step. It argued that the loss of the Tammany vote meant the
dissolution of the party, and that a great organisation ought not to
be destroyed for the wrong of a few individuals, since the party was
not responsible for them. Besides, the executive power of the State,
with its vast official patronage scattered throughout all the
counties, would oppose such a policy. On the other hand, the first
class, possessing little faith in the party's ability to purge itself,
threatened to turn reform into political revolution. It desired a new
party. Nevertheless, Tilden did not hesitate. He issued letters to
thousands of Democrats, declaring that "wherever the gangrene of
corruption has reached the Democratic party we must take a knife and
cut it out by the roots;"[1330] he counselled with Horatio Seymour and
Charles O'Conor; he originated the movement that ultimately sent a
reform delegation to the State convention; he consented to stand for
the Assembly; and finally, to secure the fruit of three months' work,
he raised one-half the funds expended by the Democratic reform
organisation.

[Footnote 1330: Tilden's letter, _Ibid._, Sept. 22.]

The Ring had not been an indifferent observer of these efforts. While
it cared little for the control of a State convention without a
governor to nominate, its continued existence absolutely depended upon
a majority in the Senate. Tweed planned to carry the five senatorial
districts in the city, and to re-elect if possible the eight
Republican senators whom he had used the year before.[1331] This would
insure him control. To achieve his purpose word was sent to Tilden
early in August that he could name the delegates to the State
convention and the candidates upon the State ticket if he would not
interfere with Tammany's legislative nominations. If Tilden had not
before distrusted Tweed, such a proposition must have aroused his
suspicion. But Tilden, conscious of the need of an anti-Tweed
legislature, had surmised the Ring's plan as early as Tweed devised
it, and he replied with firmness that everything beside the
legislative ticket was of minor importance to him. Similar
propositions, presented by powerful men from all parts of the State
with the plea that a compromise would "save the party," received the
same answer.[1332] Meanwhile, he laboured to shorten the life of the
Ring. To him Richard Connolly appealed for protection against Tweed's
treachery, and at Tilden's suggestion the comptrol