The New York herald., 1871-04-21

watering. Supposing that in the aggregate
Tammany can bring fifty millions of money
to bear upon our coming Presidential contest,
and in the manipulation of leading politicians
of both parties, how-in these times of politi-
cal corruption and the almighty dollar"--how
is this power to be resistedP
Suppose, in the next place, we thus secure
q democratic President with the restoration to
the party of Its old Southern balance of power,
and that the South, in compensation, upon the
good old maxim that ''Sauce for the goose is
sauce for the gander." demands the repudia-
ton Of what Mr.. Toombs Of Georgia, would
call the Northern debt how can this repudia-
tion be avoided by a democratic Congress?
And may not these things come to pass; for is
it not fact that even the Southern blacks
considering after the reputation of the South
ern war debt and their Confederate scrip-dO
not like the idea of being taxed to pay the
Union war debt? To their rude sense of JUS
tice this is unfair, and they think that
the Northern debt should also be wiped
out. But, again, is 1t not fact
that Colonel John W. Forney, in 1856, through
a fund of some two hundred thousand dollars,
more or less. raised in this city for the pur-
pose-by buying up certain Fillmore clubs and
campaign presses in Pennsylvania in time for
the October election of that year in that State
did defeat Fremont and save Buchanan, and
secure his election in November? And if
Forney did this thing in 1856 upon two hun
dred thousand dollars, where can we limit the
power of Tammany, in these corrupt times,
operating upon joint stock cash basis of
fifty millions? If she could and did with ease
buy the other day one incorruptible Winans,
may she not tomorrow buy thousand?
The present commanding position of Tam
many and New York city, however, in refer
ence to the State and the nation is fearfully
suggestive of an ultimate conflict somewhat in
its political aspects like that of this day between
the Commune Of Paris and the provinces Of
France, as represented In the government ..
many-that she may become too big for her
breeches; may undertake too much as politi-
cal power, and thus combine the State and
the country against her. Money is a mighty
power, but great and popular ideas are more
powerful than money. Upon the great idea
that ''God is God, and Mahomet is his prophet"
that founder Of new faith, without money,
went forth to lay the foundations of great
empire. From time to time, from that day to
this, history supplies us with numerous ex-
amples of the resistless force of great ideas;
but not one ofthem is more impressive than the
great idea-the extinction of slavery-upon
which our republican party of this day came
into power. Tammany, with all her money,
must have some great and popular ideas to
work upon, or she will be failure.
General Grant has, at least, one great popu-
lar idea to stand upon-an honest administra-
ton. ''The tree is known by its fruit" What
fruit is to come from the fourishing Tammany
tree we cannot tell. 1t will have to pass the
test of comparison with Grants administra-
ton; and upon this test the figures are 80 far
in favor of Grant But if the wiser heads of the
Wigwam are permitted to rule she may, even
within year, make herself a name in New
York which will give her strength from Con-
necticut to California. Otherwise, upon the
programme Of spoils and plunder, bribery, cor
ruption, Southern rights and reputation, she
may bring confusion upon the city, State and
country; but she will herself be involved, and
first of all, in the general wreck and ruin.