The New York herald., 1869-01-09
THE pEnocRATIS Uslos HUppLE.

and no doubt the company Will protect It's interests
| the pEMOCRATIO USIOE MUDDLE.
~c~>~~-~~c~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Treason Becoming Odious.
| To THE EDITOR OF TUE HERALD
l The Democratic Union organization was estab-
lished and as long as it was controlled by General
Halpine was conducted Tor the purpose OF beating
Tammsny Hau and breaking down the "ring''
clique which at present governs the city and dsposes
0fthe municipal oaves and fishes. But the unfortu-
nete and premature death OF the popular leader and
/ the sudden detection Of Bsthering Nike, sometimes
called Big Judge Connolly, who was tempted to
change his allegiance by the thirty pieces of
| silver TO be found IA the Registers ONCE,
| greatly demoralzed the organization and left
Nelson j. Waterbury and John Y. Savage
| its thinking and planning heads. without o
backing Of sufficient popularity. Under these CIR
cumstances number Of the small men. the captains
Of tens and hundreds, whose influence depended
mainly on the corner groceries and tenement houses
laic their plans to sell out the entire
association to its political adversaries. They
commenced operations by breeding trouble circu-
latng damaging rumors and getting on all the I'M
portant committees. They worked up animosities
and arranged combinations until they made them
selves serious stumbling blocks In the way OF sue
cess. They captured some Of the fcke members ana
built up cabal which although It was detestable to
the good and true men, capable Of giving great
deal OF trouble.
This clique had covered up their tracks pretty well
until the fall elections, BY which time they had
managed 80 shrewdly that they had sum-
cient influence to actually beat the general
ticket run by the organization, besides ruin
ing the minor candidates in many OF the
wards. The sudden withdrawal of John Kelly ana
Abraham r. Lawrence from the contest for Mayor
and Corporation Counsel surprised many politicians
and all the outsiders at the time it took place. but it
Is perfectly comprehensive when this detection of
their supporters Is understood, the result OF the
dispute and the Vaccinations growing out OF 1t being
that the Tammany Hall candidates had Q walk over
manipulation Of Edward Burke populsriy known AZ
Butcher Burke, the Democratic Union poIed only
twenty-Mx out OF nearly 1900 democratic votes, and
IN December no local ticket whatever was run. In
the Fourteenth ward William II. Rooney, the candl-
date for Assembly, found himself betrayed and de-
for knowing where to lay the blame In the Fir
teenta ward although It IS said that money
ber none made its appearance at the polls;
ana owen Murphy, who was openly known as
the Assembly, as wei Is that OF the Democratic
Unl0n and then was beaten by stump candidate.
!. wss sns E ~ sH wrV
trayed, and their friends who were In earnest Ia the
contest had no great diiicuy In tracing back effect
hand workers were followed to q certain ONCE In
that monument OF wisdom ana economy in the Park
through which nows the golden tide of municipal M i
taxation and where the shrewd and talented head Of
rssuea ne @ s so ss 10 and 4
such visits meant no good to the anti-Tammany or
ganization. The further the investigation was
political Denmark was almost as rotten as our city
piers and that the opposition was being run in the
interest OF the regular machine" Great had been
the howl that went up when Kelly and Lawrence
Withdrew. With them disappeared the $4,000 which
Of the election. without any general ticket the
cDances OF the patriotic gentlemen who onged to
ne,r n, city ns Aldermen Or Assistants grew 50
There was nothing to dispose OF at the corner groce
ries nothing to remove the drought which always
to the men who tended the boxes on elections no
handsome remuneration to the leaders OF gangs or
ners or Knocking down adyersaries. All ihe local
elections went by the board In the common sswreck
OF matter,n and the Democratic Union came out
shorn and discounted, without single member In
that upright Board--tho New York Common Council.
SWORN CAUCUS.
This was bad, but did not altogether satisfy the
gentlemen who had . liberal view OF their own In
terests: committee on reorganization was ap-
were to be held the Attn Of January, and this COM
mlttee consisted OF James T. Brinkman, John
loran, Peter Woods ana Patrick McGovern. OF these
McGuckin, Woods and McGovern were understood
minority % az hoSah they might nS ths
road TO Jordan peculiarly hard one 10 travel
But their adversaries, in order to make assurance
douoly sure, held caucus at which each was sworn
TO keep true faith to the others and not to divuGe
what might transpire. sworn caucus is an efec-
casionally, perhaps from the innate perverslty or
human nature, meet with hitch. One OF these very
Of this fact % When nh he was elected on menorabIe
occasion to bo President OF the Board OF Alder
men-an election that the public may remember was
marked by great iIl-feelfng much sping or INK and
some throwing OF inkstands. At this caucus 1t was
solemnly arranged, with all the formalItles which
or the Sons OF Malta in the presence OF blue re SUI
phurous fumes and naked swords, and under the
venton was to be called together at seven O'Clock on
last wednesday night but that tickets of admission
@ me a q sSs to D given out un half
joriE Of this COMMITTEES would not receive O their
ton OF the presiding officers for the ensuing year;
and that consequently, when there were contestine
be admitted and who excluded would not be in the
hands OF waterbury Or his friends: still further,
sesnee immunity Mys from the ccdents
present bcdv Of accomplished assistants whose hose
talents had been developed In the school Of John
Morrissey and Tom Hyer. and who would be ready
to settle differences OF opinion by shorter mode
than windy arguments; persons whom the moro
habit OF describing as 'roughs, rowdles, shoulder
strikers plug uglies," and By such uncOmplimsntary
THE CHAMBER OF HORRORS.
The room in which the meeting was to have been
held was located In Masonic Hail. and had one pc
cuarity a. useful as It was unusual not only had
wide main entrance but small back door, and
this back door opened on stairway which led to a
barroom below, and where the sworn caucus had its
troops In readiness. Intending TO Introduce them
into the hall By a fank movement. they ex-
pectcd to obtain possession OF the floor before the
mont door should be opened to the delegates
who were not IN the secret and who were to be left
out In the cold long enough to prevent their disturb
Ing the harmony OF the meeting This plan OF cam
paign was admirably arranged; there was but one
point omitted one slight neglect. which finally led
TO curious and unexpected results The caucus for
got that while stair often leads down IL some
tunes leads up and, n such Is the case, that person
may come down II as well a. ascend II. By re-
markable coincidence, ON that identical "wednesday
night the room directly over the hall engaged for