New-York tribune., 1880-06-23
MR. Ty1DEN md THE CONVENTION

MR. TTLDEN AND THE CONVENTION.
Mr.. Tilden's attorney acts as temporary
chairman of the Cincinnati Convention. Since
his performance before the Electoral COmmIs-
sion no one will dispute Judge lIoadley's de-
yotion to the cause of Mr. Tilden. Another
friend of "The Martyr" will be permanent
president of the Convention. A dark horse !"
does not often get an opportunity to organize
Convention entirely III his own interest (;
but then coy maidens do not often whisper
al will meier consent" in order to get asked
The fact is widely recognized that Mr.. Tilden
has made himself stronger candidate by de-
clining than he could have been if his friends
had openly solicited the nomination. He will
have with him enough of the sympathy of the
Convention to shut out the Tammany deicga
tion, and, what is more, to destroy its influ-
eucc with the Convention. He probably con-
trolls fully third of the Delegates so that
by judiciOus direction of his forces, the
nomination of any other candidate can be pre-
vented under the twO-thirds rule, at least
until it becomes certain that he cannot succeed.
II other candidates wear out their strength in
fruitless struggles, many friends of each will
be more ready to go to Mr.. Tilden than TO any
l1val.
In such O Convention, the chances are against
any candidate. But the odds against MIR. Til
den are undoubtedly smaller to-day than
against any other. If preliminary estimates
are not greatly in error, there will be strong
votes at the outset for Bayard, Payne, Field
and Hancock, with scattering votes for other
candidates who look to be taken up later in
the contest. But it is generally admitted that
it would be folly TO take up any candidate
who cannot hope to carry New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut. The sOft-mOney vote
in Connecticut and Ncw-YOrk already die
tates the defeat of Mr. Bayard, and Mr.. Til
denis friends will doubtless be careful TO dis
nose of Bayard, Field and Hancock, as well as
Hendricks and Thurman, by the assurance
that neither of them can carry this State.
Certainly, neither of them could, without the
active influence of Mr.. Tidcn. There are
other objections TO each. Neither, except Mr..
Hendricks, will have the united vote Of his
own State. The nomination of Mr.. Hendricks
would be an affront to Mr.. Tilden and to the
hard-mOney element at the East.
What is an unhappy Convention to do in
such a case The dark horses will be brought
TO the 'front.' OF the dark hOrs's, Mr.. Tildcn
is the chief but may be the darkest. Posi-
bly the effort to nominate him may bo kept
hyck until cand dates OF the second as well
rs candidates of the first grade have been
shclvcd by failure. 1t may seem good to wait
until Mr.. Randall, Senator Mcdonald and ex-
Governor English have tried their strength
But the same test will be applied" can he
"carry New-Yorll. New-JerseY and COnnccti-
"cut 81 If Democrats of those States think
not, what reason is there to expect success
Mr. Mcdonald could hardly promise Indiana,
but would certainly be weak at the East. Mr.
Randall has long Congressional record to
reconcile with the necessities of the canvass.
Possibly Mr.. English might be effectively
pushed-the moro easily because he has no
recent record and is not a man of Presidential
stature-if the friends of Mr.. Tiden really
wanted to have anybody nominated besides
Mr. Tilden, but Mr., Barnum is leader in
the Connecticut delegation, and he has for
MIR. Tilden that burning zeal which is natural in
an accomplished mule-buyer. Until Mr. Tiden
is out of the way in reality, the friends of Mr.
English may think it not judiciOus to try his
strength. For he is the sort Of man who
would naturally be deemed available only as
compromise, when everything else had
failed.
There is a possibility, then, that the Con-
vention will wear out its leading candidates,
and even some of its dark horses, before u