The New York herald., 1875-10-30
The city Canvass.

meeting the issues they attack with unsparing
malignity the personal character of the can
didates Of the anti-Tammany party. Instead
Of showing what they have achieved during
their one year Of rule since Wickham came
into power they dig down into the sepul-
chres of the past and ask us to look at this
bone and that bone of some mouldering rec
ord. They complain because a few hot
headed leaders at ward meetings attack Mr..
Kelly. They deplore personality in the cam
vass, and yet the amount of bitterness and
slander and defamation of character which
Tammany leaders, writer's and speakers have
poured over Recorder Hackett and Mr..
Phelps and other anti-Tammany can
didates is appalling. The enemies OF
Tammany Hall devote their canvass
to principles, while the Tammany leaders
are personal and virulent This shows
the Tammany weakness. When politicians
become angry they fear defeat Now II Mr.
Hackett, for instance, was good enough
democrat yesterday, if he was accepted
as a blameless and honest citizen, and
thought worthy Of respect and confidence by
the Tammany leaders down almost to the
very morning of their nominations, why
should he now be held up to odium and re-
proach? The reason is plain. Mr.. Hackett
as Recorder has not simply done his duty as
a criminal judge, but he has refused to allow
his office to be made n part of the patronage
Of Tammany Hail. For this personal reason
the canvass against him is marked with
malignity which we have scarcely seen sur
passed even in New York politics.
But this ferocity Of attack will not, we are
convinced, drive the anti-Tammany leaders
from their true ground. 1t is not their bust
ness to attack John Kelly. Because his hire
lings throw mud at Recorder Hackett they
must not soil their hands by throwing mud
at him. Nor must they allow personal con-
siderations or passion to interfere with the
great principles of the canvass Their can
vass is by no means personal. They fight
for the integrity of the democratic party, the
independence Of this municipality, the free
dom of the people The anti-Tammany men
are the real democrats of this controversy
They contend for pure democratic rule.
They make war upon a system which
is in violation of every tradition Of
democracy. This system takes its rise in
a secret society. We know from the teach
ings of the early fathers what the democrats
Of the Revolution thought of secret associa-
tions in politics. AS able man as Disraeli
recently repeated the warning. This system
represses every expression Of opinion or
freedom of thought in the councils of the
+ oEaui nj nf
committee on discipline" which sits like
the revolutionary committees during the
Reign Of Terror, to drive out, disfranchise,
degrade and expel from Office, if he hold
one, or from political influence if he pos
sesses it, any man who, like Mr.. Morrissey
for instance, dares to criticise the will of the
leaders This system makes the civil SER
vice in New York source Of corruption, a
stigma upon our institutions. 1t puts at
the disposal of Mr. Kelly every office
holder, from the chief ofa bureau down to the
poor laborer on the Boulevard. 1t compels
every holder to submit to the will of
the secret organization or be driven from his
place. 1t takes away from the demo-
cratic masses any power over the elections.
1t abolishes that great wise function Of all
parties, the right to meet in convention and
select candidates. 1t remands nominations
to the will Of John Kelly, as five years ago it
did to the will Of William NJ Tweed. Conse-
quently there is no responsibility on the
part of the leaders Of the party to the masses.
How can democrats, no matter how intrepid,
arrest ring or create reform, if they feel
that the moment they open their lips they
will be shackled by the Committee on Disci-
pline and tossed into the tumbril?
The democratic party in New York, which
should be the inspiration and comfort of the
democratic party in the country, is really
burden to it. The democrats throughout the
Union look upon the New York organization
as a scandal anda sore. It's snotan expression
of pure democratic life, but an liberation. 1t
was largely because OFT this one man power, toll
Grated in New York unchecked and accepted
by the democratic party throughout the
country, that General Grant received his
overwhelming majority in 1872. The deeds
of Tammany were the strongest arguments in
favor of Grant in that memorable campaign.
Unless the honest democrats of this city
break Tammany and John Kelly's one man
power, and reorganize the party upon basis
that will admit into its active support all
who believe in their principles, the same re-
suit will come in the next Presidential cleo
ton. If Governor Tilden should be nom
mated for the Presidency, aided by Tam
many Hall as now controlled, his race would
be like that Of Sinbad the Sailor, when the
Old Man Of the Sea leaped upon his back
This American nation will never accept a
democracy whose leadership comes from
Tammany Hall. 1t never will permit the in
PRODUCTION into our national politics Of the
men who so long controlled New York.
This is not censure Of John Kelly, but Of