New-York tribune., 1871-09-26
TIE FAILURE or TAAMANY.


TIE FAILURE or TAAAANY.
II ia pretty well understood among all can
did men that Democracy, pure and simple
has brought the City to its present pass. Tne
Democratic party and Democratic City 'ov-
ernment is responsible for all the ILLS we
suffer now. In this City, Tammany m
Democracy and Democracy is Tammany the
two titles are convertible terms in New-York
CITY. at least Democracy (or Tammany, you
like IL better) is responsible for an ineffclent
police, social anarchy, neglected streets, an
oppressed commerce, defleds courts, thefts OF
millions of the public funds, an enormous City
debt. and a bankrupt City treasury. This Is
fearful Indictment against any party, and 1t
ia not surprising that the Democracy tries 70
eyade the responsibility. But it has long been
the boast of the Democratic party OF the whole
country that the great city of the nation was
ruled by the Democracy. 1t may as well take
with that credit all its collateral burdens.
We, In New-York, are enjoying the benefit OF
Democratic rule
1t cannot be plead even, that the legisla-
ton at Albany last Winter was not Demo-
cratic as well as of Tammany. 1t was Tam
many, reinforced by the Democratic party OF
the State which bound this City haud and
foot and delivered her over into the hand OF
the spoiler. If few purchasable Republicans
helped tie the cords, it was Democratic cash,
filched by Tammany Democrats, that paid for
their work. And Tammany has shaped the
policy of the State, Tammany politicians being
foremost everywhere in party councils. And
this corrupt, baleful, and domineering Organiza-
ton finally grew so great that it shouldered its
way into the National Democratic Convention
and defeated Western candidate for nOmi-
nation for the Presidency 1t was Tammany
that promoted John T.. Hoffman from the
Msyoralty to the GovernOrship; and it was
Tammany that owned and used that machine
man. And this same power behind the throne
issued the Kelso order fOrbidding the Orange
procession on the 18th of July, and then hurried
out the Governors countermanding prOclama-
ton when it found itself confused and con-
founded by it's own weak counsels. Tammany
and the Democracy are everywhere so inter-
mingled and intertwinea that they cannot be
dissociated in mems minds, nor divorced
in any court of judgment. They must
stand or fall together. Yet, such papers as
The World, which has all along linked its for
tunes with Tammany's bad cause, and has
lust been swearing that the Tammany mana
gers we're the best and purest OF men, now
shrieks, "Throw Tammany overheard, but
save the party" As though when Tammany
"a gone there is anything left worth saving.
SO Mr.. Tilden sends out his appeal to the
Democracy, pleading that the Tammany cor
ruption be excised, even if the knife go deeply
into the vitals of the patty. AS though Tam
many and its corruption had not entered INTO
| and obtained dominion over the whole party
| in this City and State.
We have nothing now to say about the
Democratic party in the State; but we warn
our fellow citizens of the Democratic faith
that to attempt to reform their organization
in this City is surely dangerous experiment.
It is altogether rotten and gone beyond hope
of reformation. It is utterly futile to purify
the party from within. 1t is rs hopeless task
as that undertaken by Luther, when, in the
sixteenth century, he attempted to reform
corrupt Church while he still held to its tenets
and outward forms. Like Luther, the real
reformer must go to work on the out
side of the old organization, operating
from without instead of fondly and hopelessly
trying to save the fabric from within. Honest
Democrats must give over trying to save the
City and their local organization together.
There is too much Tammany in both of these
to make salvation possible Yet nobody asks
or expects that the men who honestly desire
to serve the best interests of the City shall
join themselves ito any organization to which
they have been heretofore opposed. There is
no necessity for that. We only ask that there
shall be a union of honest men of all political
parties for the purpose of saving the City
from the thieves and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. into
whose hands it has fallen. We have no
need for Democratic or Republican platforms
in the management of the Controllers office.
No resolutions of 1913 nor Chicago platform Of
1850 can possibly affect the disposition of the
stolen vouchers. But union of taxpayers,
law abiding citizens, and honest men may
snatch the City from bankruptcy and revolu-
ton. We give notice that there are thousands
of Republicans in this City who are willing
and waiting to combine in such movement;
provided always, that they are not to help in
the canvass and in the vote, while party
which has miserably failed to govern the City
carries off the substantial honors of victory.