The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-06-10
gn1tttca1.
THE PRESIDENCY,
WHO CAN CARRY THE "PlVoTAL
STATE" OF NEW York;
A Notable Interview-General Faulkner Chair
man Of the Democratic Committee,
~Speaks-Tllden's Position
and Prospects.
rCorrespondence New York Herald, May 2ith.l


-s-
Correspondence New York Herald, May 2ith,l
ALBANY, May %, 1880.
The views OF prominent political lead
ere in the "Pivotal State"-as New York
is understood to be in the coming national
canvass-must be studied with consider
able interest at the present time. The
regular Democratic organization in New
York is formally represented by the
State Committee, chosen by the SYRIA
cuse Convention last month. The chair
man of the Committee is General Lester
B. Faulkner, of Livingston. In a certain
sense this gentleman must now be look.
ed upon as the official leader and spokes-
man of this party in this State. While
furnishing the Herald during the Legis-
lative session with various letters and
interviews as to the political situation at
the State Capital, l found it impossible
to procure authoritative statements from
representatives Of Tilden or regular
Democratic" side of the controversy.
These gentlemen were always provok-
ingly retiCent. l was anxious to get at
their inside movements and policy. Gem
eral Faulkner, in his capacity of chair.
man of this important committee, with
whom | %conversed here last week, has
at last consented to break the ice and
give to the Herald an interesting review
of the political situation from his stand
point and that of a majority of his col
leagues.
"Do you think if Governor Tilden is
nominated he can carry the State of
New York;" 1 first inquired,
81 have no doubt Of it."
as not your confidence in such a re.
suit affected by the defeat of Governor
Robinson ?"
"Only in the direction Of increasing
that confidence, if you refer to the Rob.
inson campaign as a whole. There are
essential differences in the cases, which
is no disparagement to Governor Robin.
son to point out. Governor Robinson
was not nominated because of a belief
that he would be sure of election. No
great political organization deserves or
can hope to live long after it has forfeit.
ed the respect of the best classes of the
community. Governor Robinson had,
during forty years of public service, fill
ed with great honor and administrative
skill every position to which he had
been called. He was a man of such
known official ability and integrity that
the Republicans had been compelled to
nominate him formerly for Comptroller
of State, though he hau not allied him.
self to their organization. We had elect.
ed him Governor. His administration
had been pure, economical, Demo-
cratic, and, upon the whole, wise, In
new and difficult fields he had been har-
vesting for the people the reforms Gov
ernor Tilden had planted. Taxes had
been amazingly reduced, and industries
revived, the third House" had been
driven from the Legislature, bad bills
had been mercilpssIy vetoed, generosity
to individuals at the expense of the
masses had become infamous as official
crime, and republican government as adj
miniStered in our State had taken a
stronger hold upon the affections of the
people and the confidence OF our Coun'
try"
You think, then, that Governor Roo.
inson's nomination was wise as we'll as
an absolute necessity ?"
Il certainly do. 1t was believed, in
view of these facts, that the Democratic
party could better afford defeat by a cor
rupt combination in a single election, if
need be, than to confess an inferiority of
character TO that of the Executive heads
in two memorable campaigns and for a
period of five years chosen for itself and
for the people of the State. l said at the
Convention that the wisdom Of Gov.
Robinson's nomination was not to be de-
termined by one event but many. l be.
lieVe that the fruits of that sacrifice to
principle will be gathered by the Demo. !
cratic nomin for the Presidency. 1t is
with parties as with individuals, A man
may make a disreputable gain by aban. /,
donment of his principles in n trans
action, but he is ever afterward cOmpell-
ed by repeated sacrifices to pay dearly
for his temporary success In that very
campaign 10000 Republicans and INDIE
.pendents pay the tributes of their votes
to the character of our party"
"But the net result was not successful
even from your stand point" .
"The apparent certainty of defeat so
paralyzed a large portion of our people !
at the outset that the brevity of the can.
vass did not suffice to inspire them with !
a confidence which insures a jull poll of l
the vote, or to enable all the better class d
of our opponents to escape from party =
bondage under the guidance of a patri. (
otto public spirit More than 81 1000 =
failed to vote. l believe that y
if the election had been the last instead
of the 1st of November Governor Robin l
son would have been elected. As it was y
the Federal administration had to part Z
with what character remained to it after l
rewarding the thieves of 1876 and come !
into the State to a v from a crushing !
defeat the very man it had denounced =
and removed from an inferior place." L
an what you say you seem to make y
no direct reference to the attitude aud \
performance of Tammsny Hall2" u
VI am coming to that. One cause of =
weakness of the Democracy of this State =
has long been its alleged subserviency to ?
that organization, with ite methods of .
government and one man power Gov. u
srnor Tilden's war upon and defiance of L
wrought out for US at last the
great triumph Of 1874, though Dix had,in c
the meantime been chosen Governor. b
The party's refusal to be the slave of l
weeds successor will bring us victory Il
in 1880, though Cornell has meantime
been elected. Up to 1879 to be a mem. g
Der Of TammanY Hall was in New York y