The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-08
The Danger 10 the New York De-
moeracy.


mocracy.
For several days past we have been advis-
ing the democratic opponents Of Tammany
Hall to forego their personal quarrels and
ambitions and to march on with the adj
vancing column Of the democracy to redeem
the States and the nation from republican
misrule, We have done this, not in the in
terest of the democratic party, but in the in
terest Of administrative reform, believing
that the public good demands and that the
popular heart desires the expulsion from
power of the present national administration
and its political supporters. That our appeal
has been effective is shown by the action OF
"the Honorable john" who, with the strong
common sense for which he is distinguished,
has promptly grasped the point Of our argu-
ment and withdrawn from active opposition
to Tammany, while avowing his continued
disapprobation of the abuses which
first induced him to array himself
against the present Tammany leaders.
1t is evident, however, that the concessions
for the sake Of party victory cannot come
wholly from one side. If the opponents OF
the present managers of the organization are
willing to suppress their personal feelings
for the general good the leaders, on theig part,
must evince a disposition to merit confidence
by selecting for Office true and tried men in
whom the people can trust Mr. Kelly can
not ask or expect that the anti-Tammany
democracy will yield everything if on his
part he stubbornly disregards the popular
sentiment and forces upon the community
batch of his personal friends and followers
as candidates for office
There are rumors in the air to the effect
that Mr.. Kelly does intend to insult the
democracy of New York by just such an
overbearing course. Experience might well
warn him of the danger of the experiment;
for he has seen Tweed, Sweeny and other
leaders, with far more power and capacity
than he possesses, display similar dis
regard of popular sentiment, and wreck
their fortunes through their folly But
disregarding these warnings, Kelly seems
to believe that the democratic nomina-
tions belong to him and not to the
party that is expected to support them. 1t
is said that Recorder Hackett-a Judge whose
praises are in the mouth Of all good citizens,
without distinction Of party-is to be refused
denomination for the position he has filed
so satisfactorily because he does not please
this great Mogul. The democracy, fighting
fight for administrative reform, and trust
ing for it's success to the popular determine
ton to advance the cause of honest govern
ment and to secure the punishment of ras-
cality and crime, is to stain its banner at the
outset by describing pure, upright and I'M
finching Recorder simply because John
Kelly does not fancy him and wants the place
for some favorite whose honesty and capacity
have yet to be tested.
We warn Mr.. Kelly and those who act with
him that if Recorder Hackett should be re-
jected by them for such unworthy reasons
the people of New York will take him on
their shoulders and carry him back in tri-
umph to the Bench he has honored, and from
which one or two dogmatical dictators desire
to Danish him. If therefore, the democracy
of New York should be disrupted after all
if the story of Miles O'Reilly is to be
told over again; if the lesson of the
Registers fight of last year is to
be repeated, the fault will lie with
John Kelly alone. ''The Honorable John, J"
although not candidate for Office, is still
ready to rebuke the insolence of one-man
dictation and will WELD all the more inlu-
ence through his self-abnegation. The
Adonis of the small talk orators, the gifted
O'Creamer, still looms in the opposition,
waiting only some such blunder on the part
of Tammany to shout his war cry, shake his
tomahawk, and gather up and consolidate
his forces. The republicans have Endorsed
the Recorder in advance and look eagerly for
his rejection by Tammany to press him for
ward in the name of the people. 1t is
scarcely credible that leader who on some
points has displayed sound judgment and a
sincere desire to advance the interests of the
democratic party should risk the danger of
defeat and stain his party banner by max
ing personal warfare on pure and fearless
judiciary. Mr. Kelly may rest assured that
in these days Of reform the people will prove
their appreciation of courage and integrity
on the Bench by giving an effective support
to Recorder Hackett, and that, whether as
the Tammany candidate or the Independent
candidate, they will re-elect him to the Office
he has filled so well.
The OLD TAMMANY LEADERS distinguished
themselves four or five years ago by keeping
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