Year: 1874

ern justice.


The senatorship-What Should BE


Done.


The drift of discussion in the democratic
party since the last canvass, and the know-
edge of the fact that the Legislature will be
under the control of democratic influences.
indicates a singular fact-namely, that the
organization in New York is practically in the
hands of small group of venerable and
widely known gentlemen. We have Francis
Herman, Horatio Seymour, Governor Tilden,
Henry c. Murphy and Judge Church, just as
we have had them for generation. We miss
new men and new names. The Senatorship
which should be matter of discussion and of
the widest possible inquiry and selection as to
fitness and real Legislative power, goes first to
Governor Seymour, by process of seniority
in service, as it were, to ''the natural head of
the party" The Governor turns it over, by
the exercise Of what may be called a rever-
sionary right to his townsman, Francis
Herman. Governor Seymour and Mr.. Herman
have been bosom friends for many years.
Accordingly, in illustration of that cele-
brated principle of ''bosom friendship which
has beautifed Grants administration and
which largely Influenced the last canvass,
Governor Seymour, not caring at his time of
life to encounter the excitement and novelty
of Washington life, passes the prize over to
Herman. Against this neighborly courtesy
there ID a protest from the southeastern part
OF the State in behalf of Mr.. Murphy also
venerable and widely known leader who has
been in power for generation. So really
the contest is between Seymour who does not
want the Office and Herman, his political heir,
and Henry G. Murphy and probably Mr.. Til
den: In mentioning these four names, With
perhaps Judge Church, We seem to exhaust
the active strength of the democratic party in
New York.


This poverty of leadership is striking. Is
there not some danger that what we regard as
poverty is simply development OF the old
ring principle so often seen in our New
York politics-the tendency to narrow office,
honor, political responsibilities into the
hands of O few? There must be many
men in the democratic party-men for
instance as young as Senator Conkling and
Senator Carpenter, or as experienced, as Rev.
erdy johnson and Charles O'Conor-who
would do the party great honor at this time
and who should be brought forward In Eng
land the first policy Of leaders like Pitt and
Peel and Palmerston and Gladstone and Dis
raeli is to look about them for recruits and
advance young men into the influential posi-
tons, so that in time they may lead Thus
Peel brought forward Gladstone, just as Dis
raeli is bringing forward Lord Derby, Ward
Hunt and Mr.. Cross, and as Gladstone is ad-
vancing the Marquis of Harrington and Mr..
Forster. The consequence is that the parties
in England are fresh, full Of life, well
manned. No matter who falls at his post,
there Is new man to take his place. But
we miss this in the democratic party,
not only in New York, but in Pennsylvania
and elsewhere. Instead Of q healthy, we'll
manned, vital party, full of intellect and
capacity, we have only small and narrow,
have been before the public for generation,
who have beer nominees and incumbents of
all kinds of offices, who are remnants OF the old
democratic supremacy and not leaders of the
new. This should be changed. There is no
better way to change it than for the Legisla-
lures, in New York and Pennsylvania
especially, to take their ablest men for the
Senatorship; to elect Charles O'Conor from
New York and jeremiah S. Black from Penn
sylvania. This will be the first step. 1t will
put the two men who are conspicuous for
their learning, for their courage and their de-
votion to democratic principles in the place
where statesmen should sit-namely, the Sen
ate 1t would go outside the rings for that in
dependence of character which somehow is
always destroyed in ring.