Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-11-12

political organization in the country at one
blow.
What is Tammany No name appear,
more frequently in politics, and yet very few
know anything about the origin of the or
ganization or its method Of working 1t l.
understood to be an immense political pow
or, but what it is, and how it works, but
few know. The 60 Tammany Society. OF
the Columbian Order" was established in
1889 by William Mooney, noted politi-
clan of that day. The order took its name
from Tammany, prominent Delaware chief,
and its government was modelled after that
of the Indians, Great Father being the
chief, surrounded by twelve saehems as his
couusclors. Mooney was the first Grand
Sachem. At the beginning, there was some
pretext of benevolencc in the order, but
that was doubtless sham. Its objects were
always political, and nothing else. The
members met for many years at taverns, and
the meetings were, after the business Of the
tNttllHH DtCu QASfsAtIhSlf WY lOill .
While Mooney was the originator Of the
order, and its first chief, a greater man was
from its beginning for many years its actual
head, though he wisely lept out Of sight.
Aaron Burr, the greatest and iOulest Of
American politicians, saw the advantage Of
having disciplined body behind him, and
he seized Tammany and subordinated it to
his purposes. He was the leader of the
lower classes in the city and State, and he
used Tammany to control the better classes
of which it was then composed. Hamilton
his bitter enemy, was the head Of the $50
ciety Of the Cincinnati" which was Federal
in its tendencies, and Tammany was a fair
Offset to its influence.
The society was then precisely what it is
nova political power in the hands Of q set
Of men working for a common object. In
1900, the election in New York CITY made
jefferson and Burr President and Vice
President Of the United State. Ii was
Burr who did it, by means Of Tammany
men who were initiated into the society on
the eve of the election.
Martin Van Buren, originally an oppO-
nent Of TammaDy. saw, ike Burr. the ad-
yantages to be derived from the orsaniza-
ton, and he joined it. Ii carried him into
all the minor Offices he desired, and iiually
made him a Senator.
In 1854 Fernando Wood became its mas
ter spirit, and was elected to the mayoralty
of the city. la 1856 Sweeney, Tweed, and
their associates threw Wood oyeIb0ari, and
they ruled it. When the people rose in
their wrath and overthrow their DIV nasty,
LIN Ia oil tf..k bo
now, though the late election Will probably
finish him. and another will take bis place
The society has a regular form uf militia
ton, the same as Other secret societies, and
its members are bound by pledges, though
fidelity is assured more by the profit u be
derived from iaithiulness than by any VOWS
its members take. 1t is most admirably or
,anized. First, there is the Grand Sachem.
appoints all the committees. The com
nittees call all conventions Of the Democratic
party Of the city and county, and they num-
Der hundreds. The head has the power t.
appoint and remove from the committees at
pleasure, 50 every man Of them Is in his !
power. At this point the real strength of !
he society begins. No man can be appoint
ID To any position except upon the ind0rsc- !
nent of these committees. The great army
# Oihce-holders, those who receive and dis |
purse the enormous sums required to govern |
he city Of New York, all hold their places |
" the will Of these committees. and these
hold their places at the viii of
me man, the head. This system makes the
irand Saehem the dictator of the city. for
'nly occasionally can the people beso reused
Is TO combine against force 50 well d>ci-
,lined and 50 admirably directed.
Then it has the moral support Of tue par
y in the State and nation. No Democratic
who aspires to prefermeut can
fOrd to be Indifferent to a power that con
rOls so great State a. New York, for
IammaDy not only makes municipal and
'tate officers. but it selects the delegates To
Conventions. 1t Is, in short. the
Democratic party of the State in the hands
t one man. His rule i not only acknow-
dyed by the leaders, but they do all in their
over TO strengthen it, because each one has
atronage to distribute in proportion to the
otes he can control. The offices are all di-
ided among the faithful, and, if there are
OF enough to 60 around, it is easy enough
, make new ones.
How was it overthrow at the las; lee
on :? Why, Kelly, the present head, was
OF judieious in distribution. John Morris
y wanted more than Kelly thought he was
ltitled to, and Morrissey rebelled Kelly
moved him from the committee, and he
ent out and appealed to the people Kelly
Id cut down the wages of the laborers in
lie employ of the city, and was consequent
unpopular with them. The Republicans
ere willing to do anything to kill this one
an power, and 50 they united with the ,,
lti-Iammany Democrats, aud carried the q
tY. ,,