The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-10-02
THE TAMMANY SOCIETY
Facts and Incidents Connected with tho
History Of the Order.

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History Of the Order.
The questions are often asked: When
was the Tammany Society founded2 and
whence did it derive its name2 and as
the recent bolt Of the Sachems from the
New York State Convention e1cites new
interests in its history, it may not be
amiss to republish the established ira
ditions concerning its origin and appel
lation. The Tammany Society was
founded in 1889, as is duly witnessed by
the pediment which surmounts the front
of Tammany Hall. At that time there
were many st. Tammany Societies
throughout the country, and there is no
reason to believe that the sole survivor
differed from them in the original purpo-
ses of its organization. But the others
died, and the New York society became
Democratic political institution. Tam
many was an old Indian chief, whom it is
by no means easy to identify, but he was
best known in revolutionary times as an
ancient Delaware sachem, who came off
victorious in terrific fight with his
satanic majesty. The combat was long
and obstinately contested, and up to the
last moment it was doubtful to which
side victory would incline. Tammany
was skilful fighter, but his opponent
was equally adroit, and after the battle
had lasted all summer the combatants
were somewhat tired. They played sad
havoc with the forest, converting large
districts of it into prairie, and such it
still remains. At length, after months
of severe fighting, the sachem threw the
devil squarely on his back, and, says the
historian, "would then and there have
taken his scalp had he not succeeded,
owing to the victor's great exhaustion,
in e1tricating himself and escaping over
into New York, where he was Hospitality
received by the natives, and has ever
since continued to make his home"
The same historian says the Tammany
Society was primarily, no more of a New
York institution than the great Sycamore
himself. Its origin is to be traced to
the patriot revolutionary army, which,
having no patron saint to fight under af-
ter the protection of st. George was
drawn to the the enemy, cast about
among the country's native men for
some one worthy of canonization, and
naturally selected the man who had
whipped the devil" as pre-eminently
deserving of being set against him who
had vanquished the dragon. The Penn
sylyauia troops of Washington's COM
mand were the first to inscribe "St.
Tammany" on their banners, and they
selected the 18th of May, which tradition
assigned for the new saints nativity, for
appropriate celebration. A wigwam was
erected, pole, crowned with liberty
cap, and bearing aloft tomahawk wam-
pun, and other Indian paraphernalia,
was planted in the earth, and around
this after the representative of the great
sachem, who was personifed by a COM
rade duly accoutred and painted for the
occasion, had emerged from the wigwam,
to which he again retired, and delivered
"talk" full of exhortations to love of
liberty and courage in battle, they all
danced, with feathers in their caps and
bucks tails dangling down behind.
The practice spread throughout the
army St. Tammany and his natal day
were both adopted forts were christened
with his name, and the 18th of May was
regularly commemorated until shortly
before the last war with Great Britain,
by order of the secretary of war, Gen.
Dearborn, the festival was forbidden, as
tending to debauchery among the troops.
But st. Tammany's early popularity was
not confined to the army. Civilian socie-
ties bearing his name sprang up in many
localities. Their object was simply fes-
tivity. There was procession of men,
women and children, all decked out with
bucks tails and other forest adornments,
to grove, where the wigwam and liber-
ty-pole had been erected, and where,
after an address from st. Tammany's
representative, the time was spent in
games and dances on the green. At one
time it disappeared likely that St. Tam
ny's Day would excel the Fourth of
July in popular regard, but it lacked one
enduring element Of popularity-its OBJ
servance was not participated in by
fashionable people. The wealthier por-
ton of the community turned up their
noses at the vulgar parade, and as con-
sequence the celebration of the 18th of
May soon died out, and the ST. Tammany
societies disappeared, except that of New
York, which still observes the 18th of May
within the order.