New-York tribune., 1880-09-29
HILL III LILLE EONS :

THE TRIBUNE, which has watched with con-
siderable interest the efforts OF Il majority of the
Democratic party to free themselves from the
dictatiOn of Tammany and IL Boss and the
desperate struggle Of Mr.. John Kelly against
oveIw whemmg odds to maintain IN the party
the supremacy of his organization and his Own
power as its chief, takes leave to offer Mr..
Kelly its congratulations upon his wel-earned
victory. The history of the Democratic party,
or for that matter of any Other. can furnish 10
parallel for It, Here is leader who within
little more than twelve months has twice die
tatcd ms terms and offered his ultmatum to his
party; Las once bolted regular no. nation
and set himself up as an opposing candidate,
with the sole avowed purpose Of defeating the
regular nominee; has continued and empna-
sized his opposition at every opportunity during
the whole year has led an irregular delegation
to National Convention, and being refused adj
mission, has from the OutsiCe dictated his
terms to that august body and forced it to re-
gard them has in the most ELUSIVE and oiien-
sive manner offered his forgiveness to the
majority which he had dcfied and defeated,
instead of asking pardon for himself has stood
off patiently biding his time until the majority
should approach him with negotiations for
peace; and finally, has come back into full
fellowship and regular standing in the party
upon the solicitation of his opponents and their
conceding all his demands
1t will be an inexcusabe omission on the part
of the city Democracy If they do not meet Mr..
John Kelly on his return from Saratoga with
great procession and many brass bands, playing
in concert /" Hail to the Boss who in triumph
"advances." If there is in them any sort Of ap-
precaton of his achievements. they will not fail
TO do 1t. II could add nothing to the humIlia-
ton that has already been forced upon them,
and it is quite like him TO expect if not demand
it. IN August, thirteen months ago, Mr.. Kelly
and the organization of which he is tiular chief
and recognized Boss gave the Democratic
party fair notice that unless their dictation was
submitted to in the State Convention they
would not abide by its action or support its can
didate. Their defiance was as cool, bold and
premcditated as it was unprecedented. They
did not wait until the Convention had met and
acted, and then upon hasty impulse refuse to
be governed by it, They delibera' ely set forth
their ultimatum and backed it with threat
Under no circumstances, they said, would they
support Lucius Robinson for Governor al
though il was perfectly well known that Gov
ernor Robinson was the choice of a majority of
the party, and would undoubtedly be the
nominee. On the 11th of September following
the Convention met, and Mr.. John Kelly and
his Tammlny delegation were members of it.
Governor Robinson was renominated, and
they ca1ied out their threat by WITHDRAWN.
and setting up Mr.. Kelly himself as a boiling
candidate Ia accepting the nomination he
said don't expect to be elected. have no
rate Governor Robinson should lac defeated |
They made no secret of their determination TO !
defeat the regular candidate of their own |
party. They did it, Men looked on and won
dered what would come of it. Some said
kelly has committed political suicide. This |
Will be the breaking up of Tammany, and with |
;hat Kelly will disappear from politics." But |
Others who knew him said: :" Wait and see"
Nothing daunted by the failure to defeat !
Roblnson's nomination, bur, on the contrary, !
encouraged by the defeat of their party in the .
election, Mr.. Kelly Il few months later callei his /
faction together to undertake the same game
with reference to the National Convention and .
the Presidential nomination that had been /
played in State affairs They issued an ad /
dress to the Democracy of the Nation, and /
offered their ultImatum To the National Con- /
vention AS they had said to the State Con
yention "If you nominate Robinson We will /
defeat him." so now ihey slid to the National /
Convention, Z" If you nominate I'ilden We Will /
defeat him." The Convention could not ad- |
NIT Mr.. Kelly it pretended not to hear him.
All the same it feared him. With the expert |
ence of New York before them, il did not dare !
offend him. Trying hand to appear to ignore |
hin, 4, suhn,itfed tn ms diet 4fIDu and prnnfe /
his ultimatum. That being done the disguise |