Year: 1876

From the NelO York Herald, June 2S.


1t being too late for anything we may
now say to reach st. Louis in advance of
the bslloting, we may discuss the pros and
cons of Mr.. Tilden's strength in his own
State without suspicion of aiming to infu-
ence the Convention.


The New York opposition 70 Tilden has
been too violent and venomous for the au-
thors of it to give him cordial support in
the event of his nomination. 1t is of such
a nature and proceeds from such motives
that it is certain to reappear in the politics
of the city and in the Democratic State Com
vention. The Kelley faction and the Nor
rissey faction will renew their fightIfor mas
terry in the city, and each will send dele
gates to the State Convention. The
friends of Tilden will be disposed to
revoke the certificate of regularity
recently given to Tammany and to admit
the anti Iammany delegates. The claims
of Tammany will be supported by all the
prominent politicians i'll the interior of the
State who are fighting Tilden at st Louis,
and this bitter and inevitable contest will
materially weaken the democratic party of
the State. There will be violent contest
between the Tilden and anti Tilden wings
of the party over the State ticket, and
especially the nomination for Governor.
The Governorship of New York has become
one of the great prizes of politics. For the
first time a Governor will now be elected
for three years, and the increase of salary
from four thousand to ten thousand dollars
year, of which Governor Tilden was the
| first recipient, together with the rent of 30
splendid and expensive mansion such as
he has chosen to occupy at the expense OF
the State, make the office more desirable
than any other in this country except the
Presidency Of the United States.


4
Tammany has carried its opposition so
far and made it 80 virulent that it cannot
very we'll retreat. 1t is not in the power of
Kelly to regain his controlin this city by sup
| porting Tilden after his nominotion. John
Morrissey stands in the way aud Morrissey
has done too much Jealous service at ST.
Louis for Tilden's friends to turn against
him now. The fight of democratic factions
in this city Is certain to be kept up and to
be carried into the State Convention, where
the rejection of the Tammany delegates
will give Kelly a plausible excuse for bolt
ing and opposing the Tilden ticket. The
fierce Tammany opposition to the nomina-
tion of Tilden is struggle for existence.
II Tilden is nominated and elected the Gus
tom House aud Post Office, in the hands of
Tilden's appointees, will control the politics
of the city. John Kelly and his lieutenants
will be contemptuously flung out, and they
are not of a temper to relinquish their
grasp of the city spoils without struggle.
They would rather see the democratic
party beaten than Tilden elected President,
because under republican administration
they would have some hope of controlling
the local government of the city, whereas
with Tilden's friends in the Custom House
they would have none. II Tilden is nomi-
mated they will give him stimulated sup
port as a means of retaining foothold in
the democratic party and enabling them to
claim recognition by the State Convention
But they will make such war on his friends
and breed such dissensions in the party as
will give the republicans, who are tho
roughly united, every advantage in the
canvass.


But, apart from these sources Of weak
ness, the estimates and representations o.
Tilden's friends at st. Louis must be takeI
with considerable allowance. When he wal
elected Governor, two years ago, the Re
publican party of the State was weakened
and the democratic party strengthened by
several powerful causes which have ceased
to operate or have spent their force. II
the first place, that was the year of the
great "tidal wave" which rose to such 6
wonderful height and swept over the whole
country. Governor Tilden was lifted tt
office by that astonishing wave, which re
ceded almost as rapidly as it rose. 1t wat
to that and not to his personal popularity
that Governor Tllden owed the greater pari
of his majority in 1874.


X Il u


But there are material changes in Other
respects. In 1874 there was strong liberia
republican elem mt in the politics of the