f Tilden, subsequently used
stronger phrases. "Tilden knew the Canal ring had no more servile
instrument in the State than the candidate they were urging. Church
was poor; he was ambitious; he was not content with his place on the
bench, and was only too ready at all times to combine with anybody on
any terms to secure wealth and power."[1441] To Kelly's charges the
Buffalo _Courier_ retorted that "Tammany Hall under honest John Kelly
is exactly the same as Tammany Hall under dishonest William M.
Tweed."[1442]

[Footnote 1439: Buffalo _Courier_, September 11; New York _Herald_,
September 9.]

[Footnote 1440: New York _World_, September 10, 1874.]

[Footnote 1441: Bigelow, _Life of Tilden_, Vol. 1, p. 226. See also the
_Nation_, September 10, 1874.]

[Footnote 1442: September 11. Reprinted from the Rochester _Union_ of
September 4.]

When the Democratic State convention met a week later war existed
between Kelly and the Canal ring.[1443] Warren intensified it by giving
the Syracuse _Standard_ a despatch declaring that Kelly's robberies
while sheriff were as criminal as those of Garvey's and Ingersoll's of
the Tweed ring.[1444] In the furious assault upon Tilden no reasons
appeared other than the fear of the Canal ring that his administration
would lead to its discomfiture. Indeed, the flankers of the reform
movement found it difficult to agree upon a candidate, and when Amasa
J. Parker finally consented to stand he did so to gratify Church's
friends in the middle and western portions of the State, who resented
the Kelly interview. That the bad blood between the Warren and Kelly
factions did not break out in the convention was probably due to
Seymour's conciliatory, tactful remarks. A single ballot, however,
banished the thought of setting Tilden aside for some man less
obnoxious to the Ring.[1445]

[Footnote 1443: September 16 and 17, at Syracuse.]

[Footnote 1444: New York _World_, September 17.]

[Footnote 1445: Tilden, 252; Parker, 126; Robinson, 6.]

The convention was not less fortunate in its selection of William
Dorsheimer of Buffalo for lieutenant-governor. Many delegates,
desiring a Democrat who would inspire enthusiasm among the younger
men, preferred Smith M. Weed of Clinton, resourceful and brilliant, if
unembarrassed by methods; but he succumbed to the earnest appeals of
DeWitt C. Littlejohn in behalf of Liberal recognition.[1446] Dorsheimer
possessed almost all the qualities that go to make up s