Year: 1875

Saratoga yesterday by the Democratic State
Committee, has two noticeable features
namely, the invitation to the liberal republi-
cans and the placing of the canvass on the re-
form policy Of Governor Tilden The call
is addressed to 'the democratic and liberal
republican electors of the State" which
shows that the democratic party does not
think itself strong enough to dispense with
the support of the liberal republicans The
call for three delegates from each Assembly
district is dictated by the policy of counting
the liberals, its purpose being to enable
them to send one of the three delegates
from districts where they have any
percep6ble strength. The prominence
accorded to Lieutenant Governor Dorsheimer
in Governor Tildens recent tour was in
contemplation of the same policy of cultivat-
ing the liberal republicans. Mr.. Dorsheimer
was the liberal representative on the demo-
cratic ticket last year, and although he now
classes himself as democrat it was good
stroke of party tactics to parade him through
the State as a warm indorser of Governor
Tilden's policy. The renewed courting of
the liberal republicans is consequence of
the attempt of the regular republicans to win
them back, in the hope of rescuing the State
from the democrats by their aid. The
appeal by both sides to so small body of
voters shows that neither party is very con-
fident of success. The open democratic bid
for the liberal vote will probably secure the
support of the liberal newspaper in this city,
but it is otherwise of little consequence.


The democratic call is very complete,
though indirect, Endorsement of Governor
Tildens canal policy and implies purpose
to make that the leading issue Of the canvass.
1t contains not the faintest allusion to ''free
trade" or ''hard money" or 'Ehome rule the
shibboleths of the last campaign, and stakes
the whole prospects of the party ON the sue
cess of Governor Tilden's crusade against the
Canal Ring. The Governor forced this issue
by his recent tour and speeches The demo-
cratic party Of the State cannot afford to
quarrel with the democratic Governor, and,
after debating the form of the call, he will
have no difficulty in controlling the action of
the Convention. 1t is already certain that
the platform will indorse and glorify his war





issues to this local question. In other words,
Governor Tilden will be the platform of his
party, and the main question presented to
the citizens of the State will be the indorse-
ment Of his vigorous war on the Canal Ring.
Such an issue has weak as well as strong
points, and the voters of the State will weigh
and consider both.


The value of Governor Tilden's services
as q reformer will be amply discussed in
a searching and perhaps a hostile spirit
during the canvass. His republican
opponents will gain nothing by impugn-
ing or disparaging his motives; for, al
though he is ambitious, his ambition takes
praiseworthy direction There IS no more
defensble method of attempting to gain pub
lie confidence than by bold championship
of official honesty and purity. Governor Til
den will pass unscathed through the as
saults on his motives and the people of the
State cannot be misled into q depreciation of
his services by the efforts of his adversaries
to trace them to personal ambition. 1t were
to be wished that all aspiring politicians
pursued their ends by equally legitimate
paths.


But there is another line Of criticism which
the Governor cannot expect to escape, and
which detracts somewhat from the merit he
assumes for his unrelenting war against the
Canal Ring. 1t will be maintained, with
perfect truth that his crusade against the
canal robbers is merely retrospective; that
its sole aim is punishment and restitution,
and does nothing toward prevention and
future security. The door was effectually
shut against such frauds as he is exposing
before he came into Office, and without his
help OF agency. All the cases presented in
the reports Of his commission and upon
which he has directed the Attorney General
to commence prosecutions are cases in which
contractors have received large amounts of
money in excess Of what was stipulated in
their contracts OF course the thieves ought
to be punished and made to disgorge, but
the amended State constitution affords COM
plete security against the repetition of this
kind of swindling. Governor Tilden is there
fore rather playing the part of an avenger than
of refor1ner Reform was secured before he
DeBhn HLS Ni8OiOuS uVV'iOA Oh ViAo C"noi Aeillo'
Among the amendments ratified by the
people in the last election, and which went
into effect a day or two before his inaugura-
ton, was one which cuts up by the roots the
kind of abuses which he seeks to punish.
That important and salutary amendment was
in these words :-"No extra compensation
S hall be paid to any contractor; but if, from
any unforeseen cause the terms Of any con-
tract shall prove to be unjust and oppressive,
the Canal Board may, upon the application
of the contractor, cancel such contract" This
wise amendment gives complete security for
the future against such robberies of the
State Treasury as Governor Tilden is making
strenuous and commendable exertions to
punish. 1t is a complete demonstration that