Year: 1876

Tho Democratic Situation in New


York.


The democratic party Of the State IS nos
yet out of its scrape it has only gained
breathing spell. 1t has, indeed, escaped the
absolute and irretrievable ruin which would
have befallen it had it persisted in its mad
purpose of running Seymour in the interest
Of Dorsheimer and superadding new trick
of its own to the fraud perpetrated at Sara
toga. To have condoned that stupid fraud,
to have indorsed it and made it its own by
adoption, to have given it deeper color OF
impudenoe by becoming an accomplice after
exposure. and utilizing i. as decoy to get
q man elected Governor who was not even
nominated for the Office, would have been
swindle so idiotic and shameless as to afront
and disgust the whole body of decent citi-
zenS The sure and swift destruc-
ton which would have followed has
been averted; but since the expe-
rience of the last week nobody can tell
what new fraud or folly the same leaders
may commit The party will not feel easy
until the Convention shall have again met





reassembles, is left to follow its own di-
vergent impulses it will founder like drove
Of cattle in morass. sinking deeper by its
struggles to get out 1t is lot an able Con-
vention, but an exceedingly weak one II
needs external guidance and control, and II
that task is undertaken by the same leaders
who blundered so egresiously before tho
party may get into worse muddle than that
from which it has just been extricated. In
the week which is to intervene there is
plenty of time for coaching, but there is also
plenty of time for intrigue. 1t may happen
that the delegates may be ''seen" by the
wrong persons or by too many persons, and
split into three or four new cliques pledged
to as many different candidates. If the
kitchen cabinet assumes to coach the dele
gates will the old party leaders submit? With
out fixed up plan and slated candidate
the Convention will be scene of tumultuous
i'm becility and may break up in row f; but
who will take charge of it and organize it
into obedience and unity? If everybody
should make way for the Albany machine,
whatever favorite is thrown into the hopper
will come out candidate as grain and
gravel may alike be ground into meal. We
imagine that the machine will not be seri-
ously opposed. as it seems the only source
of unity. There really seems nothing to be
done now but to let Governor Tilden have
his own way, and for the reassembled Con-
vention to submit to be mere registering
body. unless the party is willing to incur
the danger of formidable wrangle and ex.
plosion. If it was not Tilden Convention
before it will be a Tilden Convention
now. 1t will bow to Mr.. Tildens
will nominate Mr.. Tildens candi-
date, accept Mr.. Tilden's plans and
put upon him the whole responsibility Of
defeat, if defeat is to come The prospect is
not SO brilliant or dattering that any candi-
date should covet the nomination, and as
''too many cooks spoil the broth" the party
will probably swallow whatever the kitchen
cabinet prepares for it.


If the Convention avoids a quarrel, washes
no dirty linen, quietly accepts the machine
candidate, whoever he may be, and adjourns
within. half on hour after it is called to or
der, the late damaging Jfasco may not prove
quite fatal It is lucky for Mr. Tilden that
it can do little injury outside of the State
Next to New York the pivot of the Presiden-
tial canvass is Indiana, and the New York
fasco can have no effect in Indiana because
in that State the republicans had to change
their candidate for Governor. 1t is fortunate
for Mr.. Tilden that Indiana happens to be
the State where like thing occurred on the
republican side, for if the democrats should
lose Indiana in October they will have but
little chance of carrying New York or saving
ANYTHING from the general wreck.