Year: 1874

the opposition had only failed for lack of time. and
that had they begun carly enough to combine theu
forces they might have accomplished their purpose
But it was apparent little latter that the Parker
vote represented only the original and persistent
opposition to Tilden, which would have been but
little If any stronger with any advantage OF time
and opportunity, }0 r..i.l.....


The Convention started of PROMPTLY this morning
with the report of the Committee on Resolutions
which was read by HoratiO Seymour They have
the merit of being short aud sharp and clearly
stated. 1t is unnecessary to say that they were
received with demonstrations Of applause; that
goes without saying. Mr.. Seymours speech follow
ing the presentation of the platform also well
received and he sat down, after moving that the
Convention now proceed to nominate candidate
for Governor, the Convention seemed in most
amiabe and happy frame of mind. Upon this placid
situation Mr. Jarvis Lord, gentleman not wholly
unconnected with the canals, bulged with what
was little later described in eloquent language by
a forcible debater from Queens, County as
{" firebrand" The firebrand in the form
Of q resolution denouncing New-York Democratic
newspaper for gratuitous, malicious, and hbelous
attack upon honored Democrats of lifelong service
and highest position IN the party. Mr.. Lord sup
ported his resolution in very bad grammar and with
considerable earnestness for about three minutes,
and sat down with the consciousness OF having re-
venged himself upon his mother tongue. 10 INN
succeeded the Queens County debater, who hung
aloft his and charged home upon the author OF
the frebrand. He denounced the resolution notonly
as irebrand but as an attempt stab the good and
glorious old Democratic party. The Queens County
debater pranced around in the aisle for about five
minutes and sat down exhausted. The frebrand
turned out to be not much of frebrand after all.
1t kindled nobody, and Mr. Lord. having relieved
his surcharged breast of its indignant emotions in
his first burst of manRled and bleeding oratory.
made no further effort. There little momen-
tary futter and confusion and the frebrand was
referred to the Committee on Resolutions, where 1t
was put out.


The nomination of candidates for Governor being
in order, q nervous delegate from Kings County,
inpatient for fame, flung himself in front of the
Convention, and with an incoherent PREDATORY
speech, nominated Tilden. Then Miller OF Albany,
sitting in the seat behind Amasa D. Parker rose ana
pointed to that person as the representative OF all
the virtues and concluded his rhapsody by naming
him, with the usual tremor of voice and qulyer OF
frame. The voting was without incident and al
most without interest Ii was fOregone conclusion
that Tilden should be the candidate and he was with
handsome majority over everybody, including
McQuade, who had three solid votes, of which any
man might be proud. There was some applause foi-
lowing the announcement of the result, not rap
turous OF prolonged but enough to be called enthu-
siasm and to fill the bill Mr. Parker took the hoor'
and after brief eulogy of himself moved 10 make
the nomination unanimous which done, with
only one OF two voices-which seemed left over from


some preyious vote-responding in the negative.


A committee was sent for Mr. Tilden and while
the Convention was in the midst of nominations for
tenant-C.overnor. that gentleman appeared and
astonished his oldest friends by responding briefly
To the CALL accepting the nomination IN as few
words as were possible. At the conclusion OF the
same q sudden and unexpected delegate rose IN the
middle of the hall, with his hat between his thumb
and finger at angle of IS degrees from his head'
and broke out with startling emphasis :" Three
cheers for Samuel J. TildenW John Kelly,
sitting in the front and center, with con-
tented expression of countenance, was OBJ
yiously taken by surprise. He rose. however. with
the rest of the New York delegation and with some
thing like an effort waved his right hand three times
around his noble brow, and didn't say word. Ihe
rest of the delegation said Hurrah," ana then all
sat down and wiped their foreheads in perfect time,
and with rhythmic motion worthy OF the 7th heg1-
ment at parade rest There was nothing wild in this
demonstration. 1t was very decent and measured,
and / think the Convention resumed its sitting



To disinterested person. viewing all the monstrous
clap trap the dull hum drum and the irredeemable
nonsense of the whole affair-this very clamor was
the best sign that came out of it, for it need not
undertake to conceal from ourselves the fact that
the persons who carried this Convention are not
sueh as ought to be intrusted with the serious
responsibilities of government


The encouraging feature of the whole business is
in the fact that they have been driven by the sheer
force of public opinion to nominate gentleman
who is not of their kind. 1t was a concession to the
better popular sentiment, to growing belief In
higher standard of political morality, and it was
proof of the sincerity and high character OF the
candidate that they made the concession so grudg-
ingly. I write you from the point Oh
view of an utterly impartial and bipartisan
observer of politics and parties, and l try to
look little beyond the humbuggery aud the shams
which attend upon all such assemblies as thus. 90
doing, find encouragement in this feature OF the
proceedings and the indication which it furnishes,
that in the Democratic party at last there IS
recognition of the fact that the period is rapidly
passing when mere party certificate of indorse-
ment is all that is required to give unfit and un-
worthy men Office aud power; that hereafter. the
people, standing off from both parties, will demand
in the candidates for their suffrages. not
merely o politicians record. but the high
character of an honest man. II matters little what
the nonsense peddlers and mouthers of phrases do
or say to make themselves conspicuous and their
preteDsons ridiculous, so that when they come to
the serious business of presenting candidates for
Office, they defer to the popular demand for ability
and integrity. This Convention has been sensible
in its nominations, and in its outspoken and
straightforward statement of the body of doctrine
in which it believes. Neither are perfect, but both
are vastly above the average of party conventions.
The nomination of Mr. Dorsheimer gives very gen.