The New York herald., 1870-03-28
Bands Banners and Bad Tomper-The
Tammany Powwow.


Bands Banners and Bad Tomper-Ths
Tammany Powwow.
These were the prominent features OF the
democratic serenades on Saturday night. II
is hard to reconcile the language which the
orators of the different factions indulged in
except on the principle of the chameleon, that
'both are right and both are wrong" Their
denunciations Of each other were something
terrible to hear. The young democracy
claimed that they were the people-the op-
pressed people--and that their opponents were
the tyrants. 1t was the conflict of the Horatii
and Curatii over again. But the fatal decision
is not come yet. The six chieftains are still
living, although the results Of this evening 3
meeting at Tammany may decide who are the
doomed Curatii.
1t is doubtful which was loudest and most
brilliant, the bands and banners of the sere-
naders or the oratory of the serenaded. The
spirit manifested all round augured badly for
the prospects of harmony anticipated at the
powwow tonight What kind Of Charter
can we expect, founded upon such q temper as
that which controlled the different politicians
on the occasion referred to? II will be more
multi colored patchwork than the silk stocking
and rough and ready hybrid-that Cerberus
day-unless there should prevail in council
the sagacity Of Tweed and the wisdom Of the
silent chief, who, although absenting himself
from disreputable affray, cannot be wholly
Indifferent to the fate Of the party he has SO
successfully directed for fifteen years or
more.
We are promised Charter such as we out
line elsewhere at an early day, but the
Legislature must hurry up in dealing with
it. If it takes three or four weeks to caucus
conference, and squabble aboutit on the floor,
as the lost charters did, there may not be
time to make it law this session Should
this misfortune occur the people will hold the
democratic majority to a severe accountability
for leaving the city still under the rule Of the
obnoxious commissions for another year.
The democratic members were elected for the
purpose and with the distinct understanding
that these commissions should be either abol-
ished altogether or 80 remodelled as to strip
them of their abuses. 1t is safe to say, then,
that not one of these members who trifle
with this issue for factious or for cor
rupt motives can expect ever to re-
ceive the endorsement Of his constituents
again. We care nothing for the success
of either faction, considered merely as fac
ton, but we are deeply interested in the good
of the people Of this metropolis. We do not
desire to see tho city government in the bands
of prize fighters, cockpit heroes, gamblers, and
the men who would shield repeaters and de-
fend the fraudulent ballot box. We would
prefer not to see the county treasury in the
hard-lsted grip of Jack Morrissey; nor the
police force filed with such model officials as
Jenny O'Brien's deputy sheriffs; nor the
Street Department manipulated by the rough
and tumble adherents Of Mike Norton. This
would not be progress and reform, which they
promise us. It would be retrogression and
abuse of the peoples rights. Thus far, there
fore, our sympathies go with any party that
can save our citizens and taxpayers from such
an affection as this kind of legislation would
impose upon them. The present commissions
have their faults, and the majority, according
to the good old rule, have the right to exer-
else the power and enjoy the spoil with which
the votes of their constituents have invested
them; but those privileges must be used for the
public good and no> for mere personal aggran-
dizement
The question at issue now between the war
ring factions of the city democracy appears to
be whether an inexperienced set Of leaders,
who are restlessly opposed to the present man
agement of the party, shall obtain all the
power and all the spoils. 1t is true that the
young democracy talk good deal about s're-
form" and their duties to the people. This
may be delusion, or it may be fraud.
With some Of them it is probably a delusion,
created by personal hostility and rancor; in
others created by the self pride of youthful
statesmen which permits them to see no good
outside of themselves.
The men who urged on the call for the Tam
many gathering tonight are, we presume, pre-
pared to shape some plan for Charter which
will not prove farce. That all parties con-
cerned are prepared, too. to make reasonable
concessions to each other we have some right
to expect-to throw their tomahawks behind
them, trample their feathers in the dust, wash
off their war paint as Dan Bryants burnt cork
minstreIs divest themselves of the smut on
their faces, and, taking good Whit all round
of the calumet of peace, give the public rest
from this long drawn out and senseless quar-
rel Should it reach another termination ii
will be no farce for the democratic party, but
dismal tragedy, whose closing scene will be
at the fall election.
The choice is in the hands of the leaders.
THE ROME (GA.) Courier casts o political