
ask, Is he the truest exponent of their prin-
| ciples? Would his election be the best for
| their party, best for the State !? So far as
''the Grant movement" is concerned the
| election of Mr.. Cornell would not affect it,
If Mr. Cornell is defeated it will be said
that New York is irrevocably democratic,
and could not be conjured back to repub-
licanism even by the name of military
hero. If Mr.. Cornell is elected it will be
said that the republican party does not
need Grant, that New York can be carried
without him, that he has had surfeit
Of party and national honors, that advance
ment should be given to other leaders-to Mr.
Blaine, Mr. Washburne, or Mr.. Sherman
and that it would be a detriment to an
already triumphant party to bring into the
Presidential canvass the vital question Of
the third term "a question affecting the
very foundation OF our government, which
was deplored by Washington, Jefferson and
Jackson, and which would open the re-
publican party to the most effective charge
that has been made upon 1.-THE charge
that it proposes to surrender republican,
ism to Cmsarism, and for mere party gain
destroy one of the sacred traditions in our
history.
The introduction Of the names of Grant
and Tildcn into our State can vass is, we
repeat. the humbug and claptrap of poll
tics. Mr.. Kelly holds a unique position.
He is not n serious candidate tor Governor
His ampaign is one of vanity and revenge.
We have no fear as TO what the people of
the State will say on that subject when they
speak through the ballot box tomorrow. In
New York city, however, the question is more
practical. When democrats come to vote
on city nominees they must ask themselves
whether they are willing any longer to be
slaves to Tammany Hall, to secret,
despotic caba, n register of the edicts of one