New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-23
T1KJyG DOWN THE SIGNS.

DOTtttUU ltSh VIII Dt obl' W. "'''P' ~
TAXING DOUN THE SIGNS.
The existing probability that President
Havcs's administration will, for wonder, do
what its SPONSORS promised for it, makes 1t
necessary for the Democrats to shift their po-
sition somewhat. So long as President Hayes
is putting into actual practice the reforms
they have been ciamOring for, they cannot do
otherwise than seem at least to be satisfied.
They cannot fight any longer on the issues OF
the campaign just passed. They seem sadly
aware of it. The change in the craftsmanship
of the National Committee, by which MI.
Hewitt-whOsc occupancy of that position had
given the public more confidence III the pur-
poses Of the party than any other one thing IN
the canvass-stcpped down and Senator Barnum
of Connecticut took his place, was significant.
Ii indicated, if not change of business on
the part of the old concern, purpose at least
to rcorganize on a new basis and to hang out
a new sign The party has been for great
many years Peter Funk establishments 1t
has carried on business under numerous dis
gllises, with constantly varying signs over the
door, and frequent changes of figure heads
partners clerks, and b0oIkeepers; bnt it was
ALWAYS the same business with the same gem
cral purpose, the same invested capital, and
for the most part the same owners; and the
genius and spirit Of the establishment were
always of the Peter Funk order. Sometimes
it was a mock auction, sometimes n sawdust
swindle. occasionally Il bogus lottery policy
shop, once or twice within the past few
wears an agency for Showing the queer"
ln4 al, rnui;lappp pf
sort; a business which held out tho in
duccmcnt of "grcat bargains" in the front
windows, and mveigled customers to the pur
chase of secondhand and damaged goods
at short measure and light weight. The
shifts and devices tricks and receptions,
to which these frisky political traders have
rcsorted during the past twenty years almost
defy enumeration. The careful observer of
current politics during that time will recall
many of them. 1t is u little remarkable
that, behind whatever signs and placardS they
lave arranged themselves and displayed their
stock, they have never undertaken to do an
honest business. Tho country never got any
thing of them yet that did not in the end turn
out to be pinchbcck.
1t was in 1854 that they put up the brand
How sigh VI tIuldl INbNfitlSHtI. CI'itl
that they engaged in the bulldozing known at
that time as Border Rullianism. Losing Con-
gress in that venture, they put up equal
Rights i'll the Territories" and prosecuted the
business of extending slavery. Then they
hung out "Thc Union and the Consttu-
"tiOn,' and undertook to dissolve the one
and subvert the other. Later they adver-
Used "N0 SubjugatiOn of the South" and
stTOvc to compel the submission of a majority
of the States to the will Of the minority. They
hung ont the banner of Peace, and under it
attempted to distract the counsels of the Gov
crnmcnt and create discussions among its sup
pOrterS. They urged more vigorous prose-
"cutiOn of the war; and set on foot draft
riots to hinder achievements for that pur-
pose. They set up as a tigure-head an unsuc-
cessful military commander, and in the same
breath proclaimed him a great general and
the war a failure. Then they hung up no.
tice that they accepted in good faith the
results of the war, and as opportunity
offered did their best to reverse them
" Rctrcnchment and Reform" and "Down
with Corruption were among the
signs that invited people in, to find Boss
Tweed and the Tammany Ring doing business
behind the counter. Bankrupt in 1872, they
made a prctense of clearing out the old stock
and beginning again on an honest basis
They succeeded i'll drawing in by that dodge
some additional trade, and began to recuperate
their fortunes. But under the sign of Gre
"conciation they began "buldozingn with
the first sign Of revival of prosperity, and in
the department of the shop devoted to Civil
Service Reform" there was such rush of
the idle and vicious, the lame and the law,
as threatened to upset everything and kill the
trade. Decent people withdrew in disgust,
and trade fell off.
Still, reform" seemed the best dodge, and
they kept up the sign. For months and
months Mr. Tilden stood at the door like
wooden Indian before cigar shop and
invited the public in. The old shop was
bedizened all over with new signs, and Peter
Funks Of all ages and descriptions were
prancing round on the sidewalk Obstructing
the passage and waylaying the passer-by, call
ing attention to the low-priced reforms adver-
tised and to the sincere image with wooden
benediction at the door, and issuing prom
ises without number and circulars without end
upon all the issues of American politics. And
they made very lively and long
campaign Of it. The progress and process
thereof were subsequently investigated. The