The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-19

made upon his recent exploits. This is
natural. 1t is characteristic Of journals
and individuals whose own motives are
necessarily personal to be unable to con-
ceive that there is any other handspring OF
human action. Nothing is SO belittling,
nothing tends so much to narrow and OBJ
scure Judgment, as an unquestioning adj
herence to any mans personal fortunes. 1t
is Mr. Kellys i'll luck that all his followers,
particularly in this city, belong to this
belittled and blinded class Of men.
Whether because they are fascinated
by his daring and resolute personality,
or because they expect profit from
| his patronage, or for mixture of both
reasons, they swear by him through thick
and thin. Among his retinue he does not
seem to have one candid friend to oriticise
his folies and curb his impetuosity. ibis
rifle of candid friendship the HERALD has
undertaken to fill, with full conscious
ness of the risk of nisconstruction. Itdoes
not complain. therefore, that Mr.. Kelly's fol-
lowers or Mr.. Kelly himself do misconstrue
its motives in the execution of the duty
Patience under we'll deserved criticism is
very rare among mankind. Dsclaiming
then, any sentiments toward Mr.. Kelly
save those of good natured though reprov-
ing friendship, let us recount to him some
of the particulars in which he is blunder-
ing, both as politician and as a Comp
troller, and in which his mistakes are harm
full to the public welfare.
4, ~, IA,
politician. The middle of the summer
of 1879 found Mr.. Kelly the acknowledged
representative of the Tammany organiza-
ton, then comprising more than two-thirds
of the democratic voters in this city. It
was a position of great influence
and authority. It's possessor was oapa-
BILE of exerting very powerful infiu-
ence upon the course of democratic poll
tics in the State and the nation. He had
made up his mind that Mr.. Tilden was an
incubus upon the democratic party, and
that unless he were dislodged the re-
publicans probably would be sue
cessful in New York this year and
in the nation next year, and he
had resolved to do what he could
to dislodge him. So far we regarded Mr..
Kelly's views as shrewd, wise and COM
mendable, and we said SO. Our opinions
then expressed remain unaltered. But
how did Mr.. Kelly set to work to accom-
plish his commendable purpose Very
much as matchmaker might to regu-
late delicate clock with poker. It was
task requiring tact, GOODNESS and eau
ton. The adversary with whom he had
to deal was distinguished in all those traits,
and Mr. Kelly at the very start failed in
every one of them. He undertook to man
| age the Democratic State Convention SO as
to demonstrate to the country that ma
| jority of the New York democrats are
independent of Mr.. Tilden's sway,
and he began by needlessly forcing
| Governor Robinson into the relation of
| necessary candidate before that body.
In m interview with HERALD reporter he
assailed the Governor with such vitupera-
ton as would have made it notifying
for Mr.. Robinson to withdraw from the
contest had he wished to do so.
The cue thus set was faithfully fol-
lowed by the whole Tammany tribe.
They seemed crafty determined to
reinforce Mr.. Tilden with the very con-
siderable personal following which the
Governor possessed, and which it was by
no means certain would have been
unanimous in supporting any other
of Mr.. Tilden's partisans. They
strove not only to conquer, but at
the same time to humiliate. This was
shockingly bad policy, and we said SO,
and Immediately Mr.. Kelly began to take
offence. Neither were We able to approve
Mr.. Kelly's method of influencing the
choice of delegates by threat of boltingin
case the gentleman whom he thus had virtu-
ally compelled to remain in the field should
secure majority of them. 1t appeared to
us to be q method much more likely to do
damage ut the brcech than ut the muzzle,
aud the result proved that we were correct.
We were unable to justify il on the theory
that Mr.. Kelly was actuated by conscien-
tious scruples, for he avowed his willing
ness to support Mr.. Tilden himself should
the Convention nominate him. Ac-
cordingly we expressed an emphatic
disapproval of it, and thereby we gave Mr..
Kelly more offence. Finally, when the
event did occur which he had precipitated
by his own plumbers. and he did bull-head-
eddy bolt after it became evident that Gov
ornor Robinson's friends controlled the
Convention, we condemned his conduct
again, this time rs not only impolitic
but also unfair. and as not only unfair but
also murderous TO the democratic party
quite rs fatally as Mr.. Tildens temporary
ascendancy possibly could be. Thereby
we gave Mr.. Kelly final and browning
offence. Thus, starting from CON-
mon view of the situation scarcely
three months ago, the HERALD and Mr..