New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-20
National success Their Northern brethren can
stand it. Can theyf
TIE SYRAOuSE CONTENTION.

THE SYRACUSE CONTENTION.
Mr.. Tilden assemblies in Convention az oyNa-
cuse to-day to triumph over his personal Toes
He assemblies by proxy, it is true, but the Con
vention has been so carefully packed by DIS
agents, and the preparations for disputing ana
counting out any hostile delegation that 1t may
be needful to exclude have been 30 Thoroughly
made. that the Convention will probably be
ready to do whatever Mr.. Tilden in person
would do. Then WHAT Having a subserVlent
Convention, what will he do with It'll
II has been reported many times that MI.
Tilden was about to decline denomination
If he could see anything to gain by this STEP
perhaps he might have taken it long ago.
The Wizard of Cipher Alley undoubtedly
knows that his chances of securing nomna-
ton have not been improved within the past
two months. Yet they are not to be despiseo'
1t is quite within his power to make the Demo-
cratic party understand that 1t must take him
as its candidate, or prepare for sure defeat.
His power in Ncw-York may be differently
estimated by friends and foes elsewhere, but
neither friend nor foe will seriously deny mat
Mr., Tilden can make the choice of Democratic
electors in New-York absolutely impossible, IL
he chooses. Whether he 'chooses-that is the
only question. And there are in the Democratic
fold very few political lambs so innocent that
they suppose that Mr.. Tilden will be governed
in his decision by any motive moro patrlouo
than self-interest. he means to triumph over
his enemies, this battered and desperate free
bOoter of politics; Of that there can be little
doubt. Whether he will elect to triumph by
his own nomination, or by the nomination OF
his incfrTmnnf. Will
depend less upon all other Democrats in the
State than upon himself.
Mr.. Tilden is not obliged to make it known
to-day whether he means to seek nomination
or not. He has held his peace already great
deal too long for his party's good. He can hold
it longer, and serve any personal aims be may
have in view. II he means to fight to the
death for nomination, and failing, to destroy
the party for its disregard Of his claims as the
person who, it publicly insists, was really
eseosSd in 1875, he can we'll afford to keep
silence as to his purpose until the party has
finally rejected him. Or if he wishes to name q
candidate who, if chosen President will serve
himself and his friends, and punish his enemies,
his only safe way is to cause the selection OF
delegation composed of his friends and agents
without betraying to them his intention 10
withdraw from the contest. AS soon as 1t Is
known that he means to abdiCate, fOur-ffths
of his present friends will be rushing over tho
country in search of new leader and patron,
for not many of them have any other tic to
him except the cohesive power of the public
Gplunder.n
After the Convention has demonstrated MIR.
Tilden's right to rule and represent his party
in this State, and has chosen delegates known
to be subseryient to his wishes. 1t may seem
GOOD to him to declare that he will not seek
nomination. 1t Is probable that he would take
this step if it we're clear to him that ex-Presi
dent Grant would not be nominated by the Re-
publicans. Mr.. Tildcn is not wholly lacking in
political shrewdness. Therefore he probably
knows that he has much better chance to de-
feat the ex-President than any other Republi-
can candidate, and he may have waited thus
far in the expectation that the nomination of
the third term candidate would either be rem
dered certain or impossible, before the Demo
cratic Convention in this State should convene.
If he judges that there is no chance OF the
success Of the third-term faction, Mr. Tilden
may conclude that he has no chance OF election,
even if he Is nominated, and will act in that
belief. The Republican Convention will have
before it the names of several candidates, OF
whom nearly all could be elected i'll almost any
contingency against Mr.. 1ilden. But there is
one candidate, and only one, whose nomination
would render it probable, in the estimation of
shrewd Democratic leaders, that Mr.. Tilden
could be elected, and 1t has been no secret for
months past that the agents Of Cipher Alloy
were doing everything In their power to pro-
mote the nomination of that candidate by the
Republicans.
He will not be cast off easily, this Old Man Of
the Sea, who has fastened himself upon the
Democratic party. The clatter Of his adVer-
saries has not arrested his still-hunt for votes,
nor will their unhappiness impress the party as
much as the emphatic declaration that the
State of New-York cannot be carried for any
Democratic candidate not pleasing to him.
But when the Convention has ended, and the
smoke Of the battle has rolled away, it may
perhaps DO seen that Samuel j. 1iden is willing
to permit Democratic victory, provided he
can name as is candidate man who will re-
ward the friends and tomahawk the foes Of
Cipher Alley.