The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-05
THE DEMOCRATIC OUTLOOK.
tn. Faction FIsh,. OF the Party.

talns so many cl1ucs and factions. all fully
officered, that the mere task OF classifying them
is somewhat difficult.
Ten years ago there wero three main dvi-
sons 20 tho Democratic army in the State. The
fret centred in New York city. and was led by
John T. Hoffman. who had just boon chosen
Governor. Among tho rural Democrats whose
counsel Gov. Hoffman sought. and with whom
he appeared to be in close sympathy were
Lucius Robinson. who was then living in re-
tlrement In Emira and Martin Grover. who al
ways announced himself from Angelica Ale
ghany County" Judge Grover is dead. and
the greatness OF the loss which the party sus-
tanned in his death is known to comparatively
few
The second division had It's headquarters in
Utica. and proclaimed Horato Seymour its
leader. But no pent-up Utica could conlno
Gov. Seymour's powers. In the previous cleo
ton he had been defeated for the Presidency.
but tho defeat had enhanced rather than dimin-
ished his popularity. Among those who re-
fcctcd Gov Seymour's opinions and shared his
confidence wero Francis Herman. Samuel J.
Tildcn. George +. Comstock. and Amasa J.
Parker.
The third division cnmped in Rochester and
Sanford T.. Church was its hero and master. At
the National Convention Of 1868 he had received
on many ballots the vote OF New York for tho
Presidential nomination. His friends thought
during that four days struggle that no would
be the eventual choice Of tho party. They gave
him n reception Mt the Manhattan Club on the
evening Of the 18th Of July (Soymour was nom
mated on the 9th. and the congratulations
could not have been heartier II no had actually
been on his way to the White House. Between
Seymour and Church thore wis supposed to be
foud OF long standing. Seymour had boon
H..
was elected Lieutenant Governor on the same
ticket. Church believed that Seymour thought
that there had been treachery in the party. But
Seymour did not think anything Of the sort.
The friends OF Judge Church we're therefore
surprised when Gov. Seymour readily con-
scented to cast tho vote Of New York for tho Or
leans statesman; but when Seymour himself
was nominated their former fears and sus-
pcions returned TO plague them. Among
Churchs warmest friends were William +. Al
len (who was also Gov Hoffmans friendl. Jo-
scph Warren Of the Buffalo Courier. and Will
liam Purcell OF the Rochester Union.
The changes which ton years have wrought
are surprising. Hoffman is in retirement. and
Lucius Robinson. appearing not as his friend.
but IA the friend OF his enemies. is Governor
OF the State. Horatlo Seymours name is still
used to conjure with but he persistently re-
fuses all Offices and between him and his
former ally. Mr. Tilden. there Is. to say the
least. a perceptible GOODNESS. Judge Church
finds himself counted out OF the field OF polit-
ical activity. less. perhaps. by tho restrictions OF
his high judicial office than by events which he
Is unable TO control. lie has not abandoned his
ambition TO be President and he might accept
the Senatorship--ii there were any senatorship
for Democrat to accept.
In general way tho Democracy OF the State
may DO classified at tho present time into the
Tiden and ant-Tilden factions. But these
factions must DO carefully subdiyided before an
understanding OF tho situation can be arrived
at. Assuming that Judge Church stands at the
head OF the anti Tiden party. 1t is essential.
first Of all. to examine his relations with Mr..
! Tiden.
Both Tilden and Church were Free Sellers IN
| 184s. and on questions OF public policy they did
not widely differ before or during tho war In
| 1867 Mr.. Tilden became very active in politics.
Hc organized tho State Committee into posi-
| tive force no put himself In correspondence
| with 20 900 rural Democrats, and TO tho surprise
| OF many no made it possible for the party to
carry tho State that year by nearly $4,000 ma
! jority The politicians were delighted. and
readily conceded that Mr.. Tilden was fine
organizer. But only "A few among them dcemod
1t possible that Tilden himself might come up
| III lnc lukuTc hh a eiuuluho LOT Olnte. Ont OF
the iow was Judge Church. He foresaw pos
! sbe rival In tho restless New Yorker whose
autographed letters were in everybody's hands.
The Judge had come slowly up to a position OF
prominence through the regular order OF pro-
| motion. He had boon District Attorney Of his
county. Lieutenant Governor and Comptroller
| OF the state. and had waited patiently for fur
| thor distinction. He was not willing. however
TO yield his chances TO n new rival in the person
| OF Tilden. and he watched him suspiciousy
from the first. lilo was even ready 10 believe
that It was Tilden who brought about Seymour's
nomination in 1865.
1t is no secret that Sanford l.. Church did not
want to DO Chief Judge OF the Court OF Appeals
in 1870. He had never had any Judicial ex-
perience. and tho lines OF his ambition ran in
other directions lie accepted tho Office under
n mild protest partly to prevent 1t from falling
into the hands OF George +. Comstock whom
| he did not like. His friends urged him 10 run.
and assured him that it would not interfere with
| his election to the Governorshp. They did not
mean that il should. but it did In 1872. when
the bref-lived glory OF the Liberal Democratic
Alliance was nj its height. tho Democratic Con-
vcntion assembled ut Syracuse to nominate a
| Governor. At the last moment il was announced
that Judge Church had consented 10 accept n
nomination, IL 1t wero unanimously conferred
but Mr. Tilden was on hand actively opposing
tho scheme. and earnestly urging Francis Krr-
nan for the place. There was no choice loft but
for Judge Church to withdraw his name and
acquiesce in the nomination OF Mr.. Herman
! But he did not forget Tilden.
In 1874 Judge Church would certainly have
boon nominated for Governor IL Mr.. Tldcn had
not been n candidate. A week or two before the
Convention it seemed "a II almost all the politi-
cal leaders in tho State were in Church's favor.
They held n council in Albany. at the Delavan
House The editors OF the Democratic papers
in Buffalo. Rochester. Syracuse and most Of
tho other cities Except Utical were here. The
Argus was committed to Church. while judge
| Parker. Mr.. Corning. and all the local leaders
advocated his nomination. Mr.. Tilden was
sent for. and consented to be present at the con-
ference. 1t was held In Tweed's old rooms
ample parlors redolent OF unsavory memories.
1t lasted from eight o'clock til midnight. and
during all those four hours every imaginable
effort was made to induce Tilden to withdraw.
But he resisted the appeals with quiet OBJ
stnRcy. When tho Convention met Judge
Church was out OF tho field. Mr.. Tilden was
nominated by two-thrds Of the delegates while