New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-18
DEMOCRATIC a UNITY FORsooTH


The spectacle of Democratic stump-speaker
commanding cheers from Democratic audi
ence at his assertion that "once more the
Democratic party presents united front to
the enemy" would be more impressive If the
public did not understand precisely what this
boosted unity amounts to. Every intelligent
man knows that it is an utter sham, that the
cohesion of Tammany ard anti-Tammany is
merely temporary and has no more reputable
significance than the ravenOus hunger OF each
faction for spOils. Parodying an old story,
the unity of Iammany and anti-Tammany in
this campaign may be said to mean seven
things-fve loaves and two fishes. Less than
six months ago all the leading Democratic
papers in the State were savagely denOuncing
John Kelly. Such names as striker, renegade,
traitor were freely applied to him. His Greg
ular" brethren in the Legislature, in order to
show their detestatiOn of the man, treated his
representatives in that body in the most insult
ing manner-going so far as to debar them
from the Democratic caucuses held during the
session. The Speaker of the House used his
official position largely for the purpose of
degrading Tammany. He made up his
committees in such q way as practically
to exclude the Tammany Assemblymen from
having any potent influence in shaping lcgis-
lation. And yet, in the face of these notorious
circumstances, Tammany and anti-Tammany
are to-day acting together for the election Of
Mr.. Cleveland, while ever and anon from the
lips of some Democratic campaign orator comes
the exclamation behold, how beautiful it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity.r
Mr. Grover Cleveland, do not these illusions
to unity" in your party seem to you so much
intolerable humbug7 You know that John
Kelly is the same man in every respect that he
was last May, when the Regulars were falling
foul of him every day with the vilest abuse.
lie has neither repented nor changed You
know that the only reason why he was not
cast out of the Syracuse Convention of 1882,
as he was out of the Albany Convention of
1881, was simply because the Regulars had
been taught in the bitter school of experience
the need Of his vote and of the votes of those
whom he controls. AS you are aware, Mr.
Cleveland, we have only words of condem-
nation for certain methods that prevailed
at the Saratoga Convention. And now per-
NIT us respectfully to inquire if the Syracuse
Convention was entirely to your liking. Your
own nomination was due i'll large measure to
Tammany-that is to say Gf all your leading
party organs are 10 be believed), to "strik-
ers " and "renegades " and "traitOrs.n Does
it not occur to you that your pride and self
respect might well suffer modification as you
reflect that chief among your debtors for the
honor that has come to you are these exec.
rated and branded gentlemen Or are you
Indifferent to processes, having regard only to
resultsl
"Well, in any event." some kasty gen.
eralizing Democrat may respond, Gin union
there is strength" Yes provided union stands
for confidence in and respect for one another
OH the part of those that join forces. But in
union there is weakness when incongruous
elements are joined together. To prove the
truth of this last assertion one has but TO
glance at the present condition Of the