New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-10
VERY SOUR GRAPHS.

MayOr Grace tells a reporter tlat ne tnlIhe
the Democracy of this State will be stronger IN
the approaching campaign without the aid of
Tammany Hall than with it," The fox who
expressed willingness to go before notary
public and make affidavit that in his opinion
certain punches of grapes were sour was not
n more absurd person than the Mayor appears
when he talks in this strain. 1t is not an origl-
nal strain. 1t first began to he heard three
years ago. In the fall of 1879, Just as soon as
John Kelly had thrown down the gauntlet to
the Anti-Tammany wing of the party, by
accepting a nomination for Governor against
Lucius Robinson, the men who are now reck-
lcssly prophesying that the Democracy will be
stronger this fall "without the aid Of Tam
many than with it " made the State ring with
the cry that the Kelly candidacy would not
materially affect the Robinson candidacy, and
on the whole might be of service to It, On
their way home from the Syracuse Convention
after nominating Robinson, sundry regulars de-
clared with emphasis, bt cking mp their OPINION
in some instances with wagers, that kellys vote
would not exceed $4,000. We need not re-
mind the Mayor what the upshot of the can
vass was. Robinson was defeated, and hely's
vote was over 77O0O
There can only be one answer TO these
figures. Mayor Grace on being referred TO
them NAV remark "The Kelly OF 1873 Is not
"tbe Kelly of 1882. He has been shorn of his
"strength and influence since he ran for Cover
"nor, and largely because he ran for Governor.
1.-THE course pursued by Tammany this winter
"at Albany has opened the eyes of many who
"havc hitherto been firm adherents to the
"manyites and traitors are convertible terms"
But this argument will not bear examination.
Mayor Grace must admit that rs late as last
election day, in November 1881, Mr.. Kelly
proved himself the most influential OF the
METROPOLITAN leaders of Democracy by routing
the County Democracy and sending Tammany
DELEGATION to the State Legislature sufficiently
large to constitute the balance of power, both
in the Senate and Assembly. Did that result,
achieved a little over six months ago, argue
the decline and fall of Tammanyf Scarcely
1t only remains then, to inquire whether ram
many has done anything since the session be-
gan in the Legislature which is calculated TO
make her lose the strength she exhibited In
November. Here again we cannot but return
negative answer. The head and front of her
offending has this and only this excuse: She
went to Albany in January as the balance of
power; occupying that important position she
had a right to expect to be treated with great
consideration in the organization of the two
Houses Mr.. Purcell, who had led the Demo
cratic ticket in 1851 and who had been chair
man of the Democratic State Committee for a
term of years, joined with other influential
Democrats in counselling that she should be
handsomely recognized nevertheless she was
snubbed in the Senate and snubbed III the
Assembly, particularly in the latter body; rs a
result, instead of mcelly pocketing the insults
put upon her, she struck back according to
her ability and opportunity; the regulars SAID
by their conduct that she had no rights which
they were bound to respect, and she retaliated
by saying by her conduct that they had no
rights which she was bound to respect; Speaker
Patterson made up his committees In papabIe
disregard Of her claims, and she reciprocated
by defeating the Art-Tammany candidate for
Clerk of the Assembly.
Such, in brief as we understand it, IL the
Tammany explanation of its career in the
Legislature. 1t is an explanation whose force
not even Mr.. Tilden can break. 1t is an ex-
| PLANTATION which is calculated to increase rather
than weaken Mr.. Kelly's prestige among his
| followers He has shown himself at Albany
this year, as he showed himself at Syracuse in
| 1879, a leader possessing the courage Of his
convictions and resolutely declining to sneeze
concurrently with Samuel J. Tilden's snuff
taking.
Mr.. Grace may be right when he asserts that
the Democracy is well rid of John Kelly and
Tammany Hall, but the public will regard his
! diagnosis OF the political situation simply as q
very bad ase of very sour grapes.