The Portland daily press., 1880-04-27
Our New York Letter.
The New York Democratic Convention
The Republican Canvass-The Madison
Square Accident-The West Point In
quiry-The Adams Family.

NEW YORK Apr. "a, $780,
The action of the Democratic convention of
this State renders the nomination of Tilden
more improbable than it was before, II there
could be such a thing. The antsgonizing fac
tions maintain their attitude of impacable
hostility. The Tammany men have been mer-
cilessly fouted and they are thirsting for re-
venge. Mr.. Kelly gives notice that Mr.. Til
den cannot receive the votes of his followers,
and under such circumstances that gentle
man will not find the nomination worth taking
and il it were, he couldn't get it. The sup
porters of Tilden controlled the organization
and could direct the proceedings of the con-
vention as they wished to without let or
hindrance from any quarter. The fact that
they saw fit to snub and defy Mr.. Kelly is
pretty conclusive proof that they have aban-
doned all hope Of effecting reconciliation and
that nothing remains for them but to avenge
their wrongs by treating the authors of them
with contumely. Mr.. Tilden will exercise
potential sway in the Cincinnati convocation
but it is reasonably safe TO predict that he will
not be the standard bearer The Democrats
are not giving away the whole thing at the
outset. However desperate their chances may
be, they will make determined struggle to
secure executive power. The stake is too
mighty to admit of a surrender in advance.
The odds against them are heavy. They are
destitute of popular rallying cry as they are
of an available candidate, but they
will make a stand, and fight till the sun goes
down on the I'd of November. In their dilem-
fhax,x lDntx tba L..
can be found in their ranks. II they have no
body who can evoke enthusiasm, they will at
least make search for some one who will not
be the object OF animosities. The one mistake
they will avoid is the selection Of a nominee
who resides in the one Northern State they
must carry to succeed, who cannot command
the votes of seven-eighths OF his own party
and not single one from any citizen! of aver
age intelligence who is on the other side or In
the dismal swamp Of torpid neutrality.
The Republicans are having a brisk canvass
for the choice of leader, and there are some
things said and done in the heat of it that are
in bad taste and provocative of dissatisfaction.
But the prospects are that as soon as the ticket
is announced there will be a complete closing
Of the ranks and harmonious preparations for
vigorous campaign. The Republicans are
so opulent in good candidates that they cannot
well commit serious error. And when the
names are agreed upon there will be an early
opening of fire all along the line. II
will be shown that the material welfare Of the
country will be imperilled by the advent of o
Democratic Executive; that the Treasury will
be depleted and the National debt immensely
increased by the payment of spurious claims
against the government; that the crime of
trampling on the rights of citizens in quarter
of the States is not only to go unpunished but
virtually legalized and that the currency is in
danger of being tampered with and diverted
from that plane of soundness to which it has
been brought by the vetoes by Republican
Presidents of the measures passed by Demo-
cratic CONGRESSES. The business men of the
Republic will take ALARM the forces of indus
try will combine to save the nation from fall
ing entirely under Democratic rule; there will
be great uprising Of the people to protect the
State; the Congressional Record furnishes evil
dence enough to condemn the legislation of
the Democracy, and there will be no doubt of
the completeness of the arraignment or the
emphasis of the conviction.
The accident that occurred at the Madi-
son Square Garden on the evening of
the 21st was deplorable, and reveals
dreadfully slipshod management Of
the establishment, duplicating owners,
managers, and the Department of Public
Buildings. There ought to be a searching in
vestigation to discover where the responsibility
especially belongs. 1t is wonderful under the
circumstances that only four lives were lost
This unsightly structure has long been an eye
sore to the respectable people of New York a
well internally as externally. 1t has been q
scene for those demoralizing walking matches
which kept gaping mob Of lazy creatures idle
for six consecutive working days. and for .
good many other exhibitions that could have
been dispensed with without any detriment 70
the we'll being of the city. 1t will be some
compensation for the calamity that has hap
are removed, and the ground utilized for some
desirable purpose.
The West Point inquiry develops q worse
state Of affairs at the Military Academy than
could have been conceived Of. 1t seems that
the bad behaviour of the cadets meets the en-
tire approval Of the Professors. These charity
scholars, sent there to receive their education
at the expense Of the taxpayers, are encour-
aged to practice incivilities and even brutali-
ties toward mrade that would disgrace
Ute Indian. The public feeling of condemnation
OF this nursery of snobbery is getting intense
and unless the whole concern is renovated and
purified, there will be growing sentiment in
favor Of extinguishing it.
A member Of the complacent and self-admir.
ing Adams family came on from Massachusetts,
the other day to instruct tho unanointed and
benighted New Workers how to perform their
political duties. His plan is simple enough. 1t
merely consists Of dslegating the political DOW
er to ten chosen vessels out OF every hundred
citizens; leaving the others merely to follow
with submissive docility. He does not limit
his project to the demand that minorities shall
govern; it is essential to the effective operation
OF his theory that the minorities should be
small. Ten per cent. is the maximum number
proposed. 1t might be better to leave the
whole affair to the Adamses, but as long as
they are the chief priests Of this novel political
temple 1t will be safe to let in few other indi
viduals Of Superior "culchaw."
1t really doesn't seem that it can require any
very prolonged or exhaustive ventilation of
grotesque crotchets like these to convince ey-
cry rational mind in the couAtry that thew ara
absurdly impracticable in the rrst place. and
that if they were not, they have r.e fatal de.
feet of striking deadly blow at the >srv svs-
tenn OF representative government. When wa
forsake the principle that maiorities must rule
we abandon utterly the theory on which he
Republic was founded. The one thing whic,
the Chicago Convention ought to do is to pre-
sent candidate who is entirely free from any
fellowship with or suspicion OF liberation of
the gray-haired political infants who are put
ting themselves up to be bid for by the parties
who are presently to enter upon grand and
imposing contest for the highest office of the
State YARMOUTH.
The New Gambling.
Worcester Spy.l
Gambling is the favorite vice of the time.
not that form of gambling which is done with
cards or dice, at faro tables, or in gambling
hells That is perhaps not so common as it
once was. 1t has been superseded to some ex-
tent by another phase enuallv exc;t;no aoa