New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-06
TRICKS THAT ARE VAIN.

With the politician, as with " the Hcathen
"Chinee,n ways that are dark usually end in
tricks that are vain. The fact finds constant
illustration in the manipulations Of Mr.. I'll
den. Step by step, with cOnsummate art, he
fastens upon his party the letters that are to
insure his nomination. But it is his fate that
every cunning trick by which his nomination
is promoted only renders his final defeat the
more certain if he should be nominated.
The root of his difficulties lies in the fact that
Mr.. Tilden no longer has the confidence of the
people He is mIstTusted more profoundly and
generally, perhaps. than any other politician
who has ever attained high position since Mar
tin Van Buren,. Not unlike Van Buren, in his
babitual reliance upon chicaneTy, manipula-
ton, and devices for moving men by their
selfish interests, Mr.. Tilden has to deal
with an age far different from that in
which Van Buren, schemed. There are
newspapers and telegraphs now. Their
power in thwarting the tricks OF INSCRIPTIONS
men is tremendous, and Van Buren,, had he
lived in these days, would have needed ten
times the art that he employed with only par
tial success long ago. Dlstrusted by the pco-
ple, Mr.. Tilden is forced to resort to methods
which make HIM still more distrusted. These
methods have been successful thus far i'll
securing for him control of the machinery of
party. But they have steadily undermined
and destroyed the faith in him which was
once felt by many independents, hard-mOney
Democrats and honest workers for real reform.
II is probable that the same methods
may secure his nomination by the next Ma
tional Convention of the Democratic party.
no int al
signs of the times can doubt that such methods
are constantly driving from Mr.. Tilden that
sort Of popular support without which his
election Is impossible.
The manipulations for the control of the
offices, the Police Board and the departments
in this city, have been peculiarly hurtful to
Mr.. Tilden's reputation. His only hold upon
public respect is IA reformer. His weakest
point is that people distrust his professions,
think that he reforms only where it suits his
private interests, and believe that he prosti-
tutes public influence and official station to
serve his private ends. But Governor Tiden's
friends, presumably acting with his advice,
have been doing everything in their power to
strengthen the belief that the authority of the
Governor, of the Mayor, and of every other
used persistently, and without regard to the
public interest, 10 advance Mr.. Tilden's
schemes of personal advancement. 1t is not
creditable to Mayor Cooper that, Of all the
reforms which were promised when he was
elected, not one has been accomplished, or
seriously attempted. But it is par
ticularly discreditable that, in respect to
the Police Board, the very department
which above all others ought to be free
from partisan and political manspula-
ton, all sorts of opportunities to secure
a better Board have been passed by, but
no chance has been omitted TO grasp power
through that Board for the most INSCRIPTIONS
adherents of Mr.. Tilden. 1t was in the power
of the Mayor, for example, if he had sincerely
desired to give the city better police depart
ment, to nominate for the place of Commits
sioner Wheeler, whose term has expired, some
citizen of such dignity and worth Of character
that the Aldermen would not have ventured
10 reject the name. But that would not have
suited Mr.. Tilden's purpose. An INSCRIPTIONS
and plant tool was needed in that cflice to
give the hero Of cipher dispatches power to
name the inspectors of elections on behalf of
the Democrats. In order TO get such "a man
into Office, the attempt was made TO remove
Commissioner whose term had expired, and
the Mayor. who has not regarded the statute
which requires that nomination shall be
promptly made for each cOmmIssiOnershIp
that falls vacant, has 80 far lent himself to
the schemes of Mr.. Tilden that course Of
doubtful legality was taken, instead of simple