New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-14
piPylyG MIR ~ TXE NjDDiE

At last thank Heaven. we have test OF
Democratic orthodoxy. 10 party that has
inst come ont defeated frcm Pres dental can
vsss in which il did 10, have a single pei tical
issue il da. ed to stand up to party hat las
for twenty years beer proving round ,hc poll
tics Of TIE country in vain cndcavor 20 get IN
the POPULAR ,idc of some live question; that
has been split mo divisions and subdiy SioHs
halls. associations, aHd clubs without number
over the allotment of Official pundcr. and THAT
has been for month past beating the AR more
wildly and fraptically than ever III It's search
ior "A living issue, Mr John Kelly. the Sholn
Samson Of TammaEy, gives, IN the hour OF his
abdlcation, living issue, a practical standard
and tangible test OF true Democracy. :" Trust
no man. says this honorcd leader in whose
hands 80 great power has been Ieposcd these
many years by his party; this chief WHO one
wear raised the standard OF revolt and defeated
his party, and the next forgaye the party and
dictated its nominations" trust no man who
"parts his hair in the middle Words worthy
the occasion and the man. Announcement lit TO
rank as discovery; indeed, almost Ieycia-
ton No more sententIOus epigram, unless it
may be that epitOme OF Democratic doctrine
"D-n "a man who won't stand by lis friends y
lately uttered by Connecticut statcsman-has
been spoken since S0l0mon's time. Take the
two together, indeed, and what an inscription
they would make for a campaign banner! Or a
transparency TO avoid offending the religious
scr,iples of tie average Democratic proce sslon,
they might be coupled together, using one
"D-n" and ditto; thus:
'D-n man who want stand by his frierds!"
q - "a h
Questions of hair have entered more or less
into city politics and Democratic GisSensiUns
heretofore, as is well known. The two great
divisions Of The party. which have their head
quarters at Tammany Hall and the Manhattan
Club, have been known as the " Short Haired
and the swallow Tailed" Nj. Kelly, it will
be seen, while retaining the distinctive designa-
ton of his own followers, gives the opposition a
title which at once sets Oft the difference in bold
and striking contrast. The distinction he raises
is not one OF mere wearing apparel, bat OF per-
sonal ply siOenomcal peculiarities. Had Mr..
Kelly SAID, Never trust "a man who wears a
"swallow tailed coat" 1t might have been oh
iecled that he was basing political orthodoxy
upon the caprice of fashion ami the cut of a
garment. THIS he avoids 1t is not the wcarer
of the swallow tail who at this moment puts
liberty in peril It is " the man VINO parts his
"har in the middle" He is the subtle foe OF
our institutions, the arch cOnsplIator against
free government. Does anyone ask why Inc
man who parts his hair in the middle Ii not
10 be trusted We answer we do not know.
Ii may be because the TaTarnany braves are
ayerse to taking that kind of scalps. But we do
not INQUIRE for reasons. 1t is enough to know
that as rule Mr.. Kellys adherents wear their
hair 40 short that 1t cannot be parted IN the
middle, or anywhere else, and that mans
fitness for official position is measured In Tam
many Hall by the closeness with which his haiI
is cropped. We do not undertake to say
whether the close clipping is In order 10 pro-
mote the action of the brain, or Tor the purpose
| of foiling an adversary by giving him nothing
to get hold Of
Opposition 10 this test will very likely be
raised by the opposing factions In this city
but Mr.. Kelly's greatest triumphs, it must be
remembered, are in the National arena. Only a
| year ago he seemed TO have lost all his power
and prestige but six months ago he brought
the National Convention to his terms, and
throughout the Presidential campaign he was