The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-01
THE DEnOcRArIc OUTDOOR.
Tammany Hall and Its Standing In the Rural
Regions.

ALBANY, Feb. 2s.-A mild and benevolent
cmssary Of John Kelly. who recently visited
this city. remarked TO rural Democrat: " II
Tammany Hall should support the rcnomina-
tion Of Gov. Robinson. 1t would be- such n mag
unanimous act that II ought to call forth some
concessions from the other side" lie WIS an
sw"red in these words: II would hurt GOV.
Robinson moro than 1t would benefit him to ro-
ceivc the support Of Tammany. That organi-
zatlon Is n source Of weakness, not Of strength
to the Democratic party In the interior Of tho
state. Its opposition would help candidate
moro than It's endorsement through all the
rural countiee." The New Yorker expressed
unlimited nstonishmcnt at this bold assertion
and declared that he had never heard such q
statement before. 1t is quite possible that
others among the Tammnny followers shnro
this innocent ignorance. and it is important
therefore. that tho standing Of Tammnny Hall
among the country Democrats should be- fully
and clearly explained.
In 1866. for the hrs, time in the history Of tho
State. an active participant in tho counscls OF
Tammany was named Tor Govcrnor-John T.
Hoffman. His record was clean Ho had served
ns Recorder Of New York. and had twice boon
elected Mayor. lie was Il man Of education. rc-
nncmcnt and character. But the mere fnct
that hn was identified with Tammnny Hall
operated against him so strongly in tho Com
Ncntion that be- would certainly have been de-
fcated but for one thing. His chief competitor
for the honor was John 4. Dix. Coy. seymour
remembering the savage attacks which DIX had
made upon him in 1864. resolved 10 defeat him
at all hazards. lie therefore threw his innn-
cnce in favor Of Hoffman. and thus turned the
tide. But Hoffman was defeated at tho election,
partly through the skill which Fcnton displayed
In playing upon the prejudice which existed
against Tamuauy. IN 1sOS. Hoffman having
made n good cunvns-. was rrnominatad under
party usage. and elected. At the time of his re-
election in 1870 the prejudice. il it was preju-
dice. against Tumnany had visibly subsidized.
BESIDES. he had no competitor but little stewart
Woodiord. who had had private relation with
some slayr-traiing enterprise. But the events
81 a." next two y"ats-th" recklrss legislation
of 1871. the 18Th Of JlSy nifuir. tho exposure OF
the Tweed rohhorcs-all conspired 10 in
tensiiy the arti-Tanuuuy sentiment of tho
State. IN 1872 TIE NEST effective thing TINT WIS
said against Horace Greeley was that Tam
many supported him. II took tho country Dem
oeru's half the time to explain that It was a
new Tnmmany-thnt the old organization hal
been purified. and 50 on. Tho explanation I'D
not count for much. Names are names In the
rural districts and no man or party can shake
on IN day the odor OF past achievements.
Whom Mr.. Tilden WIS proposed for Governor
in 1874 his activity In prosecuting Tweed saved
him from the hostility OF those who hated Tam
many. He never seemed 70 have been identi-
frd With that institution. and the faith WAS gem
crnl that he wouli rise superior to ts demands.
But even as it was. his quarrel with John Kelly
did not come "A day too soon. Il that eminent
dictator had boon hircl % advanc, Mr. Tilrn'-
residential prospects. he could not have done
tho work moro effectively than he did. At 81.
Louis tho Democratic delegations from every
State in the Union. when they hesitatrd about
voting for Mr.. Tilden. were met with the re-
mark: Tammany Hall opposes him." and in
many cases that decided them IN Tilden's favor
II he had been Tnmmunys candidate he would
have encountered much more opposition in the
Convention. and would have lost tens Of thou
sands ~ votes Mt the polls
During the first year Of Gov. Rohlnson's torn
the suspicion was aroused that his relations
with the Tammany leaders were too fricn lly.
H. vetoed a number of bills which Kelly OPP
posed. aud accepted q reception IN New York
city at the close Of the legislative session. This
hurt him in tho country. But luckily for him.
Kelly quarrcllel with him before tho Convention
of 1871 assembled. and since then the Cover
nor's popularity has increased.
At the election Of 1873 tho Democrats did not
hud much 10 rejoice over. They were badly
benten in thrce-quarters Of the Congressional
districts aud in lourHfths " the Assembly dis.
trisis. But IN n thousand country places. whcro
thcy met 90 hear the news. they received the re-
turns in gloomy silence til the announcement
came tina, Tnmmnny was beaten and that Eli
ward Cooper was elected Mayor Of New York
and then for a few moments their grief yielded
to noisy demonstrations of delight.
The rural estimate Of Tammany ought not 10
he false for it is derived from the statements of
rs own lenders, past ana present. Il Is not for
gotten that at the Rochester Convention OF 1871
Mr.. Tweed arrogantly asked: Are you going
TO get along without the 10000 votes which
controlG" Somebody mildly suggested that
perhaps he did not control so 00O votes. He re-
ferrod them 10 tho election returns u 1870. But
he wis reminded that changes Ind occurred
during the year. ana that certain exposures
had been made. He replied; Exposures be
damned! Look at our oreani1ation Every
ward has It's workers. and their bread and butter
depend on what they do. Each man among
them is responsible for a given number Of
votes, and those votes will be cast. What do
you suppose they cure for eXposrrcs2 II |
ordered them To do IT, tho whole 81 900 would
vote for the devil"
The event proved that Mr. Tweed was mis-
taken But his opinion Of the machne-like
character II Tammany Hall produced an un-
pleasant effect on the minds 81 country Demo
crafts The ncXt year Tweed WIS not present az
tho Convention. In his place came John Kelly.
man whose personal honesty was not qucs-
toned, but whose claim 10 Dictatorship was rs
bold ana nsoent as that Of his predecessor had
been. lie. too, talked confidently Of what his
$4,000 voters would do. and when his delegates
were questioned il was found that thcy had no
opinions Of their own. bur olsequlously re-
ierrcd all points in controversy to Mr. Kelly
rs some OF them had formerly done to Mr..
Tweed
Now this kind Of Democracy is lntolorebo 10
the average countrymnn. lie can neither un-
dorslanl nor endure it, Tammanys tactics
diner wholly from those in vogue elsewhere.
There is not man in Abany-ncither Judge
Parker. Mr. Manning. Mr. Corning. nor Mir.
Peckhnm-who can say in advance that he will
Pee permitted tp 20 Ia the Convention; much
less TINT he will be- able TO contest the votes of
tnrohrr delegates from the county. SANFORD
l.. Chur'h has boon beaten more chan ONCE In
the caucus NJ Albion. GOV. Dorshoimrr has
found himself unable Mt times to control the
vote of his own ward. Francis Kornnn has hnou
nraien tor the Convention IN hls own Assembly