ocalities.[1393]

[Footnote 1393: New York _Tribune_, September 6.]

In apportioning the State offices the Democrats, after much wrangling,
conceded to the Liberals the lieutenant-governor, prison inspector,
and fifteen of the thirty-four electors. This settlement resulted,
amidst much enthusiasm, in the nomination of Depew for lieutenant-governor.

The Democrats experienced more difficulty in selecting a candidate for
governor. The withdrawal of Hoffman, who "usually made his
appointments to office," said John Kelly, "on the recommendation of
the Tammany ring and at the solicitation of the Canal ring," was
inevitable,[1394] and long before he declined several aspirants had
betrayed their ambition.[1395] But a decided majority of the delegates,
"fully four-fifths" declared the New York _Times_,[1396] preferred
Sanford E. Church, then chief judge of the Court of Appeals, who
became known as the "ring candidate."[1397] On the other hand, Kernan
had the support of Tilden, against whom the same combination arrayed
itself that controlled at Rochester in 1871. Although the Tweed ring
had practically ceased to exist, its friendships, rooted in the rural
press and in the active young men whom it had assisted to positions in
Albany and New York, blocked the way. Besides, Kernan himself had
invited open hostility by vigorously supporting Tilden in his crusade
against Tammany. Thus the contest became complicated and bitter.

[Footnote 1394: New York _Tribune_, August 23, 1872; New York _World_,
September 10, 1874; _Times_, September 11.]

[Footnote 1395: Among them were Augustus Schell of New York, Francis
Kernan of Oneida, Allen C. Beach of Jefferson, then lieutenant-governor,
Homer A. Nelson of Dutchess, formerly secretary of state, and Lucius
Robinson of Chemung, the distinguished comptroller.]

[Footnote 1396: September 6, 1872.]

[Footnote 1397: Bigelow, _Life of Tilden_, Vol. 1, p. 226.]

It was an anxious moment for Tilden. Kelly stood for Schell, Kings
County presented Church, and Robinson and Beach held their friends
firmly in hand. With the skill of an astute leader, however, Tilden
weakened the support of Church by publishing his letters declining to
be a candidate, and by invoking the influences which emphasised the
division between Beach and Schell, gained Robinson for Kernan. The
audacity of such tactics staggered the opposition, and when Beach
surrendered, Tammany and Kings hastened into line. This led to
K