The New York herald., 1879-09-12
Robinson and Potter.

after the Tammany delegation had bolted'
renominated the whole present State ad-
ministration with the exception OF Lieuten-
ant Governor Dorsheimer, for whom Mr.
Clarkson n. Potter was substituted with
his own consent. The proceedings, after
the withdrawal Of the Tammany delegation
were orderly and quiet.
Tammany bolted, sure enough; ana YET
it is undeniable that The democrats Dy
renominating Governor Robinson IN the
face of Tammany's bluster and threats'
have given their party future IN the
State.
In the first place the action at Syracuse
showed courage, and courage makes almost
any cause respectable. The democrats have
put themselves in position where they can
afford to be beaten, and that is good
deal to say for them. 1t is more, in fact,
than a great many republicans would be
willing to say OF their own party at this
moment; and it is one of those things
which, when it can justly be said Of
party, goes long way toward securing its
success Whether the action at Syracuse
shall prove to be worldly-wise remains to
be seen; but the democratic party has taken
| a long step in advance when it filings aside
the shallow worldly wisdom which has for
so many years ruled in its councils, and
which has brought it all over the country
what is far worse than defeat-namely,
| contempt.
have prevailed at Syracuse will now have
wisdom and courage to go on in the road
they have just blazed out remains of course
to be seen, and the voters will watch with
some curiosity for the indications of the
future The Robinson men have defed
Tammany; it belongs to them now
to destroy it. If instead of that they
shall be found merely striving to
gain for themselves the mastery of it; if they
should force the people to see that the
battle is only a struggle of anti-Tammany
men to oust Mr.. Kelly and put themselves
| in his place, then the voters cannot fail to
lose interest in what will in that case be
merely vulgar squabble for the control Of
an effete and disgraced political society.
But if the democratic leaders who have
beaten down Tammany's hands and defied
its threats now carry out what they
have begun if they show a determination
to destroy Tammany as political
body, then they can hardly fail to gather
to themselves not only a large and re-
spectacle, but a determined, enthusiastic
and formidable support, and they will de-
serve it.
It has been for several years one Of
Mr. Kelly's strongest defences against the
attacks of his opponents that the public
believed the Tilden-Robinson faction aimed
not at the destruction of Tammany, but
at lis control. The general suspicion that
Messrs. Cooper. Hewitt. Tilden and the
ether leaders of that side wished only to
substitute themselves in Mr.. Kelly's place,
and that their victory would produce only
change of Bosses, deprived them, justly
and inevitably, of public sympathy and
support, and belittled all their efforts. We
shall watch with interest whether they see
this and whether they take the only course
which can justify them with the voters. If
they do, then the great battle between
Tammany and the "Hayloft and Cheese
press" which has been going on for SO
many years. will end by placing the party
on O new, solid and enduring basis, on
which, whatever may be its immediate for
tunes, It may rest secure of q successful and
useful future.
The ticket is strong. Robinson and Pot
ter make what in the slang of the poll
ticians is called ''strong team" but it
settles nothing; for, to great many voters,
- Ill L II
stands behind it. If behind it stand men
of character, of statesmanlike wisdom,
courage and moderation, determined to
drag their party out of the slough in which
it has been wallowing SO many years, then
the action at Syracuse yesterday may have
national results; for if the democratic party
of New York has the courage to lead, and the
ability, knowledge and statesmanship to
lead in the right direction, it may redeem
the democratic party Of the country, and
regain for it the confidence of the thin king
public, which it has SO long been without.
If, on the contrary. this new deal" shall
prove to be only the old Tilden deal over
again; if the party is still to be the property
of one man, q Tilden party and not demo-
cratic party, in that case even the undeni-
able strength Of the ticket and the real
merits of the platform will not save it.
The action of the Syracuse Convention
makes the canvass in this State one of the
most important and interesting for many
years. 1t is not merely that the political
leaders on each side are able, determined,
astute, and that they need success, but
,vhat 10 mora imnortant to the countrv in
view Of next year, the Syracuse nomi-
nations make the issues for the fall real,
and give the voters something to think
about Election day will now determine
whether the voters of New York can be
conciliated by the offer of a sound platform
/ atroucx ficknt ON Tho daua6cxafic aido