The New York herald., 1879-08-01
MIR. Keiiy's "Case."

the Iiii cuupaiBu suoulu DC maue 10 turh
on State issues alone, and invites those
democrats who are opposed to his renomi-
nation to stay out of the Convention and
then bolt the ticket if they want
to. This might be called cheap
and easy way to secure the defeat
of his party this fall; and, in fact, the Gov
ernor had not word to say about ways and
means to make it successful. We repeat
what we said yesterday. that his plan goes
very well with Mr.. Tilden's plan, as he de-
ve;cped it some months ago to Southern
senator: That the democrats would lose
the State this fall, but that it would not
matter because he would carry it next year.
1t means, as lar as we can under
stand it, that the democratic party
shall succeed if it will agree to carry Mr..
Tilden on its back, but that if it should
dare to decline the burden of this sold man
! of the sea" he means that it shall drown.
| 1t is quite natural that the concocters
of such scheme should denounce every
democrat who opposes it as factionist. 1t
is an old trick we'll known to the police,
who usually arrest the fellow who cries
find the stolen property on him.
Mr.. Kelly has, none too soon for the good
of his party, exposed this device for it's de-
feat and is now vigorously opposing
it as the HERALD urged him to. In
his conversation with y HERALD re-
porter. which We printed yesterday, and
in an article in the Evening Express
which was evidently inspired by him,
he states his "case" and presents his
views and the reasons for them with great
vigor, frankness and fulness. Even Gov
ernor Robinson must feel the force Of the
powerful indictment which Mr.. Kelly has
drawn against him-a statement which
bristles with facts and which shows
that Mr.. Kelly is not opposing the
Governor on slight or merely personal
grounds. Indeed his "Plain Words" in
the Ecening Express cannot but have a
double effect upon the democrats of the
State; they will make even those who had
determined to support Governor Robinson
hesitate, and will show them that Mr.. Kelly
is something more than o mere local poll
tician, and that he shows signs of being a
statesman.
1t is certainly to Mr. Kellys credit that
he has not concealed the OPPOSITION of the
city democrats to Governor Robinson. He
acts openly and above board. His course is
that of plain, blunt man, honest and frank,
who only asks for what is right, but will
take no less; who will not stoop to
trickery or to secret intrigues, but
gives fair warming, and, what is more,
gives to his fellow democrats all over the
State the reasons why he and those who
act with him will not support Governor
Robinson. We quote here the last para
graph of his ''Plain Words" because these
words deserve the consideration of all DEM
ocrats in the State who desire their party's
success this fall 1--WE repeat, the DEM
ocrats Of the city of New York
cannot and will not vote for Lucius
Robinson. And we leave it to the good
sense, the sober second thought of the de-
mocracy Of the State to decide if we are not
justified in our position. We make no
threats. We insist on no ticket OF our own.
We have no disposition to coerce anybody;
but we will not be coerced." These are
forcible, honest and sensible words, and
those democrats who disregard them will
have themselves to blame if the State is car
ried by the republicans; and thus gain the
important vantage ground Of such success
tor next year.
We need not repent here Mr. Kelly's pow
erful indictment of Governor Robinson.
Leaving this aside, it is clear on the
Governors own statement, that for him to
seek for and insist on a denomination, as he
does, is an act Of bad faith toward his
party. He, and he alone of all the possible
candidates, stands in the way of his party's
success this fall. On any other man his
party can unite, unless, indeed, he and
Mr.. Tilden should have predetermined that
no other man shall have their support.
Mr.. Kelly clearly and constantly says that
the city democrats have no favorite of
their own. They insist on no cam
didate. They only object to Gov
ernor Robinson, and they give notice
frankly beforehand of their objection.
We might leave aside entirely the forcible
and effective statement of their reasons for
this objection. and still those democrats
who really desire their rartys success this
fall and next year would be constrained to
confess that to renominate Governor Robin
son under the circumstances would be not
merely imprudent, but suicidal, and con-
trary to the universal and common sense
usage of parties.
If the city democrats--w without whom
their party cannot hope to carry the State
if these should have absolutely refused to
give any reasons for their dislike of Cover
nor Robinson, or il their reasons, being
given, we're weak or worthless, which they
certainly are not, even in that case it would
be the part of wisdom for the Democratic
Convention to lay Governor Robnson's
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