New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-02
TIVE SyRdCgSE CONVENTION.

The Democracy can always be counted upon
to mt its foot in il when there is most occasion
for the exercise of wisdom. The Syracuse Con-
yention proved no exception to this rule. 1t
has done its worst
The denomination Of Wemple for Controller
and Tabor for Attorney General was an amaz-
ing blunder. These officials have tainted
record. Both we've so deeply involved in the
Assembly ceiling scandal that even leading and
influential Democrats and Democratic journals
demanded that they should be retired. botn
were stigmatized on the floor of the convention
But az if to emphasize his contempt for the
reputable element'of his party and the general
reform sentiment of the State, whiskeys Gov
ernor stood by the two disgraced public SER
wants and forced them on the ticket. The re-
suit is that the Democracy is committed from
the start to a campaign Of apology and explana-
ton and whitewashing. Another serious ms
take was the treatment accorded TO Mr. Cleve-
lands friends. They were shown no mercy.
They were knitted right and left. In the out
going State Committee they were strongly
represented: in the incoming one they are
practically not represented at all. Not satisfied
with assembling his love for the beaten ex-
stairs. A third bad blunder was making Denis
UBren the candidate for the Appeals bench.
IL Is weak and improper nomination, and VIII
be so pronounced by the bar of the state. IL
Is the plain truth that Mr.. OBrien has neither
the Learning, experience nor cast OF MIND neces-
saw for the discharge of the duties of that en-
allied place. lie better known as politician
than a lawyer and the people have not yet
forgotten that while he was Attorney-G General
he PLAYED into the hands Of that other OBren
chairman of the Democratic Committee and
notorious by reason of his connection with the
Aoueduct iob-in the settlement OF questions
relating to the Broadway Surface Railroad Com
pany.
This lame-duck ticket was placed on plat
form of humbug and false pretences. The
convention reaffrms the National platform Of
1888. but in doing so explains-by way Of
hedging-that it does not favor free-trade
tweededee but only tariff reform tweedledum.
It indorses Clevelands Administration, having
first taken Cleveland's scalp. 1t charges " CO.
ercion Of voters upon lis opponents, IN lace OF
the fact that Cleveland owed his election III
1884 largely to crimes against suffrage, ana
that the Republican party always and at all
points has been the champion of an honest bal
lot. 1t takes high ground on Civil Service re-
FORM although in doing so it indicts the record
which the party has made at Washington and
at Albany II arraigns the Republican Legs
lature because the taxes have been raised, but
is careful 10 conceal the figures which show
that the increase stands for appropriations IN
which there is no suspicion Of lobbery. IL
pretends TO favor "just and equitable excise
laws" as if the people had not long ago dis
covered that no excise measure can be devised
which Hill would not kill as being unjust and
inequitabe. 1t "renews its declaration" IN
favor of electoral reform, realizing that the
Democratic members Of the next Legislature,
like their brethren of 16S9-'89. can be depend
ed upon TO vote against any bill which provides
for genuine ballot reform. 1t araigns the Re-
! pubcans for the failure of the Enumeration
| Act, although the responsibility rests with the
! Governor who killed a constitutional measure
modelled after the Census bill which Governor
| Tiden signed. 1t sympathizes with all eli onS TO
improve the condition of the wOrllingmen,' Z.
although the ballot bill which Democratic
Legislators fought and Governor Hill vetoed
was the measure Of the last Legislature in
which the workmen were most interested. II
promises that if the Democracy is restored to
power in the Legislature it will render good and
faithful service but when it had a majority in
the Assembly in 1882 it spent six weeks of the
session in a deadlock over spOilS
Such ticket on such platform can be beat
en-. 1t will be beaten if our Republican friends
in every county do their best. 1t is n golden
opportunity to redeem the State. The Re-
publican candidates are all men, not only Of
proved capacity, but of the highest character.
The mole their record is examined the stronger
will he their hold upon the general confidence
And it is safe to affirm that thousands Of hon
est public spirited Democrats, indignant at the
denomination of Wemple and Tabor, will help
elect them. The whiskey Governor has put
through his slate, and now can inquire Of the
voters. like another statesman of his school
l"What are you going to do about it" The
answer at the ballot-bOX is likely to convince
him that he has had his day.