The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-12

oddities gratifed by the democratic party Of
this State and this city. 1t is Of the very
essence Of democracy that political power is
lodged in the whole body Of citizens and
that all are entitled to voice in public af-
fairs. Nothing is SO repugnant to the spirit
of democratic institutions as a one-man
power or political dictatorship. But the
Democratic State Convention was controlled
by Governor Tilden, and the Tammany Con-
vention yesterday submitted to the Dictator
ship Of Mr.. John Kelly. While the coun-
try at large is protesting against C@sarlsm
we are RECALLED with two miniature Caesars IN
the democratic party of New York-one In
the State, the other in the city.
Rome thou has lost the breed Of noble bloods.
When went there by age, since the great hood,
But il famed with more than one man
When could thew say, till now that talked OF Rome,
That her wide walls encompassed but one MANI
Now il is Rome indeed and room enough,
When there is in II but one only man.
There may be an enlightened as well as q
stupid Cesarism the first was exemplifed
in Governor Tildens exercise of the one-man
power at Syracuse, the second by Mr.. John
Kelly in Tammany Hall yesterday. politi-
cal Caesar may be very good democrat at
bottom, and when he holds his dictator
ship by so frail a tenure as popular approval
he can maintain it only by ordering
such things as the good sense of the
people is likely to indorse. This is what
Governor Tilden had the sagacity to do at
SYRACUSE but Mr.. John Kelly has aped the
dictatorship without the same rectifying sa-
~; Ka11x
has depended on the mere force of party
spirit, assuming that if he could force the
nomination of his own candidates party feel
ing would suffice to elect them in city
where the democratic party is so strong. He
has acted on the assumption that regular
nomination is equivalent to an election,
whereas Governor Tilden was careful to
make up State ticket which deserves cleo
ton on its merits, knowing that party spirit
can act with unimpaired force only when the
party has good reason to be satisfied with it's
candidates Mr.. Kelly has sapped the foun-
dations Of his dictatorship by his failure to
initiate Governor Tilden's prudence and re-
inforoe party feeling with public approval.
The capital mistake made by Mr.. Kelly is
his attempt to deprive the city of the services
Of SO upright tried and popular magistrate
as Recorder Hackett, and to replace him
with subservient judicial tool. This mex
cusable blunder is likely to cost Mr.. Kelly
his dictatorship. Party spirit and party dis
cipline are strong, but public opinion is
stronger, as Mr.. Kelly's predecessors in
Tammany learned to their cost. Moreover,
he has hosts of enemies in Tammany itself,
who are impatient of his dictatorial manner
and undemocratic arrogance, and only await
his yoke. His attempt to fling out and crush
an upright democratic Judge like Recorder
Hackett supplies the occasion which his
democratic enemies have longed and waited
for. 1t enables them to appeal to public
opinion against him with reasonable assur-
ance that public opinion will be on their
side. He has put it in their power to accuse
him of pursuing the worst tactics of the old
Tammany Ring, which foisted its creatures
on the Bench as a means Of self-protection.
Mr.. Kelly's enemies in his own political
household will be glad to avail themselves Of
such an opportunity. They will rejoice that
he has outraged the public sentiment of the
best classes Of this great community be-
cause they have only awaited an oc-
casion when public sentiment would sup
port them to strike down the one-man
power and abolish Casarism in the city
democracy. Recorder Hackett possesses the
confidence Of our citizens in degree not
oFtor raacbad ~ 0ccnpante If 4ba Papob
In the whole period during which he has
presided in our most important criminal
Court his name has not been mentioned but
in terms implying warm appreciation. He
is one Of the most popular judges that ever
sat on the Bench which he occupies and
adorns. Mr.. Kelfy's attempt to drive so es-
teemed magistrate into the obscurity of pri-
vate life will not be indorsed by our citizens,
as Mr.. Kelly will learn in due time.
Mr.. Kelly's cut-and-dried nominations
went smoothly through, and there was no
necessity for his abusive TRADE against Re
corder Hackett, except as a means of justify
ing the action Of the Convention to the pub
lie. It was felt that the rejection Of SO up
right, independent and esteemed magis-
trate required defence, and on this point
Mr.. Kelly had correct appreciation of pub
lie sentiment. He knows that Recorder
Hackett has ''won golden opinions" and
felt constrained to offer an apology for sub
shutting one Of his favorites for SO
admirable and approved q Judge. This
invective speech was not needed to
influence his obedient Convention, but he
felt that it was needed to justify an indie
fensible act to the public. Mr. Kelly has
given new verifcation Of the trite French
proverb, "qi serc,tse, s'acolse that is to
say, man who makes explanations confesses
that public opinion condemns him Mr..
Kollr il cnrtninly CORRECT in thinking that