New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-12
Uo,sTyyG THE MACK RAG.

HOiNI4-Nb ! M b'--iN'A
1t is, in one respect, highly fortunate that
the Tildcn Democrats have been forced just
at this time, by the exigencles or the cam
paign, into the position they occupy III tn'ee
weeks the first of the State Conventions VIII
be- gathering mt Saratoga, and within a few
DAYS after the issues of the contest In New
York will be sharply defined. 1t Is fortunate
for the publc-that just at the time the at
tention of the people of the State Is concen-
trated upon the representative men OF the two
parties, the black flag should be run up TO the
TIden masthead. For Mr.. Illden knows
and his aldes-de-campi in the Mayors office know,
that now he must rule OF be ruined. defeat in
the coming State Convention would be almost
fatal TO his hopes of controlling the New-Tork
delegation next year, and this vulgar wrangle
over offices is therefore in some sense lie
aud-death struggle to him. Governor Robn-
son must be renomnated, the election machin-
rrv in this city must be captured, and the fol-
lowers of Tammany must be driven into deser-
ton by the destruction Of as much OF Tam
many's patronage as the Governor and Mayor
together can destroy. The period within
which all this is to he accomplished Is short,
for much time has been lost by the procrasu-
nation and hesitancy which have cost Mr. III
den dear in more important crises than the
present. and which some Of his next friends
in politics are believed to share with him.
Indeed the time is so short that all
the ordinary DISCUSSES of politics have
been abandoned. When the checkmate
to the Mayors movement against Com
missioner Wheeler made the immediate
removal of Commissioner Smith necessary,
for Tildcn purposes, there was such Indecent
haste that the whole public was let into the
secret. We all saw the Mayor pull the string,
and we all saw the Governor jump; and we
all know who guided the Mayors hand. And
there must be more of this hot haste. There
is no time for formulas, decOrOus delays, full
limitations Of reforms accomplished and re-
forms proposed, and the like. There Is no time
oranything but the most practical sort of poll
tics, public sentiment to the contrary not
withstanding. Or to return to the original
figure, the black flag is run up to the mast
head, and the order is given for quick work
and no quarter.
This exposure cannot fail to damage the fac
ton which has so boldly defied public opinion,
as well as the party TO which it belongs. II
these things are done in the green tree, what
shall be done in the dry If men of the per-
sopal standing of Governor Robinson and
Mavor Cooper will do the things they have
done in the past few days, what are we to
expect of the many less reputable Democrats
whom a Democratic victory this Fall would
admit to a still larger share In the State and
CITY Governments The people will be led
by the recent occurrences in this city to con-
slider this question very seriously.
Furthermore, what are we to expect
when Mr. Tilden and Governor Robinson are
laboring TO secure-not the machinery which
will be useful IN forming the New-York dele
cation to the Democratic National Conven-
ton, but the delegation itself2 Certainly, if
the events of the past few weeks show what
the Tilden leaders will dare in an emergency
where boldness is needed, the people of this
State may expect, should Governor Robinson
be renominated and reelected, to see such Il
use of the powers of the Government for pO-
Iitical ends as has not been witnessed in this
State in many years The same INSCRIPTIONS
tactics that have been employed in this city will
be used both in the city and State, the
sole difference beng that the effort will be
greater and the scruples fewer than ever, be-
cause the struggle will be practically over the
Presidential nomination itself. Not a removal
or appointment will be made, and probably
few laws will be signed or vetoed without
reference to this one object. There are nu-
merous changes TO be made in Albany de-
partments the removal Of Commissioner
Smith shows us what we would have to ex-
pect as to the way of making them. This
episode will teach the people of the interior
as well as of this city useful lesson-that if
Governor Robinson is reelected, the Govern
ment of the State of New YOrk will be merely
"A Tilden bureau.