The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-10
The Convention To-MOrrow - JohI
KeIIy's Danger and Duty.

burning brightly. In every ward the leaders
are whispering, contending intriguing
endeavoring at the last moment to change
long matured results, grasping with energy
without pause. without remorse, for the
prizes of the canvass. Every moment brings
its rumor and every hour its new bulletin
In the morning one candidate is
up; by noon he has given place to
another The management of the cam
vass in the hands of John Kelly is
secret and hidden, and we really know
nothing of what has been resolved We
sometimes wonder if John Kelly himself
knows, as he looks out upon these seething
| bubbling, discordant elements which COM
pose Tammany Hall, and hears nothing but
the uproar of striving, Gliding unreasoning
partlsans, eager for their own preferment,
anxious for Office and caring nothing for the
means by which Office is gained.
The Convention which will meet to-mor-
row will record the will of John Kelly. So
far as he is good democrat he will give ex-
preston to the views of Governor Tilden.
This is the Alpha and Omega of our New
York politics. We might as well deal
frankly with that fact, because it is
versal suffrage, primary elections, local
clubs, party unions, are all summed up
in this one inquiry, "What does John Kelly
think best for his power in New York, and
what does Governor Tilden believe will best
serve his aspirations for the Presidency 2"
So far as we can read the signs of the contro-
versy John Kelly's army has victory within
its reach. 1t will require high order of
ability to lose the contest John Kelly has
simply to nominate an unexceptionable ticket
to walk from the Battery to Fordham with
his banners flying. Will he do so? He
has a great party to hold together
He has thousand hungry mouths
to feed. For every Office within his gift
there are a hundred applicants. He
sees these serried battalions of followers
swarming around his standard, shouting his
name, giving him every assurance of friend
ship and victory. He knows that tomorrow
they may be all against him. He has learned
for he is an old politician, that nothing is 50
tickle as the applause of the people. He has
probably read the anecdote Of Napoleon who
when he stood looking out from one of his
palace windows upon the multitude who
cheered him, said, in response to a congrat-
ulation as to the supreme felicity he had
attained, that the crowd would be Just
as enthusiastic if it had come to see his
execution. John Kelly, the master of Tam
many legions to-day, may be the leader Of
victorious army or the chief Of q routed
force, according as he manages the conyen-
tons which are about to meet.
1t is his duty as politician to do what is
best for his friends and for the party. That
no one will deny. But he has two interests
to serve before which all claims of Friendship
must surrender. His first duty is the sue
cess of the democratic party at the COM
ing election for the Presidency. That hinges
almost absolutely upon the integrity of dem
ocratic discipline in New York. The second
is the nomination Of Governor Tilden for
the Presidency. That will only come, if it
does come, by New York proving herself to
be the Empire State Of the democracy, az she
is of the Union. Now, wherever John Kelly
finds any interest antagonistic to these du-
ties, no matter whether it involves the adj
check it, He must nominate a ticket that
will carry New York bya majority SO decided
that Governor Tilden will feel strengthened
in his war upon the rings, and the demo-
cratic party will enter upon their cam
paign against Grant with renewed vigor. This
is simple duty but we are afraid that John
Kelly will not have the courage or the
strength to do it. Here, for instance, we are
told that some officers who have served the
city well, who have held their rank with
honor and praise, are TO be removed to give
place to followers of Tammany Hall. Con-
spicuous among these is the Recorder of New
York 1t is well understood among politi-
clans that so far as the slate is concerned
John X. Hackett is not to be renominated
When we ask the reasons for this we are told
that it is the will of John Kelly that he
has found candidate more pliable. more de-
voted to party interests, more obedient to his
will Yet if any man has earned the con-
fidence Of the community it is John X.
Hackett He holds one of the most respon-
sible positions in the gift Of the people. He
has never failed in his duty. He has re-
sisted alike Establishments and threats. He
has held the scales Of justice with an even
hand lie has made his name terror to the
criminal classes Of New York. He has been
threatened with assassination and assailed
by powerful combinations in Office and out
Of it. lie has held up to himself the highest
standard Of duty, and wherever be has seen
crime he has stricken It down. 1t is impos-
sible to overrate the value Of the services Of
man like John X. Hackett, especially in city
like New York, during such times as those
through which we have been passing lie
has proved himself to be an honest, worthy,
faithful officer. All voices are in his praise.