onounced "Tilden unfit for President"
because "his political career has been marked with selfishness,
treachery, and dishonour, and his name irretrievably connected with
the scandals brought to light by the cipher despatches."[1715] Haskin
proposed a more compact statement, declaring that "the Democratic
party does not want any such money-grabber, railroad wrecker, and
paralytic hypocrite at the helm of State."[1716]

[Footnote 1715: New York _Times_, April 21.]

[Footnote 1716: New York _Times_, April 21.

For delegate-at-large to Cincinnati the convention selected the
following: Amasa J. Parker of Albany, William Dorsheimer of New York,
Jeremiah McGuire of Chemung, George C. Green of Niagara.]

After the two conventions adjourned the question of chiefest interest
was, would Tilden seek the nomination at Cincinnati? The action of the
convention demonstrated that the regular party organisation was
unaffected by the Kelly bolt, that Tilden controlled the party in the
State, and that his nomination was a part of the programme. Moreover,
it showed that the New York Democracy did not intend asking support
upon any principle other than the issue of fraud. But intimations of
Tilden's purpose to decline a nomination found expression in the
speech and acts of men presumedly informed. Lester B. Faulkner's
statement, in calling the convention to order, that he did not know
whether the Governor would accept a renomination, coupled with the
convention's reply to Haskin, expressing confidence that the action at
Cincinnati would result in the Democracy's carrying New York, had made
a deep impression. To many these insinuations indicated that because
of his health or for some unknown cause he was not seriously a
candidate. Others found reason for similar belief in the indisposition
of prominent delegates to resent such a suggestion. One veteran
journalist, skilled in reading the words and actions of political
leaders, asserted with confidence that he would not be a candidate. To
him Tilden's name concealed a strategic movement, which, in the end,
would enable his friends to control the nomination for another.[1717]

[Footnote 1717: New York _Tribune_ (correspondence), April 21.]

Such interpretation found hosts of doubters. Without Tilden, it was
said, the fraud issue would lose its influence. Besides, if he
intended to withdraw, why did Kelly assemble his convention? Surely
some one, said they, would have given him an inkling i