New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-17
THE DEMOCRATIC UNION.


The Lion and Jackal are perfectly willing
in fact determined to lie down with the Lamb,
but that highly respectable and timid beast
objects to doing so-publicly at least. 10
every appearance of compromise with Tam
many and its tender of Irving Hall the Cen
turiOns hasten to object, but at the same time
it Is quite apparent that all hands and each
faction of the Democracy are ready to pocket
the profits of a joint stock operation in county
and city patronage. They burst not venture
on the farce of a public reconciliation
in Convention at Albany, for the transparent
cheat which they bad planned was exposed as
corrupt and insincere compromise almost
certain to disgust the reputable members OF
the party; so they have hit upon the equally
shallow device of framing a county ticket with
out apparent concert of action This is the
plain meaning, at any rate, OF the first steps
taken III the nomination Cf John MckeOn for
probationary. 1t may not be carried out
tremendously as to the whole ticket, but to
capture the most important local office
not already in their possession combi-
nation has practically been made of the
three halls. The Centurons may be forced to
name some other than Mr.. McKeon, but it is not
likely.
1t Is n better nomination than the Democ-
racy usually makes Mr. McKcon is an hon
est if not ar able man. His great age would
prevent his being an active DiStrlct-AttOrney !;
his practice for many years past has been in
civil rather than criminal courts, and it is real
sonablc to doubt that he is now as thoroughly
posted on the changed and altered criminal
code rs he was when District-Attoncy, some
thing like a generation ago. But he could be
trusted to employ able assistants and keep his
Office comparatively clean. The man can
not be objected to so justly as the
method of the nomination of the candidate.
II is notorious that the nominee Of Tammany
has been among its longest and bittcrest op-
poncnts that the man Of Tammany who die
tatcd his nomination is among Mr. MrKcon's
most implacablc enemies and that Mr.. Ne
Keen has been very free in expressions of
his contempt and hatred for Mr. john Kelly.
I'm short, Mr. Kelly, knowing that two Demo-
cratic candidates in the field will lose the cleo
ton for his party, takes from the ranks of his
enemy champion of their own makes him
his candidate, and then saws, through one of
his organs, eve should like to see the Demo
crat who viii oppose John McKcon."
Mr. McKcon's nomination has j,,t this de
gree of honesty about it, and no more. 1t Is
essentially forced combination of Democrats
to get possession of an important Office now
in the hands of the Republicans. 1t is union
~ insinccrc as that made upon the nomi-
nation last year of Mayor Grace. If it
succeeds this year this union will prob
ably be "a brief "a that of last year was
But in the meantime the Democrats Will have
got possession of an office which ought never
to he used for political purposes, but which
the Democrats have invariably used, and
recklcs,ly used to obtain political ends. The
Ccnturions are to decide tomorrow whether
or not they will be n party to this sort of COM
promise and after that the honest Democrats
are to decide whether or not they will indorsc
it. A great many Of them refused to
approve the Mayor Grace lottery scheme
of last year, and straght-Out Re
publican nominee for Mayor put up only
few days before election, came within
3.OiJ votes of majority. The opportunity
offers again, and an effort may this year be
successful. IL is certain that there Will be
only two tickets. II the CcnturiOus do not
nominate 1mumany's new champion and name
somhody else Mr.. Mckcon will decline, and
Tammany will be compelled to accept the
nominee of the Lambs But the evident pur-
pose. which is already displayed, to get pos
session of the Distrct-Attorncy's Office at any
cost of principle, ought to disgust enough rep
ntablc Democrats to give a good Republican
candidate the victory. AS we have before
pointed out, the nominee of the party in pos
session Of the District-AttOrncyS Office always
runs ahead of his ticket. II would require
only "A small percentage of change on the
MYoralty vote of last year to elect this year.