New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-10
now that it knows better what manner of
man no ia
THE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA.

friends who last fall appointed themselves a
Committee of One Hundred, and subsequently
invented themselves into the "New- York County
Democracy IF that be the name-were en-
gagged in the work of ordering preliminaries
appointing committees, drawing up con-
stitutions and bylaws, and calling primaries
they had comparatively plain sailing. Tam
many Hall, against which their enterprise was
conducted, was content to look somewhat
idly on, exhibiting little more than langud
curiosity regarding the movement. The Tam
many leaders were by no means igno-
rant of the fact that their organization
was the objective point of the new concern that
the avowed purpose of the Hundred Committee
was to quench Tammany Hall out of existence
and occupy its place as the regular organiza-
ton themselves. But Tammany went right on
apparently undisturbed by the new enterprise,
and there have been signs that the
Centurions were upon the whole disap
pointed at the effect, or lack of effect,
they had upon the stubborn and hard-headed
fellows whom they had so ostentatiously antag-
Onized. The calm and deliberate methods of
Tammany, and its studied uncOnsciousness of
the existence of any rival body, give them an
uneasy and uncomfortable feeling. Now that
the time for holding the State Convention APP
proaches and Tammany makes no sign except
to go forward with the arrangements for elect
ing delegates just as though it was the only
and regular organization, entirely ignoring the
Centurons and all other rivals, their uneasi-
ness increases.
We take moments rest from the eternal
gable to which the organs of the Centurions
have been treating us concerning Republican
dssens.ons, the Stalwarts, the Halfbreeds,
Al
Prince Arthur, and the mutitudinous consti-
tutiOnal questions and complications which
they have been tossing on their horns for the
past six weeks. The issuance of the call for
the State Convention, and the steps taken by
Tammany for the appointment of a full set of
delegates, Notwithstanding the assumption of
exclusive regularity by the new organization,
have set new debate going. There is a new
crisis on. The gentlemen who have at
such expense of time and money reOr
ganized the City Democracy, putting them
selves at the front and taking possession of
the machinery, confront factor in tire situa-
ton which, if not new, has been hitherto so
inconspicuous that they have almost lost sight
of it. They are not to have the easy walkover
they looked for. They have been assuming in
a large and lofty way that when it came to
the meeting of the State Convention they
would have only to step to the Secre-
tary's desk with their credentials as the
representatives of the reorganized City Democ-
racy to be received at once without question
They are Just discovering that they have as
sumcd too much. There bids fair to be n
contest and question of title raised which
cannot he settled off-hand by the mere asser-
ton of the very able Ccnturons, who, being at
the head of this movement, imagine themselves
at the head of the entire party. 1t is not so
plain sailing as il seemed to be.
In the discussion upon which the organs have
launched themselves there rises at the very out
set a question which, though the Centurions
find 1t easy to settle by mere assertion, prom
Uses to give them trouble when they come with
their credentials to the door of the State Con-
vention. That question is, whence they derive
their authority. If personal character, influen-
llal position, party service, distinguished ability
or calm and imperturbabe assurance were all
that were required, these gentlemen would
bounce into the front seats amid the APP
pause of the country delegates. But it
happens, unfortunately for them that the party
whose life is in it's traditions finds it necessary
TO have some regard for precedent and custom
and when the delegates from New York CITY are
called it is expected that organizations will re-
spond which date their existence at least as
far back as the last State Convention. and
come forward with some warrant that the
Convention can fairly recognize. The Cen
tuions have none whatever. To the
State Convention they will simply rise up
out of chaos without the slightest pos
sible excuse for being that the Convention can
admit. They have, indeed, an excuse for being.
That is opposition to Tammany Ilall-an organi-
cation which the party at its last Convention
went out of its way to admit and rehabIlitate.
and which it reconstructed its State Committee
to conciliate. The party has no official knowl-
edge of anything done by Tammany Hall
since then that should disqualify its
delegates or work forfeiture of its position
in the party. The Centurions will ask exclu-
sive recognition. How under the circumstances
can the Convention grant it Tammany Hall
has to all appearances Loyalty supported party
and ticket Why should it be excluded from
the Convention at the demand of mushroom
organization that has no root in custom. prece-
dent or traditiOnq
There can be no just settlement of the Dues
ton without an exhaustive inquiry into the
whole management of Tammany Hall, against
which the new concern has distinctly and DOS
itively erected itself. Is it proposed to do
this 7 1t will take all the time between this
and election day to skim the surface of sucb
an investigation. There are but two WAYS
open. One is to admit Tammany as the repu
lar organization the other to compromise the
whole matter by admitting both delegations or
half of each. Either of these horns of the
dilemma being taken, it will be interest,"
ing to observe the effect upon the organ
izatlon whose sole purpose is to extineuish