The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-19

Tammauy aud the Germans.
There is very considerable futter in the
Tammany dovecot just now. We are on the
eve of one of the most exciting local political
campaigns ever held in this city. The ques-
tions involved present serious difficulties to the
leaders of the great democratic party, and
naturally in these difficulties may be seen the
opportunity for their political opponents to
strike a blow against them, or to others dis
affected within its ranks to make demands for
higher recognition for services rendered. The
republican party of this city has scarcely
kick left in it, but the German body are up
and doing and kicking in the traces, and are
likely to bring things to smash If they are not
paid immediate attention to. Tammany, who,
through the disgust felt for the Excise law
among the Teutons, has got almost complete
possession of the political machine, wants to
know what is the matter. The answer is, we
want more offices. That Belmont-Tweed
dodge by which you tried to get up
an excitement is nothing to US. 1t
was weak invention of your friends,
our Irish fellow citizens, to throw dust in our
eyes. Belmont may 60 to Belgium, or worse,
for all we care. The dust we want must be of
better stuff than that. This is about the Ian
guage of the irate Teutons of the city. They
are, in fact, on a political strike for higher
pay and better Offices. The dissatisfaction
which has brought things to this crisis has
been long felt, but heretofore the Germans
<oo I;vsI lad 11v fO ho oh
to give any great preponderance to the office
controlling party in the city. The Excise law
has altered this. The Germans of late have,
to great extent, changed front. Large num-
bers have seeded from the republican and
joined the democratic party, and from that
their political influence, a fair share Of the
spoils of the municipal government.
Can Tammany afford to refuse? Will it say,
''Not for Joe?" Hardly. The meetings
hitherto got up on the school question
were merely feelers to test the German
pulse and to bring together assemblages
for the discussion of national ques-
ton that at the time, on purely political
grounds, could not be induced to meet in large
numbers. The object was attained and the
school question was dropped, and now Tam
many is assaulted in its most vulnerable point
its pocket, or the same thing, its patronage.
Having changed their base the Germans have
come boldly to the attack on this new line.
The meeting to discuss the question Of their
rights to official place and patronage in the
city government held on Friday night was
almost mass meeting, though not designed
for such. While they say they endorse Tam
many, which was said on Talleyrand's idea,
that 'words are made to conceal thoughts"
they mean to say we endorse all the nomina-
tions made in our favor in fair proportion to
other political interests. This certainly puts
Tammany in a tight place. How will it get
rid of the men in the gap, of its Irish ''thick
and thin" supporters, who have so long sworn
by St. Tammany, and imbibed their politics
as they imbibed their grog at the old Pew
ter. Mug in the good old days when it was
treason to be anything but a Milesian,' if an
of1ice-holder in the municipal government?
There must be division of the spoils, that's
certain The immense meetings held almost
nightly in favor of that stout Israeiite, Jacob
Cohen, the candidate for the Supervisorship
in opposition to the Tammany candidate, is
proof of this. The action of the German demo-
cratic convention is additional proof of it, and
the fact must of course force itself upon the
Tammany potentates that the days Of close
borough offices and exclusive patronage have
passed away.