The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-23
John Kelly's Treaehsry.

and q half columns to John Kelly
and by figures which it would
seem indisputably establishes the
guilt of Kelly in selling out Gen. Han
cock. After showing the vote by counties
and drawing conclusions therefrom the
Herald goes on to show the motive of
Kelly, and says:
Just here comes in the question of
motive. Who among the democrats OF
New York was most likely TO desire Han
cocks defeat, and who among the demo
Gratis had proved by his former acts that
he was capable of playing the part of
traitor, betraying his political associates2
For common reputation" is In this in
stance good evidence and o mans former
offences may be brought up against him
to establish his guilt. Hancock's malori~
ty in che city of New York dwiudled down
to 4l.0O0. Upon the total vote OF 205. 900
thought to have been and would, with fair
play. have been about 10000. Who was
il that transferred from the democratic
side to the republican side the ID. 900 or
$4,000 votes by which Hancock's majority
was.reducsd to 4l.000 in the city and the
State was given to the republicans, thus
electing Garfield?
The answer 10, John Kelly, and the
proof is conclusive. He bad been a secret
traitor to Tilden and Hendricks in 1876,
when he got his confidential s'pals" and
henehmen. Coroner Croker and Ed Kearn-
ey, to get UP a republican Hayes club and
to induce Thomas E. Ferris. Richard
Flanagan and others to do private work and
vote against the democratic Presidential
ticket. MIR. Ferris has related, publicly
and circumstantially, how in 1876 Croker
Flanagan TO Kearney's stables and deliv
cred to them q message from Kelly, the
BOSS" requecting them to betray and
help to defeat Tilden and Hendricks.
Ferris agreed to do so. but Flanagan re-
fused, The latter has sRbstantiatsd the
story of kelly's treason that year as relat-
ed by Ferris. Ia 1879 John Kelley. in
the service of the republican organization.
turned open traitor TO the democracy, and
By running a. stump candidate for gov
ernor succeeded in defeating Lueius Rob
inson and in giving the State. with all its
valuable patronage, to Cornell and the
republicans These two offences are sutfl
Gent. to prove Kelly's capacity for treason
and his general perfdy to his party when
his personal interests are at stake.
KELLY DENoUNCING HANCOCK,
But the evidence Iof iKsllys guilt does
not rest on the proof of his badsoharacter.
1t is known that he denounced Hancock
to his heels" early in the canvass and
resolved to defeat him. When Hancock
was nominated ut Cincinnati Kelly was
sstounded and staggered, because the
the nominee was not what he called his
man." But rs Tilden did net receive the
nomination Kelly was disposed to be
satisfied with any candidate and saw the
policy of claiming the result as Tammany
victory over Tilden. He was besides,
impressed with the belief that Tildens and
Hancock were hostile to each other, and
10 his arrogance he thought it would be an
easy matter for him, the great Tammany
boss. to get General Hancock into his
hands.
Intelligence soon REACHED him of the
TACT that Hancock had paid prompt visit
to Mr. Tiiden at Gammercy Park. and had
followed up the .csu by spending a day
and night with the ex-governor at his
summer residence on the Hudson. As II
this were not enough 10 kindle the Tam
many dictator's rebel blood it was followed
by the open secret" that General Han
cocks letter of acceptance was being care
fully edited and revised by Mr.. TildeD, and
that the Southern claims letter was the
composition Of an able young political
leader in this city who ID q close friend and
mited to the Sage Of Creamery Park for
his examination and approval before it
was given to the public. When this cum
uiative evidence that Hancock was acting
wholly under the advice and guidance OF
MIR, Tilden and his friends as he did 10
in every instance except in the publication
of his tariff letter-reachsd John keliy's
ears that famous serio comic politician
fell into almost as great passion az when
he washturnsd out of the Comptroller 3
Office, and he treated his chums to a
scene almost as ludiorous as his recent
burlesque performance at Tammsny Hall,
when he initiated the gait and dialect of
some of his old Aldermanie friends in the
style OF o Bowery variety actor. He de-
nounced Hancock in bitter terms. swell
ling himself up like bag of wind in sup
posed imitation of the democratic candl-
date and talking in a BON bastic style,
which he mistakenly imagined to be a
good representation of the compensation at
Governors Island.
John Kelly had therefore motive for
defeating Hancock, while Mr.. Tiden and
his friends had every reason to wish and
TO labor for his election. Kelly knew that,
despite his desperate and successful efforts
to get taken back into the democratic
party. be would have no influence with
Hanc0ck's administration. and that the
federal patronage in New York 10 the |
event OF Hancnck's election pould be con-
trolled by MIR. Tilden and the regular |
democracy, and would probably be hostile |
to Tammany. Dir. Tiden and his asso |
oiates were Hancock's close friends and |
confidential advisers before election. as
they would have been after election. Does
any man who knows anything of Boss
kelly's past career. and is aware of his
arrogance, viDdictiveness anG selfishness.
need any more convincing proof that the
democratic vete by which Hancock was
treacherously defeated came from that
dyed 10 the-Wool traitor and his collar
bound heelers in Tammauy and through
out the State?
MORE FIGURES FOR THE BOSS TO BITE
UPON.
Having proved Kelly's connection with
the treason that destroyed Hancock in the
city and State it will be interesting to see
how completely the detailed facts are born
out by the aggregate results 10 the entire
State. including the city aud county of
New Y ork.
The vote of the State in the Presidential
campaign OF 1864 and 1868 was as fol
lowe:-
iSoS-Totai vote. .-.-..-.-......... s49,766
lco4. Total vote. .............. T3O,721
Increase in 1865. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 119,o45