The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1879-09-14

elected tO follow him into temporary exile,
namely, that this split in the Democracy in
the face of a scrvilely united Radicaism il
persisted in, means probable defeat for both
wings now and a staggering setback in the
Presidential contest shortly to come Events
are likely TO follow each other SO fast that
they may have taken a more favorable on a |
widely different turn while these words are |
written. But il the best we can hope for
comes about, and a new. .canhiatVis snbsti
tutcd for Robinson, ON whom tls party will
reunitr, certainly a startling peril will have
been run, and that is sufficient text for the
moral we would insist upon.
1t seems to ms clearly iemons,rable that
the blame of this break up rests upon Samuel
j. Tlden, who has steadily forced on the
crisis hy all the means in his power, in the
face of all argument. rcmonstrance, and
warning. At the same time we do not de
feud the scccders from the regular and I'M
doubted Convention OF the Democracy. Party
discipline is hard enough 10 maintain at the
best ot times, without jnstifyng or condoning
mutiny IA Il feature ot regular tactics. II is
easy To join in the vulgar and bitterly UNI
Just denunciation of Tammany and its al
legged heelcrs " which prevails during the
anti-ccciion manwuvring for place and
leadership, hut in the thick OF The battle Tam
many's influence, Tammany's funds, and
Tanmanys fighting power are highly well
come and in demand to meet the forces of the
Federal Office holders III New York city,
where they are more numerous and atlluent
than anywhere else in the Union. Tam
many has gone on waging the contest for the
Democracy in election after election, while
its services have been repaid with ingrati-
tudc, its suggestions scorncd, and its candi-
dates rejected. At st. Louis its strong anti
Tillcn delegation was treated almost with
| open contumely, yet any one can see now
how much better it would have been to ac-
ccpt its presentation of some one of a
dozen stronger candidates who would
now be in the White House. Latterly in
New York, as the time for rcnominating the
mi-Republican Tilden Democrat, Governor
lucus Robinson drew nigh, according to the
cutand- dried Gramercy Park programme,
both the covert and open attacks on the New
York city Democratic organization grew go
notorious, so shameless, so violent and gall
ing that the natural feelings of men of spirit
might have been pleaded as sufficient cause
for opposing the instrument of them at AL
bany, and almost rs an excuse for the subse-
quent action at Shakespeare Hall, (Which, we
think, Mr.. Kelly himself may regret when
his iirst resentment cools S-evep were there
not graver reasons alleged against Robinson 5
denomination, i'll the shape of afiiliation with
the enemies of his party and insnbordina-
tion to the popular will. The attacks spoken
of were plainly intended for no good pur-
pose, but to weaken, disintegrate and ut
terly break down Tammany's strength be.
fore the day of the convention arrived, lest
it might make a successful opposition there
Surely those injured must have been some
thing less or more than men not to strike
back in some form.
However we may deplore a bolt, we mus
still adhere TO correct judgments of the right
and wrong of the question involved. II,
reach out and control the back deestricts, >
where a Democratic majority is never looked
for in the widest calculation, and to roll IL
on these and over ridethe wishes of the mel
who have the majorities to make, and wht
are relied upon to elect the candidate at last
might he called almost peculiarly TildeI
strategy. The process is reversed in nation
al politics, but the principle is the same
delegates are then secured from southern an,
l other solid districts, where the result is 81
g sure that the people and politicians are com
l paratively careless who is put up. The re
e suit in New York and similar States is that
e slate to the Majority, who then have to bea
the heat and burden Of the day, with all tn
g added weight of a candidate whom they dis
Il like, have opposed, and know TO be unpOpu
I lar among their people. Protests hav
hitherto been met with opprobrium and de
y rision, AS long as the ''old man. continues
n to get the twist on the boys and throw ther
= his stolid partsans from the cheese pre-
ducing regions. What the result will be no,
that the "sacred right Of revolution ha
- been invoked with such suicidal boldness
' and regular political har-kari committed
- remains TO be seen. Certainly Tilden an
. his adherents are not entitled to any syn
" pathy as innocent victims when they hay
~ themselves shown such unscrupulousness i
;, more than coquetting with the enemy, an
, splitting the party in New York city to ee'
Cooper, as against the regular Democrac,
just as they had previously done in the cas-,
of Hacllett and Morrissey. Yet many thin
, Tamnany would have occupied better att
tude presenting the name of some real
- strong candidate as their ultimatum tina
going in under that always unluclty cry
American politics, "Anything to beat " Ro
inson; and that, though they had II iu
cause Of resentment to start with, they pit
rs themselves in the wrong afterwards by =
is fusing to submit to the arbtrament of han
n and squarely- y-fought battle within the co
al yention itself.
n We are not without hope, from the late
al limitations received, that Robinson al
ne Kelly may mutually withdraw, and a ne
es candidate be- chosen, such, Tor instance,
,d Nh Clalksou N, Potter, who has alreaC
in been nominated for Lieutenant Governor
ID the triumphant faction, and Will he acceI
N able to Tammany. Worse slips than Il
of present one have been retrieved in Ne
" York politics, as, for instance, when a p
ne remptorily declining candidate was non
il mated under a misapprehension and the co
ne vention had to be recalled, yet the yioto
re VT, attained after all. So may it prove
to ttli. present instance, for the PRESIDENT
~ election of 1850 seems to be trembling in t
40 balance, and all lesser considerations shou
lis give way.
n; If, on the contrary, defeat is the result,
ng possibility which might as well be faced al
sh considered, Mr. Robinson and his we
Sc understood hackers will be held fully as !
Id sponsible ON all sides as Mr.. Kelly. !
ch them not deceive themselves, rs Abram
,ir Hewitt, who probably represents the CooI
wing Of the nondescript party, seems to {