The Portland daily press., 1877-06-19
Our New York Letter.
Gathering of the Democratic CIaus---The
Sway of Tammany--Attitude of the
Mayor--Ths D. M ocratic CIainnnts-
senator ConkliBg's Departure.
NEW YORK, June 18th 18'


The Democrats have been having lively
time in New York this week. The Tammapy
men avsiled themselves of the visit of Goysru-
or Robinson to the CT to give him sere made
This was the signal for general turnout Of the
unscrubbed. 1t is astonishing how rapidly and
10 what prodigio1s numbers the clans can be
gathered on the summons of their chiefs.
There never was more docile obedieut and
unquestioning corps of retainers than the solid
mass who compose the rank and fiie of NV
York Democracy in responding to roll call
Bot when they once get together their tractility
abates very materially The show in this Cas-, was
large one, but rot by any means what m,ght
oe called orderly. The demoustr atous were alto
Rether too vociferous to permit any body ten feet
distant from the star performers from bearing
word of what was said. So there was noth-
log for it but to trust 10 the reporters. They
probably got tho principal speeches as they
were delivered, and manufactured the remain-
der in accordance with their respective tastes
aided 10y an occasional memory of some seq
tence that caught their ears
People naturally wonder why this especial
compliment should have been rendered to the
Governor at this time. 1t is not an uuusaal
thing for him to come to the city. He is here
often, and comes aud goes with as much free
dom as the average private citizen. Ordinarily
1t wouldn't be known beyond the crcte of his
personal friends or those with whom be
has business relations whether he was
in town or not. But this ev,deutly was pre-
concerted visit and all these arrangements were
made with great elaboration and for purpose.
The antl-Tammany Democrats say that the
meaning of it Is that the Governor has Joined
hands with the organization at Mr.. Kelly's
wigwam, with the concurrence and approval OF
Mr.. Tllden, aud this is an expression of reioc-
lug by the Sachems over the alliance. Iu that
view of the matter ths whole thing becomes
perfectly intelligible. The Governor certainly
did fulfil the requirements of TsmmaDy respect
ing local legislation. On the assumption that
he means to identify himself absolutely with
that wing of the party the attitude Of the
Mayor becomes a matter of great importance.
Tammany insists upon unchallenged sway of
the municipality in all Its departments. It
demands a thoroughly partisan government.
II the Governor has actually yielded TO this
behest there is nothing to interfere with its ac-
com plIshment but the Will of Mayor Ely, and
his course naturally becomes the object of much
speculation and solicitude. Thus far he has
shown no signs of finching from his ap-
parent intention of preserving the poti-
Ca equilibrium in the police board.
That is the special point of attack Just now
The Com missioner whose term has expired has
oeen holding over for sixty days. The Mayor
mas carefully refrained from renominating him
which indicates that he does not want to pat it
10 the power of the Aldermen to reject him,
out he has tested their temper by giving them
two other Republican nam-s which they have
compllmented by prompt refusal of confirm
| alton. 1t is evident that the Executive
aud legislative branches of the city govern
| ment are not in accord, and as the latter il
Tammany all over, it looks for the moment as
if the former might be forced into position of
Antagonism to the organization whence he de-
rived his nomination. 1t will not be the first
time either, by several. In fact, as far az my
memory serves me, the Mayor has sbeen much
oftener against Tammany than. for it. They gave
him Congressional nomination aud election
10 1870, but it was solely because he was q
troublesome person at home aud they wanted
to keep him in Washington where he could
not be prying into their affairs. He was al
ways pronounced anti Tweed and anti Ring
man, aud while he is not at all the sort of per.
son to break with his party friends capricous-
Iy, he will not shrink from doing SO If the al
tentative is the violation of plighted or implied
faith with any body.
There was some kind of an understanding
arrived at last fall between the Republicans and
Democrats which gave the lat er . walk over
III the municipal election. Precisely what ID
was or who we're parties to it, nobody seems to
know. 1t evidently was not kind of agree
ment that anybody is proud of now But one
of its provisions is generally conceded to have
been the maintenance of neutrality in the po-
lice department The bargain was obisctoua
BILE enough from an ethical point of view, but Ii
was losing one for the Republicans, as W. II.
If they were to be cheated now out Of the
trihlbg consideration for which they sarren-
dered the city to the Democratic olIgarchy it
would be difficult to determine whether their
condition was the most pitisble or that Of their
opponents most execrabIe. Mayor Ely is pal
pably endeavoring to save his friends from the
humiliation of dishonor.
Oa the evening of the 18th the Manhattan
Club gave reception to Mr.. Hendricks Just
prior to his departure for Europe. The Man
haitian is the head quarters Of the elite of the
metropolitan Democracy. 1t is where the
swels of the party congregate, the "Swalluw-
tails as they are sneeriDgly designated by
their short haired coadjutors who dwell in
cue tenement houses on the east side of the
town. The rich Democrats of New York are
Infinitely more exclusive aud aristocratic than
ha
them; in fact the disproportion is extreme; but
they display vast deal more of the spirit of
caste than their opponents. Nor is this at all
surprising on reflection. They are called Dem
ocrats to be sure, but the word represents
merely title, not principle. They do not
subscribe to any doctrine that is democratic
They believe in superior and inferior race or
order Of beings. They practice this theory
more conspicuously in the South than at the
North, but it is the basis of their action all over
the land.
Fhe Manhattan was In regal attire for this
occasion. White kids and patent feathers pre-
santed their appropriate contrasts The speeches
were somewhat lugubrious bat that Is not bad
style for leave taking Predictions OF victories
which cannot at best be achieved for nearly four
years, are very luaoequate cOmpenSat0n5 Tor
lisappointments that are recent aud actual. L
tuink on the whole thsy were as cheerful as
could possibly be expected under the circum-
stances. The Indiana statesman has done
sensible thing in treating himself to a fur.
iough. he will have chance when he gets
abroad of noticing what homage the nations of
Europe bestow upon the greatest and best of
his countr ymen
To-day Senator Conklipg departed on brief
excursion to foreign laods. Tnis is a thing
he has long been strongly urged by physicians
aud friends to do. 1t so happened that iu the
expectation of a session OF Congress in June,
be succeeded IN getting all his law cases put
over TILL October. just as he han this arrange
msnt perfected the p,stponemeut WAS announ-
cd. 1t was most vexatious change from a
business point of view, but it left h,m with
leisure to make the ocean voyage which he 50
much needed. he has not been we'll man for
more than year. He has been all the While
excessively overtasked aud sixty days rest of
hodv and chanua of aoana mill oo