Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1880-12-16
The Fall Of a ''Boss. "

Last week was signaized by the removal
Of John Kelley from the position of Comp
'roller of the City Of New York which he has
held for five years past. An accompanying
change made way with several other Tamma-
ny politicians who held fat city offices, and
Indicates general breaking up of the power
of that remarkable society which has at times
dominated not only the city but the state and
the natlons ->~sxss.~e.--p-
The result was accomplished by q combina-
ton of Republicans with Anti-Tammany and
Anti-Kelley Democrats which gave the coali
ton large majority in the Board of Alder
men. The present Mayor is an Anti Tamma-
soy Democrat, go that the change in the tenn
per of the Aldermen gave him the opportunity
for which he has long waited for turning Tam
many out of the great city Offices He at once
sent in new nominations, which after very
acrimonious debate were confirmed and Allan
Campbell succeeded Mr.. Kelley as Comptrol
Ter John d. lawson John Wheeler as Presi
dent of the Tax Department; William G.
Whitney became Corporation Counsel and
eight or nine other appointments were approx
ed which were nearly all Tammany removals.
One of the Democrats appointed was denounc-
ed as defaulter, and many examinations and
determinations passed between the hostile
Democratic factions each accusing the other
of having defeated Hancock in November.
1t is believed that the practical result of this
defeat will be the retirement of BOSS" Kelley
from the Tammany leadership. AS City
Comptroller, even his enemies concede his
honest and even economical administration.
1t was hisbeadstrong, defiant opposition to the
rilden leadership of the state and National
Democracy, his imprudent sanction of the
nomination of Grace as Mayor, and the final
defeat of Hancock probably through the dis
sensions among the Democracy of New York
city, which have at last lost him the conf
dence of his own men.
1t Is not every week that chronicles an
event like the fall of Tammany Boss, in
other words, of what in old Greek times
would have been denominated the tyrapnos of
the metropolis of a nation Of fifty millions.
With us the tyrGnt 10 a cruel and arbitrary
ruler of any sort, whereas the Greek tyrannOs
was in general the citizen of free city who
had usurped arbitrary rule over his fellow citi
zens. His was despotism tempered by as
sassination," and sustained ordinarily by cruel
ty. Nevertheless, In due course of political
development, the one is the lineal descendant
of the other The stbOss" M Longer has the
power of life and death exercised by the ''ty-
rant, but, through his control of taxation, he
still has the tyrant's power of confscation to a
modified extent.
There is always, in every large city, lower
class which takes naturally to politics, and
which are the chief reliance of the bold and
ambitious men who usurp arbitrary power.
This class is largely made up of the poor, the
ignorant. and the criminal, who swarm in the
slums OF any large city, ancient or modern,
who made up the garrison on with which the
ancient tyrant filed his citadel, and who now
furnish the votes with which the modern boss
controls popular elections. So long as city
populations are so largely composed of the
poor, the ignorant and the criminal, the power
of the 'boss" will CONT nue. practically un-
shaken. The moment one ia removed another
takes his place, and we notice that the Repub-
lican press, even in the moment of victory,
is evidently good deal anxious lest the next
New York 'boss" may be worse man than
Tohn Kallev -.