New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-22
4 CONFERENCE.

II oppcars that a number of Democrats in tins
CITY. alarmed mt the political outlook, are talk
ing about calling a solemn conference Tor the
nromotion of craftsmanship and harmony. Inc
movement is started by the Fiith-avc. section
Of thc party, which has never been quite com
Portable undcr the rule of the Bowcry section :;
and if may be regarded as tantamount to dem
onstration by IMr. August Belmont and his
associates against Mr.. Richard Croker, Mr.. Tim
CompbclI. MIR. Mark Lanigan and Mr.. Fatty
Walsh. Conferences Just like 1t have been
called before. Usually they have had reference
10 that favOrite Democratic dcluSion the nom
nation of IIOratiO Seymour. once, when Gov-
crnor Seymour lay hidden somewhere III the IN
tcrior of the state q formidable expedition was
fitted out and pfovisoncd at the Manhattan
Club to 90 in search of him. II plunged into
the woods. was heard from once or twice on
the route. and was then finally lost. Years have
passed but the expedition never reached MI
Scvmour and never came back, and its fate has
always remained a mystery. I'm 1879 a confer
cncc of the same kind called mp Seymour again
but the phantasm quickly faded and the rcnom-
ination of I.ucius Robinson was the disastrous
scoucl. Who know, but the belmont Harmonic
Society /, still dreaming of Seymour
The difficulty about all these Democratic con
fcrcnces is that the whole strength of the party
in Ncw-Yorl lies in the city vote and that
neither the city voters nor their real leaders
care q brass farthing for the objects which the
promoters of the conference have at heart. IL
is only the little inscctiyorous questions OF
local politics" which touch their feelings.
They take lauguid aud theoretical concern IN
Presidents, n somewhat more lively yet SiiH re-
mote interest in Governors; but when you ask
whether Kirk or Walsh shall be Alderman,
whether a liquor dealer OF a pool-Scllcr shall
90 10 the Legislature, whether an Excise Board
shall bc nominated which will pull Shang
Diapers saloon and who shall have the spend
ing of the aqucduct millionS-ah, then you come
to the problems of practical politics and all the
Democratic halls are profoundly excited about
them.
The Manhattan Club people ought To know by
this timc-ccrtainly they have had enough rude
experience to teach thcm-tlat the only possible
basis for harmony j. a frank recognition of the
character and purposes of tho New-lork CITY
Democracy. They might assemble all their
most imposing and gcntccl statesmen, might
secure the convention, might persuade John
Kelly to shake hands with Governor Cleveland
might vote the most ailcctiOnatc compliments To
one another, and wind mp the loyc-fcast 10y
nominating an aIchangcl not identified with the
interests of any faction; and still they would
be rs far as over from harmony unless they al
ranged friendly division of the city plumber
That is the secret of harmonizng the Dcmoc-
racy. and the whole secret; and it applies just Is
we'll 10 Presidential campaign rs To thcf off
years. Mr.. John Kelly showed us how to hold
a Democratic conference some time ago, when
he caused Il dispute about sharing the Offices 10
be settled by Il rattle.