Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-01
TAMMANY,S SUBLIME CHEEK.

Il LII MdN I'S SUBLIME CH EEhs
Probably the checklist proceeding of the
decade is the application Of Tammany Hall
for mandamus demanding that the po-
lice commissioners of the city of New York
appoint members of that organization as in
spectors of election. The law under which
these inspectors are appointed requires that
a part of those officials shall be selected from
the Republican and part from the Demo-
cratic party. This has been the custom
heretofore, and has given general satisfac-
ton. But this year it happens that Tam
many has placed itself outside the Demo-
cratic party by boiling it's nominations, and
yet, with an efrontery beyond parallel, it
lays claim to all of the inspectors belonging
to the Democratic party, assuming to be
that party IN esse. This preposterous claim
is supported by a long opinion from the pen
of George Tichnor Curtis, who argues at
length that because the Tammany organiza-
ton. has for long years been the principal
controlling element in the Democratic party,
it is in fact the party itself. and has the
right to name theinspectors of election for
the whole party, Notwithstanding the fact
that it no longer belongs to it, hav-
voluntarily surrendered it's membership.
We have great respect for the legal and
mental attainments of Mr.. Curtis, and it
puzzles us 10 understand how he could have
fallen into the grave error of asserting that
a society, having a membership of less than
oioh I'M ic{ ho nc
the city of New York, which is composed of
about hundred and fifteen thousand voters,
and that these eight hundred have the right
to control all the party machinery of the
Democracy. It is true Tammany has in the
past controlled or influenced the votes of
men other than those of it's members, but
that fact was due to its answering adherence
to the Democratic party. The days of it's
influence have gone, however, never more to
return, and it can never again be the repre-
sentative of the great party that has so often
honored it's members by elevating them to
places of public trust. It is in no sense now,
nor has it ever been, the Democratic party.
Its avowed purpose is to defeat the candi-
dates of that party, regularly and fairly
nominated. It is in league with the Repub-
icans, and if permitted to name the inspec-
tors of election would leave nothing undone
to secure the election of Mr.. Cornell, while
the Democratic party, without representa-
ton among the inspectors or canvassers of
election, would be completely at the mercy
of it's enemies.
We are convinced that the judge to whom
the application for mandamus has been
made will not be as foolish or unfair as to
grant it. Tammany has no legal or moral
right to ask for representation upon these
boards, far less to ask that it may be per.
mitted to name all the members to which the
Democracy is entitled. To permit of such a
thing would be to violate the spirit as we'll
as the letter of the law, and leave the control
of the election in the hands of but one
party. The application, however, aptly H.
lustrates the impudent cheek of the small
and disreputable clique that has for SO long
time assumed to dictate the course of the
Democratic party. -. ..:f ..1.....-g ~ ~.