Year: 1874

| GATE. "Methlnks the lady doth protest too
much" But Mr.. Seymour ought to be taken
at his word, and his party friends should not
throw doubt on his sincerity by entreaties and
expostulations which imply hope OF chang
ing his purpose 1t is to be presumed that he
deliberately weighed the reasons on both sides
before publishing his decision, and as circum-
stances have not altered and are not likely to
alter, there would be an unseemly appearance
of vacillation in changing it. AS he evinced
remarkable instability on the most conspicu-
Gus occasion of his life, he has something to
redeem in this part of his character, and he
cannot afford to expose himself a second time
to the same kind OF ridicule Having been
once caught up and borne away by tempest
(ths was his own explanation of that memor-
able change), he must not put himself in posi-
ton to need the same rhetorical excuse again,
lest his fellow citizens suspect the lightness
OF a body that can be lifted from its place
by every passing wind


But, even if Mr. Seymours inirmity of will
should cause him to waver, his penetration
should enable him to see that Mr.. Tilden
does not want him in the Senate. Mr..
Tilden is the rising man OF his party, and Is
supposed to regard the Governorship as a
mere perch from which he meditates a higher
flight. IF Seymour were to go to the Senate
he would hold more conspicuous place in
national politics than Tilden through his gift
OF persuasive speaking, tor which the Senate
would afford a commanding theatre. The
New York Senator would be likely to eclipse
the New York Governor, who, having set his
heart on the Presidency, desires to stand be-
fore the country as the most distinguished
democrat of his State. Seymour was defeated
in 1868 by his war record, but the defeat of
Dix by Tilden proves that war records
can no longer avail to help or harm
political candidates So, although there
is no likelihood that Seymour will
ever be nominated again, Tilden may
not wish to have man in the Senate
who might outshine him, and against whom
the old objection can no longer operate. But
whether such motives exist or not, Mr.. Sey-
mour has precluded himself from accepting
the Senatorship by the encouragement he has
given to other candidates. They are at full
liberty to canvass the democratic members of
the new Legislature without offence or rival
ship to Governor Seymour and after they
have made some headway it would be ungra-
cious and ungenerous tor him to enter the
field against them, and especially against his
friend and neighbor, Mr.. Herman.


This state of the situation is so well under
stood that we doubt whether the democratic
press intend anything more than mere COM
pliment by demonstrating against Mr.. Sey-
mour's purpose every time he makes new
declaration of it. They do not really wish
him to recede, but only to support their favor
ite candidate as he would soon find out if he
were to make the trial Seymour declina-
ture has brought two other candidates into
the foreground, either of whom would
make respectable Senator, although they
have unequal chances. AS between Francis
| Herman and Amasa J. Parker nobody can
doubt where Mr.. Tilden's preference will be
given and it must be borne in mind that
Mr.. Tilden is at present the most influential
democrat in the State Judge Parker allowed
himself to be made the candidate of Mr..
Tllden's opponents in the angry heat Of the
Syracuse Convention and if he were elected
to tie Senate he would not use his position to
promote Mr.. T!den's Presidential aspira-
tions. ME. Tilden wishes tried and devoted
personal friend for the democratic Senator
from this State-a man who will hold the
same relation to him that Silas Wright held to
Van Buren. Parker does not stand high in
Tilden's confidence and intimacy, but Herman
does beyond any other man in the State with
! qualifications to make a respectable Senator
Seymour would be less acceptable, not only
for the reasons we have indicated, but be-
cause, even if he were quite free from ambition
or jealousy his feeble health, long habits Of re-
pose and the lack of force and atrenuousness,
which is the weak side OF his character, would
make him tar less serviceable as friend than
Herman, whose close industry and vigorous
warmth and zeal are estimated by so
value. Mr. Herman is able enough to be use
full but not aspiring enough to be dangerous,
nor high enough in position to feel envy or
jealousy of a man who has always outranked
him in New York politics. But Seymour has
always outranked Tilden as much as Tilden
has outranked Herman, and no public man ever
feels quite easy in being passed by an inferior
with whom he has been in habits of close in
tercourse. The relations between Mr.. Sey-
mour as Senator and Mr. Tilden as O candi-
date for the Presidency would be too delicate
to stand the wear and tear that would be put
upon them, and accordingly Mr.. Herman is
the candidate of the incoming Governor


Judge Parker will receive q smaller proportion
of votes in the democratic legislative caucus
for Senator than be had in the Syracuse Con-
vention for Governor, and if Mr. Herman gets
the caucus nomination his election by the
democratic Legislature will follow of course.