The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-18
Troubles in Tammnny-The Dangers OF

Troubles in Tammnny-The Dangers OF
Success.
Hannibal trampled down the world with an
army that was kept together only by the dan
gers to which he exposed it. Naturally the
least coherent of masses, recruited in all the
countries through which the hero passed and
from the indscriminate enemies of Rome
peril, the presence Of the enemy and the con-
slant fire of battle kept it fighting unit.
From the time of Hannibal to the time of the
free fighters that followed the Constable de
Bourbon, and from their time to ours, ii has
always been the same-battle and danger kept
together and gave victory to those who could
overcome every foe stand everything but tri-
umph, and, in Short do all things under the sun
save divide in peace the spoils of conquest.
AT the last the great fighters found no foe, and
80 always fell the victims of their own prowess.
Alas it is perhaps to be thus also in the
history of that grand old fighting machine,
Tammany Hall. Tammany in its earlier years
was kept together by the peculiarities Of its
position and the necessities of combat for it
was always fighting great powers. 1t was 80
well kept together that it nearly always won.
But the spoil was not so rich nor the danger
80 far removed that it should crumble away.
ing and winning-until battle against
it became, as it were, mere formality-the
mere recording of a protest in opposition.
Finally, it has reached the very pinnacle OF
power. Its will is law, and there is no effec-
tive dissent. If Mayor is to be made Tam
many points her finger and the man is known;
If Governor is to be made it is the same!
What foolish Canute would venture to point
limit to this uprising wave of democratic
power? There has been but one opportunity
in these latter days for Tammany to find that
opposition to her more imperious will that
would keep her on good behavior and prevent
her falling into the common fate Of all great
combative forces. This was when vigorous
democracy rallied to the lead of Miles O'Reilly
and the Big Judge. Miles had brains and
daring, acute political perceptions and peri
sonal magnetism, and supplied all these
toward a new party, and the Big Judge gave
breadth and body. But Miles died, and healthy
opposition died with him; for breadth and
body, though respectable things, are feeble in
fight. They are tempted by the feshpots,
too. And thus the prefer Of single nomina-
ton finished the Big Judge.
Tammany therefore stands, in the absence
of any one to fight her, in imminent danger OF
falling prey to internecine war. There is a
cabal and a dissent in her midst for the baubls
of leadership. There were good Leaders who
fought together honestly in the great struggles
but now they would all be Caesars. Need we
growing power of their fellowsp Even as
Alexander went through Persia there was a
man in his army who would have knocked
Alexander on the head or sent him home on
farlough and taken charge Of the fighting on
his own account. And if a man would ques-'
ton the leadership of Alexander it is only a
little step further to question that of Peter
Bismarck Sweeny or any other man. We say
any other man, because Peter has somewhat
loftily seemed to put leadership aside, thrust
ing the crown away, like another Caesar, when
it was not offered in the proper manner and
therefore he may not come actively into the
contest for the democratic Casarship that
agitates the Halls and Tweeds and other Of
the less magnificent political intellects of the
party, though it is at least certain that this
agitation starts with the restiveness Of these
men under the implied domination of Peter,
and it will not surprise us if this chief of his
party is yet compelled to exclaim to the meta
phorical dagger that is driven under his fifth
political rib, "Et tn, Bllyp"
We have faith in Peter, however, and
though his danger is domestic danger, and,
like the Turks danger, is from brother near
the throne, we are satisfied that he will be
equal to the emergency, and we shall expect
to see him silence his domestic enemies and
overcome the cabal by the grand expedient OF
threatened Cnsars-the initiation of foreign
war. We do not know where the enemy is to
be found, but that is Peters business, not ours.