Year: 1878

State conventions of both political parties
| are to be held in the middle of the week
the Democratic Convention on Wednesday
at Syracuse and the Republican Convention
at Saratoga on Thursday. The greater part
of the delegates to both conventions have


been chosen, and although it is notyet quite
certain that the Kelly faction OF the demo-
Gratis will have the upper hand at Syracuse
it is past doubt that the Conkling fac
ton of the republicans will be in large
! majority at Saratoga. 1t is only because both
conventions are thought to be of political
consequences. Not the slightest interest is
felt in the question of candidates. The
only State officer to be elected is Judge OF
the Court of Appeals and it must be said
to the credit of both political parties in this
State that neither has ever attempted to
bedraggle our great court of last resort in
the mire Of party politics. Whatever may
be thought of the wisdom or expediency of
an elective judiciary it must be conceded
that the experiment has worked we'll in the
State of New York so far as relates to the
Court of Appeals. and, indeed, in respect
to the Supreme Court judges, If we
except those elected in this city dur
ing the Tammany regime. During
the whole period since the adoption
of the elective system in the State constitu-
ton of 1916 our Court of Appeals has uni
formly maintained its character as the
most learned, able, impartial and indepen-
dent appellate tribunal which has existed
in any State Of the Union.


The true reason why the State conven-
tions of the present week excite so much
political feeling has no relation to the single
judicial nomination which is the chief
ostensible business of each. These conven-
tions are important only because they will


bring on trial Of strength between the
publican party it is to be determined


whether the Conkling faction or the Hayes


faction has control Of the organization; and
in the democratic party the question is
whether the supporters of Mr.. Tilden or the


supporters OF Mr.. Kelly are in the


ascendant. The Syracuse Convention


and the Saratoga Convention will be
| alike battle of factions-a civil war in
each case rather than an external war be-
tween the two political parties keener
| interest is felt in the democratic party in
the case Of Kelly versus Tilden, and in the
republican party in the case Of Conkling
| versus Hayes than in the broader question


on Which the two great parties are divided


The Hayes republicans would rather see
the State 60 democratic than witness
| Conkling triumph and, on the other hand.
the Kelly democrats would prefer a repIb-
lican triumph in the State to a Tilden tri-
| umph in the Syracuse Convention. In


such q state of feeling it is too OBJ
vious that the two regular organ


izations have lest oil their vitality,


and that the time is ripe for the dissolution


of the old parties. When both care more


for the defeat Of their internal enemies than


for the success OF their organization it de-


pends on the mere accidents Of politics


whether ties which have become so weak
are not to be totally ruptured.


There is O close resemblance between the
| dominant question in the two conventions.
| In the Syracuse Convention Of Wednesday


the battle will be fought on the ques-
ton Of, cindorsing Governor Robinson;
| in the Saratoga Convention OF Thurs


day the battle will be fought on the


question of indorsing President Hayes In
| the Democratic Convention q resolution in
dorsing Robinson would be humiliating


defeat of Mr.. Kelly in the Republican
Convention a resolution indorsing Hayes


would be prostrating blow to the hopes of


Mr.. Conkling. 1t seems already certain


from what is known of the republican dele


gates chosen that Senator Conkling will not


be humiliated at Saratoga; but whether MI.


Kelly will be humiliated ut Syracuse is
still an open question.


| The Kelly faction in the democratic party
| is already shouting victory; but, SO far as
vet appears, this is mere bravado. Mr.


Kelly does not really know how he will


stand in the Democratic State Convention.
The chances, indeed, look favorable to him,


but these chances rest on the assumption


that the Tammany delegates will be ad-


mitted Mt Syracuse without question. But


there is n possibility that they may be ex-
cluded. There will be con testing delegations
| from this city, and If the Robinson men


have clear majority outside the city the
Tammany delegates may be left out in the
cold. Governor Robinsons supporters
claim that the delegates whose seats are not


contested should organize the Convention,


and that committee on credentials ap-
pointed by them must decide between the
admission or exclusion of Mr.. kelly's


Tammany delegates. II the Tammany


delegates are excluded from the prelimi-
nary organization Governor Robinson 8


friends mny exclude them altogether and
admit the anti-1ammany delegates from


this city. In that event the Robinson