The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-01-24
The Prudential Question. .-

editorial on the subject Of the situation Of
parties in that State, and says
The pivot Of the present discussion, like
the pivot Of the next Presidential election, is
the State Of New York. !, is conceded by
Intelligent politicians on both sides ahat
neither party has any reasonable chance Of
success without the electoral votes Of this
State. The Democrats count upon the solid
South, but they need, in addition, forty.seyen
electoral votes in the North, which il Is i'm
possible for thew to secure without the
thirty five Of New York. The adjacent States
of Connecticut and New Jersey-also doubt.
full Stales-are pretty cure to 90 as New York
goes, having the same material interests,
sharing the same political sentiments, and
influenced BY theft proximity TO about the
same degree By the press OF New York city.
Whichever party loses New York will lose all;
the party which carries New York will eiact
the next President. Taking this admitted
postalate as the basis OF our reasoning we
stand on pretty safe ground ia drawing infer.
enees as to the chances Of particular presi
dentiAl candidates. 1ss Ea..
The republicans, indeed, put on airs Of
assurance and profess great confidence in
their ability to carry the State, But they
belle these professions and betray their mis-.
givings by opening and keeping open the
question whetherthey will not change the long
established method Of choosing Presidential
electors. They are still undetermined as to
whether they will play grab game for the
Presidency. They have the power, Ii they
are desperate enough to exercise Il, to an
point the thirty Eve Presidential electors 10
which the State is entitled by the Legislature.
II this would be too audacious shock TO
public sentiment they have also the power to
pass law reqniring the electors to be chosen
by districts, allowing each Congressional dis
trlci to choose one eleetor. This would give
as mary republican electors as there are re.
publican districts, which as the districts are
now represented in Congress, would give
twenty .four of them TO the republicans aad
nine TO the democrats This would answer
the purpose of thsrepublcans almost equally
as we'll, and would avoid the odinm of abso.
lutely taking away the choice of electors from
| the people.
Why are such schemes preached? Why
has one OF them been permitted to be offered
in the Legislature Why, having been pro.
| posed, is 1t not Immediately stamped out by
the decisive condemnation of all the accredi.
| ted party leaders2 But one reason can be
| given only one reason is supposable The
republicans are in doubts as To their prospects
in the State, and prefer to hold this tricky
game IN reserve, retaining their liberty TO play
il, il, before the end Of the session, they think
1t necessary. Mr.. Potter's bill is respectfully
referred TO a committee, like wine stored
away TO ripen and mellow il a cellar, to be
used on some future occasion. Our Albany
correspondent has, within the last day or two,
interviewed the republican members Of the
Legislature on the Potter bill, and majority
| Of them are cautiously nome mmiltal The
idea which nnderies their retceucs is that
they will oppose she bill lf, near the close of
the session, they should regard the State as
safe, but insist N passing it il they cannot
rely on the popular vote.
There can be but one motive for changing
the present method of choosing Presidential
electors. So dangerous and desperate au ex.
pedieut would not be hazarded, except to
forestall the action Of the people Of the State
at large in the choice of Presidential electors.
1t is all in vain for the New York republicans
to profess confidence in their ability to carry
the State so long as they carefully reserve
their liberty to change the method OF choosing
Presidential electors in the latter part Of the
session. The public, which cannot easily be
| hoodwinked by boastful false pretenses will
regardt the republican chances in this State
as doubtful in the estimation of the republi.
cans themselves, SO long as they fondle and
keep alive a project for depriying the people
Of the State Of their right to determine how
| its electoral votes shall he cas-,
We are therefore warranted in assuming
that New York. which by universal concessios
is the pivotal State. The deciding State' is and
| for the present remains a doubtful State. Ia
| would be better for he republicans To carry
il in the ordinary manner than 10 have recourse
to desperate grab game, especially asthe cleo.
toral yotes will be Counted Inv a Congress of
which the democrats have majority in both
houses.
New York ia n doubtful State. Wbetbey
the republicans can carry il with any eandi.
date, even the strongest tbey could nominate.
depeuds on the wisdom, or folIy Of tbe dem
oerats in selecting their standard bearer
AGAINST Mr. Tilden almost any nonular re-.
publican candidate would have reassnabie
hopes. But suppose the democratic candidate
sbonld be Horatio Sevmour9 va a. no, in
the least doubt tho sincerity Of Mr.. Seymour
reluctance; but there is a growing conviction
in the democratic marty that he onght 10 be- its
candidate.
So strong a pressure NAV be brought To hear
upon him that he will be induced 70 Weld
He is the most popular and respected in the
State of New York, the most popular and re.
spected democrat IN the United States. fine
could be prevailed on 10 he the candidate the
whole face Of the situation would be changed.
He wopld ,anni,s Inc dan,ocra,ic rar,y ~ ,ha