Year: 1879

The Syracuse Convention.


The correspondence and included inter-
views which We print to-day tally with the
general impression since the election OF
delegates-that the supporters of Governor
Robinson will control the Democratic State
Convention. This, indeed, is tacitly con-
ceded by his Tammany assailants, for their
reiterated threats to bolt and oppose the
ticket in the event of his denomination
imply their despair of defeating him by the
ordinary methods Of influencing political
assembly. Such are not the tactics of hope
and conscious strength. 1t remains to be
seen whether a majority Of the elected dele
gates will retreat before the Tammany
menace or will face and defy it. As
the threat, since SO often repeated, was
promulgated and sent abroad before any OF
the delegates were chosen, as they have
been selected under its shadow, and as the
result is pretty generally interpreted as
favorable to Mr.. Robinson, it may be
affirmed that it rests in the will OF
Mr.. Robinson himself whether he will
be the candidate of the Convention.
At this late stage Mr.. Tilden can.
not desert him and fling him over in con-
sistency with personal and political honor.
inasmuch as Mr.. Tilden has encouraged his
hopes and kept him in the field in spite
of the hostile Tammany demonstrations.
But voluntary withdrawal by Mr.. Rob-
inson himself in the interest OF democratic
harmony would be graceful, politic and
even a courageous act. It is not for his
interest to run for the Governorship only to
be beaten and to be dragged at the chariot
wheels of Mr.. Conkling in the tri-
umphal procession of the proud Senator
on the morning after the election. This
would be humiliating close of Lucius
Robinson's long, useful and creditable
political career. If he is destined to 60 out
of public lite at the end of his present term
as Governor a voluntary retirement would
be better for his fame and more conducive
to his personal comfort than to be elected
by sentence Of political Punishment from
the people Of the great State which has SO
often honored him with its confidence. 1t
may require all his we'll known vigor of
character to emancipate himself from the
entanglements of the present situation, but
duty to himself and his party require his
withdrawal if he is convinced that he stands
in the way of democratic harmony and sue
cess.


Mr. Tilden would of course prefer the re-
election of Governor Robinson as well as
his denomination; but Mr.. Tilden is trading
upon his own chances for the Presidency.
1t is supposable that this subtle strategist
desires to hedge against the consequences
of republican success in the ensuing cleo
ton. He may prefer to attribute the loss
Of the State to Tammany bolt rather than
to his own want of political strength. II
the united New York democracy were beaten
there would be an end of Mr.. Tilden's hopes
but if the party should be defeated by
division in its own ranks his personal
weakness would be masked by the Tam
many bolt. 1t is for Governor Robinson
to decide whether he will be Mr.. Tildens
pawn for playing such game. 1t is still
within his power during the next two days
to retire with honor and to earn the graft
tude of his party by removing the chief
obstacle to harmony. Even the consoli-
dated democracy of the State would have
a hard and doubtful battle to fight against
the vigorous republican phalanx led by
Senator Conkling.