Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-18
The New York Democracy.

appreciation of Democrats in every
section of the country. The arrogant,
dictatorial attitude of Tammany Hall
and its impudent assumption of SUI
preme authority in shaping the policy
and in naming the candidates of the
party bore the legitimate fruit of ig-
nominious and deserved defeat. When
John Kelley began his relentless war
on Governor Robinson and trained
the batteries of Tammany's wrath
upon him, there was a widespread be-
lief that he was making one of those
irreparable mistakes often committed
by men, who, flushed with power and
fiattered by the adulation of sycophan-
tic followers believe themselves om-
nipotent. There was no imputation
upon Governor Robinson personally
or upon his administration of State
affairs made by John Kelley. The
only grievance Tammany's chief had
to parade before the world was the re-
moval of several of his henchmen
from important positions in the New
York City government. In his action
in relation to the city clerk and the
police commissioners, the Governor
was supported by the intelligent judg-
ment of dispassionate men of all par
ties. The charges made against these
officials were of the most damaging
character, and there was and has been
no effort upon the part of the accused
to explain them away. For his indie
pendent and patriotic course in prompt
ly removing these uniaithful officers
John Kelley demanded Governor
Robinson's political decapitation. But
the people in the rural districts had
no sympathy with Tammany Hall or
its fight for the spoils of Office. They
had seen with gratitude and pride that
Governor Robinson administered his
high public trust with rare fidelity
and with the single purpose of advanc-
ing the prosperity of the whole people,
reducing the burdens that bore heavi.
ly upon them and enforcing economy
and honesty in the State governments.
He had reduced the rate of taxation
from ten mills to four and diminished
the State debt over eight millions of
dollars. Remembering these things
the Democrats outside of New York
City sent practically unanimous dele
cations to Syracuse instructed to vote
for honest Lucius Robinson. Against
this solid phalanx of delegates who
could be neither bought, cajoled or
bullied, the waves of Tammany's hate
surged in vain. For once since John
Kelley assumed the dictatorship he
found himself in Democratic con-
vention in a hopeless minority, his
sceptre broken and his boosted power
thing of the past. We congratulate
the gallant Democracy of the Empire
State upon having thrown off the in
cubus of Tammany leadership. The
society is we'll enough in itself but it
is used by designing and unscrupu-
lous politicians for the aggrandize-
ment of themselves and their friends.
1t has been prostituted to the basest
purposes. 1t has become q by-word
and a reproach throughout the length
and breadth of the land, and now
that the initiative step has been taken
we hope the work of the Syracuse
iconoclasts will not stop until Tam
many Hall ceases to be factor in
Democratic politics. John Kelley is
reputed to be an honest man, but his
methods differ but little from those of
his predecessor, and while he may be
personally the embodiment of integ.
rity and purity he wields his great
power and immense patronage in o
way that is best calculated TO advance
bis own interests and minister to his
soaring ambitions. He has put him
self outside of the Democratic house
hold, and party discipline and party
selfrespect alike demand that his trea,
son in Withdrawing in the face of the
enemy shall not be condoned. We
u