New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-11-11
FIGS FROM THISTLES.

Journal which, under o thin varnish of
independence, colored by an occasional eccen-
tricity, has done moro than any other to sub
jeCt afresh our City and State to the tender
mercies of the Tammany Ring, mildly suggests
that, as the master-spirits are all rich and
have fresh lease of power, they should now
stop stealing and give us the benefits of honest
and frugal rule.
The suggestion is preposterous. Men who
are successful in an evil course rarely or never
forsake it, Not till they encounter their
Gravelotte and Sedan are they able to realize
that honesty is wiser and better than policy.
Their Austerliz and Jena only serve to lure
them on to their Madrid and Moscow.
Messrs. Tweed g. Company are ambitious Of
playing their parts ON National stage. They
think the machinery, appliances, and tactics,
which have made Hoffman Mayor and Gov
ernor, will serve to make him President, and
thus give them control of the Federal treas
ury and patronage. We do not believe they
can succeed, even in the nomination; but
they naturally take different view, and will
spend as much money in securing delegates
| to the next Democratic National Convention
as they usually spend on Legislature-say
| Million. And whence shall they obtain this
sum save from our conquered taxpayers
| Can you imagine them capable Of taking it
out of their own pocketsf
The suggestion that they might judiciously
surprise the public by suddenly presenting
themselves in the role of reformers and econ
O1nists ignores the very elements Of their pow
er. 1t is Oblivious of the truth 80 tersely sum
med up by Mr.. Calhoun in the sentence, "The
cohesive power Of public plumber" The
Tammany Ring is o power, simply because 1t
governs for itself and its suppOrters-nOt for
the general good. Thousands hasten to do its
bidding, because they know its service pays.
1t selects men of character for the three seats
it had to fill afresh in Congress this year, be-
cause their responsibility would improve its
reputation, and it had no job set up" at
Washington: it sends to the Assembly, for the
most part, mere characterless, cOnscienceless
tools, because it needs unquestiOning instru-
ments at Albany, and knows that these will
receive Just as many votes as the best. In
short, it adapts its means to its ends, in full
view of the truth that
"Crowns got by blood must be by blood maintained"
Suppose the Ring should tomorrow for
swear prohigacy, and resolve thenceforth to
govern honestly and virtuOusly, how could
it ever again poll so many legal votes
~ it has just given to Hoffman, At
least half those votes were cast by men
who do not desire virtuOus frugal rule, but
the contrary. They are blacklegs, keepers Of
dens of infamy, liquor dealers who sell on
Sunday in defiance of law, with stipendiaTies
and jobbers who either have already secured,
or hope soon to secure, personal gain from
the sway they uphold. Do you suppose Mr..
John GlennOn, drawing two salaries from the
City treasury, with the approval of some Of
our great capitalists and fnanciers, while rem
deriDg no service whatever in return, wants
frugal and honest rulef If we have it, how
is he to livef And his case is that of at least
Ten Thousand of Tammany's most active and
efficient electioneerers. They want either pay
Tor doing nothing or impunity in doing
wrong; and they secure it by unfolding Tam
many's power She will lose her hold on them
rom the hour that she makes the public good
her controlling aim. Fernando Wood, when
hrst chosen Mayor, gave fair trial TO the
experiment OF governing 80 as TO secure the
appreciation OF the wise and good, and only
abandoned 1t when nc had become satisfied
that IL was alternating all his old friends and
not fully replacing them by new.
AT present, our City is governed unon a
clear comprehension of the fact that Virtuo ia
glow In perception and inefficient in action Viii
Vice il alert, apprehensive, and intent ON ,bo
maintenance Ten blacklegs afraid that fiji
craft is in danger will get more votes into tLe
ballot boxes-at least, will count more ont of
:hem-than forty deao0ns. Our rulers know
ii chit we'll that the voters who pay no tax.a