New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-24
THE LATEST DEAL"

TIE LATEST "DEAL."
The Democratic party does not leave the
country in darkness as to its character. Surely
there never has been another party that
has taken so much pains TO make people uii-
derstand its wOrthlessness. With really start
ling contempt for all that is honest and con-
scientious in public feeling, this party usually
shouts its loudest and rejOices most openly
and heartily when it has done thing that
proves its want of principle. In New-York,
for example. it Is filling the air with its boast
ing and shouting because three factions have
made bargain to divide the spolls. what
are the facts7 Each of these factions has
been denounced by the others as base, cor
upt and composed of traitors to Democratic
principles. The mastery of each factlOn mas
renamed in the same hands; there has been
no change in the management or component
parts of either; and there is not even the
slicbtest pretence that either has changed i'll
character or in purpose. Yet the men who
profeSsed to be lofty, pure hlgh-t0ned ana
patriotic citizens, who assured the world that
it was their mission and fixed aim to rid the
world political of set of scOundrels ana dlshOn-
est tricksters, have climbed into the same bed
with the scoundres and tricksters aforesaid,
and actually are shouting for joy because they
have not been kicked out. The sole reason
for union pretended or actual, is that the
pure patriots and the shameless rdscals, by
Joining forces, may be able to secure and
divide the plumber.
This is Democracy. photographed by itself.
It makes no difference which of the factions
we call the patriots. and winch the knaves.
~, 4, Of OF
into union with set of rascas and traitors to
Democratic principles, in order to divide the
spoils. and is rejoiced because the rascals and
traitors consent. But what becomes OF the Demo-
cratic principles Nobody cares. Each faction
knows perfectly well that there are none.
The sole object of either faction Is and has
been to get Office. Its pretence of superior
virtue was all a transparent swlndle. Its
bilious diatrbes about the corruption and
dishonesty of the other fellows were like
the exposure of one sneak-thef by another
-full of truth, but prompted only by Vindlctlye-
ness. Neither faction ever cared pinch Of
snuff about purity of government in New
York, provided it could get the offices. Ii it
had. itwould never have made bargain to
divide the Offices with the dishonest creatures
it had denounced.
TO decent citizens, of whatever political
opinion, the most striking feature in this bust
ness is the cool and calOus cynicism with
which these factions proclaim their dishonest
bargain to the public. 1t is taken for granted
by these Democratic politicians that the most
omen avowal of their union for the sake OF the
snoils will not make any difference with their
vote. They assume, as a fact that needs no
Int fho Nrnfap Uci
as Indifferent to principle as themselves, just
as ready to put knaves into power, just as
willing to cast contempt upon all professions
of desire for reform. They put on mask so
thin that it conceals nothing, when they
quarrel, and do not waste time i'll pretending
that the knaves have become any less knavish
when they fix up new conspiracy against the
public. In their opinion, the public wants to
be governed by knaves-prOyldcd they are
Democrats.
Performances like this are not unusual or
extraordinary, among Democratic politicians.
Nobody was at all surprised to see Mr.. Kelly
and the lieutenants OF Mr.. Tlldel voting III
the same State Convention, and Tor the same
candidate. Everybody knew that 1ilden and
Kelly. whatever they thought of each other,
would kiss and embrace whenever there were
offices to be got by it. Nobody would be i'll
the least degree astonished to see all the saw
age things said by the Virginia BOurbOns
about Malone, or by Malone about the VT-
ginia Bourbous, forgotten in an instant, if
they could agree about the offices. Nobody
wonders that Mr.. Randall, stubborn protec-
ZIONIST Cat home), joins hands with Mr. Eaton
or Mr.. Watterson, who are OutspOken free
traders, because nobody expects to see a Dem
ocrat care anything about principles or public
interests when Offices can be had by forgetting.
Yet this avowed and boastful political prost-
tute wonders that people do not give it credit
for virtue.