New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-01
THE BETRAYAL OF THE COUNTY DEM
OCRACT.

THE BETRAYAL or THE COUNTY DEM
OCRACT.
THE TRIBUNE has for several weeks been
seeking information from the persons best
qualified to furnish it concerning the present
purposes and aims of the organization known
as the County Democracy. We have called
repeatedly upon those who were conspicuous
in the movement in which that body originated,
and have offered our columns to anyone con-
nected with it who has the necessary informa-
ton and is willing to communicate IL 10 the
public. There has been no response Inc
pnrpose with which the County Democracy
was originally organized two years ago was
we'll understood. There was no doubt In the
mind of anyone inside or outside of 1T as to It's
object IL was announced in the call Tor con-
sultation of those who gave the enterprise lts
first start, il was set forth in every commune
cation made to the public, openly ayowed III
tbe utterances of every one of its leaders, dwelt
upon at length in the columns OF its newspaper
organs. elaborated in endless preanbles and
resolutions, reiterated by its orators, and made
the sole and essential feature of its public
demonstrations. If the object of the organiza-
ton was not TO make war upon Tammany Hall
man rule. war to the knife, relentless. uncom-
promising, then it was conceived In hypocrisy
and brought forth in brazen dishonesty; its
inventors were political confidence men ltS
promoters cheats and impostors; its preamDleS
and resolutions elaborate falsehoods the
whole scheme q gigantic political swindle. III
had no reason for being.
No doubt thousands of honest Democrats IN
this city who sincerely desired the reform OF
the party and the publication of municipal
politics went into the new organization be-
lievDg that the men engaged in 1t, who Ill
rected and controlled it, were in earnest ana
@meapt business" They believed the orators
who dilated with such eloPuence upon the cor
ruption and tyranny and treachery OF Tam
many Hall, and who said there could be no
reform until Tammany Hall was obllterated as
n political force They believed that this was
the real purpose of the organization. They
took the word of the leaders in it, who were
loudly advertised as the best men In the
partyr We are Oh the eve OF the second cleo
ton since the formation of the new party OF
reform. VIII any of these honest Democrats
tell us now that the County Democracy has
actually any such purpose as that for which 1t
was pretended to be organized7 1t pretended
to set out to reform the party by putting an end
TO the influence and power of Tammany Hall.
At the last election it sat at table with Tam
many and ratified for the spoils of municipal
patronage; in this campaign 1t strikes hands
with the organization it has denounced as cor
rupt. tyrannical and treacherous, and compro-
misses with ii upon committees award OF
plumber. Tammany Hall is no better now
than when these gentlemen organized in the
interests Of political morality to put it down.
No one IN it or of it has repented or apOlOgized.
1t has not changed one whit, unless it be for
the worse in beng more arrogant and tyran-
nical. If it was desirable two years ago to put
an end to it, it is much more so now. But in
stead of laboring to that end, y the best men in
the party" have taken a course calculated to
prolong it's existence and increase it's power.
And they ask the honest Democrats who fol-
lowed them into the County Democracy to back
them up IN it,
In this state of affairs 1t seems to us that
those Democrats who honestly engaged in the
Anti Tammany movement which gave birth to
the County Democracy cannot long hesitate as
to their duty. Their leaders have deserted |
them and have surrendered the organization |
from which so much was expected to the enemy |
it was enlisted to fight. They have stipulated
to deliver the garrison with the fort. IL is for
the rank and file of the County Democracy to |
say whether their consent shall be given to this |
most treacherOus and shameless surrender of |
worthy cause by unworthy leaders. They |
have it in their power to vindicate their own |
sincerity and save the movement in which they |
were engaged from everlasting disgrace. They |
have an onnortunity tn rebukp the leaders who |
have betrayed them. viii they do it7