New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-19
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The appointment of Mr. Charles +. UacLcan
rs Police Commissioner might be called
throwing off the Disguise If there had ever
been more than a constructive prctence of
concealmcnt about the real character Of the
demonstrations against the municipal officials.
But whatever reasons there may have been to
justify the removals, nobody has entertained
a moments doubt that the propeling force
was administered by the hand of Mr.. Samuel
j. Tilden. The curious determinations i'll the
Judgment upon. County Clerk Gumbleton and
Register Loew, the incidents attending
the installation of Mr.. Thompson, the
strange features Of the indictment of
the Police Board, indicated not only that
the craftsmanship of GTamcrcy Park was
deeply concerned i'll this phase of Reform, but
that the able gentleman who devOtes himself
to the largest and hottest interests of humanity
was quite willing that the Sachems Of Tam
many, and all their followers and the citizens
generally, should see what he was about, and
realize what he could do when he tried.
Probably even Mr.. John Kelly is ready to
admit this morning that Governor Tilden is
for the present the most powerful person in
New-York City politics, and that he is abund-
autly able to rcyolutionize the municipal adj
ministration, if that should be necessary to
the accomplishment of his ambition.
Mr.. MacLean has been publicly recognized,
for many years, as one of Mr.. IIldcn's con-
fidential friends. He has sometimes been
spoken of as nephew" of the ex-governor,
sometimes as an "agcnt" He is not a
nephew, but he has long stood in the most
intimate relations with Mr. Tildcn, trusted in
private enterprises and sharing the Offices at
No II Wall-st., where MIR. George W. Smith
il will be remembered, received the cipher
dispatches from Marquette about the theft of
the books of the mining company. With the
exception of Colonel PeltOn, there is per-
haps nobody-not even Smith NJ. Wecd-who
has been more closely identified with the
late, and prospective, Democratic candidate
for the Presidency than Mr. Charles F.
MacLean, 80 that this appointment will be recog-
nized as the personal act of Mr.. Tilden not
less distinctly than if the new Commissioner
had openly pledged himself beforehand that
the public interest In an honest, skilful per-
Torrance of his official trust should be sacri-
feed to the uSufruct of hls patron.
As a demonstration of Mr. Tilden's political
strength, therefore. this appointment is likely
to have a considerable moral effect in the
Democratic party, to fix the allegiance Of
many who wavered, and complete the CONVEX
sion of many who are weak. But it may lead
TO complications which the Democracy do not
now suspect, if it should result in entangling
Mr.. Tilden more seriously than ever
with transactions that will not bear the
light and exposing his reputation for confd-
in, fo a fyapIu no hac v.f
been put upon it. Mr.. MacLcan personally has
and deserves hosts of friends who will congratu-
late him upon his good fortune-if it is a good
fortunc-wth the utmost sincerity. Consid-
cred however in its political significance, it
does not seem that his appointment offers All
occasion for cOngratuIating anybody.