The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-12-12
An Awful Strain.


ent being made in this country in the
way of assuming things against hope
less odds is exhausting the energies of
the New York Democracy. The par
ticularity and repetition with which the
hypothesis that the Buffalo Convention
wiped out all traces of Democratic sins
and differences in the State is utilized
as base of political argument are very
noticeable. In fact they are amusingly
obtrusive. The art which conceals art
is not a Democratic gift. The alleged
love-feast character of the Convention
is editorially alluded TO in very labor
iously manufactured casual and matter
of-course manner which leaves no
strength to be devoted to the topics the
articles are supposed to be written
about. The thing is clumsily overdone,
and there is too much of it. 1t attracts
the very kind of criticism which its pur-
pose is to avoid. 1t reveals the con-
sciousness of lying, the most difficult of
its features which hypocrisy to be sue
cess sul must hide.
The train which conveyed the delega-
ton of the County (regular) Democracy
back from Buffalo to New York City
was adorned with brooms. This was
intended to represent clean sweep-a
victory over Tammany, whereas Tam
many secured precisely the representa-
ton that it had last year, and simply
failed to have its additional claims sat
isfied. These claims it probably did
not expect to be allowed, but simply
made them in order to be sure to ask
for enough, and, perhaps, to appear to
yield something. At all events, Tam
many accepts the result, and it never
does that peaceably unless it has SUBJ
stantially gained its point. 1t is inter-
ssting to recall in this connection the
great work of self-purifcation which
the New York City Democracy entered
upon some years ago for the purpose of
redeeming its organization from the
control of the plug uglies, who were a
standing disgrace to the party at large,
and appropriated virtually all the pub
lie p!under in the metropolis. The bet
ter elements concluded, by one tre-
mendous effort, to wrest the manage
ment from Tammany, to deprive it
of recognition in the State Convention,
and TO conduct the primaries as they
were conducted elsewhere. An inn
mense meeting was held at Cooper In
stitute, an.organization formed, and the
next morning IL was announced that
there was a regenerated and disen-
thralled Democracy in New York City.
If Tammany expected to exert any in
fuence hereafter, IL must be as individ-
uals and through the regular processes.
And the purifying movement was gen.
orally indorsed throughout the State.
IL was acknowledged as the legitimate
body, and II looked for awhile to those
who did not understand Just what Tam
many was as IL Kelly and his clan must
| 90 under.
But Tammany declined 10 yield. Kel-
ly knew that the Democracy could not
win without II, and he felt confident
that his following would stand by him.
Then the vir ne Of the regulars, with
defeat staring them in the face, came
out in a strong light. Defeat to them,
with honor, was preferable to victory
upon the conditions which Kelly and
his gang of freebooters would dictate.
There was fervor in these professions
which bespoke sincerity. Defeat came,
and It was not palatable. Kelly stood
serene, rs Office after office fell from the
Democratic grasp. Ii was Just the kind
of argument he wanted. The Demo-
Gratis In the State grew nervous and de-
clined to exclude Tamma1y longer from
the State Convention. The County De-
mocracy were very wroth thereat, but
their determination Wis bly, weakened,
and after awhile the majority Of them
condescended to dicker with the body
they had organized to destroy. The re-
suit of the dicker was not satisfactory.
Some valiantly declared that il Tam
many were admitted to the State Con-
vention the regular delegation would
march ont in a body. But Tammany
was admitted and gwen twenty-four
seats. The regular delegation id not
march out in body. On the contrary,
1t remained in, and its train came glid-
ing into the New York depot with the
emblems of victory sweeping the air.
Reform had triumphed. Harmony was
secured. And Tammany ha Is the spec
tacle with great guffaw.
And well it may. 1t is to continue to
have the lions share of the city offices
to devote to paying its expenses and
generally wax fat on. 1t is to be list
ened to with Difference. 1t is to remain
Incorporated in the body of the De-
mocracy, contaminating and demoral-
izing what there may be of good in it.
The regular organization of the party,
intimidated with the prospect of los
ing the State, sells out to 1t body and
soul. And yet ''the quarrels of the
Democracy having been settled at Buff
falo, and everything shaped in the di-
rectlOn OF purlncaIlon, Ine cltlLenS OF tne
State of New York, and of the country
generally, may rejoice in the knowl-
edge that the Democratic parry is now
prepared to put an end to Repu lican
wickedness, and establ sh the Govern
ment upon those principles of integrity
and political wisdom which are cXem-
plified in jefferson and handed down
through long line of Democratic
statesmen" Such is the tone of the
New York Democratic press. Tbs is
the attitude the party assumes with re-
spect to the present canvass and the
Presidency, notwithstanding the oper
facts of the situation. To what narrow
straits are Democratic campaigns in
deed reduced that they can make nc
better endeavor than to attempt Il
squeeze blood out of this kind of a tur
nip,-St. Louis Globe Democrat.