New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-14
THE DEMOCRATIC COMEDY.

THE DEMOCRATIC COMEDY.
What n roaring farce this whole business OF
Democratic politics is in this city! 1t is gem
orally believed that the Roman augurs were
able only by great effort to look each other ser-
ously in the face. 1t is difficult to believe that
our political augurs. the Democratic leaders,
ever do look each other in the face without q
thrust of the tongue in the cheek and some
drol SIDE gesture indicative OF mutual un-
derstanding with each other and a common con-
tempt for The public. One day they are de-
nouncing each other in unmeasnred terms
charging each other with all sorts of rascaity;
the next they are paying court to each other ana
arranging for harmonious and united action, or
shaking dice in division of the spells Of the
City and State. How can we believe the lead
ers of the County Democracy are sincere in their
condemnation of Tammany methods, when I'M
mediately on the heels of their proclamation Of
relentless war against them they proceed to
confer with Tammany upon division OF the
Offices how trust 1ammapyB piOtestatlOns OF
devotion tO the party and Willingness to make
any sacrifice for harmony, when directly AFTER
ward it contemptuously refuses to obey the d.
rections of the State Convention aud State
Committee concerning the holding OF primaries,
and goes right on electing by its own methods
and in its own way full set of delegates TO the
Convention How can either expect to be
trusted by tho public when each charges the
other with the grossest troachery in the last
Presidential campaign, and each is willing not
wlthstauding to unite with the other IL
struggle for the offices!
There has been much talk in political circles
during the past few days about uniting all the
city factions: AGREEING upon single delegation
10 the State Convention, dismissiDg all causes oil
difference and establishing harmony and peace
The desire OF Tammany for this state of affairs
is copiously expressed in SIX elaborate wLereases
and three resolves reported by special CONF.
mittee n few evenings since, and adopted with
enthusiasm. One OF these whereasss sets forth
in the most complaccnt fashion, rs if it were
proposition which would not be disputed, thai
Z" the differences between our neiehbors OF the
same political faith and ourselves are but
~nominai and trivial, unworthy OF Democrats,
involving no question of principle, and moth
"ing rs to which all may not make liberal con-
ScessOns for the common good without any
"sacrihce OF honor" This is the basis upon
which Tammany has appointed committee 10
confer with the representatives OF the County
Democracy with n view of agreeing upon
single delegation to Buffalo and establishing
harmonious relations for the future. The
County Democracy lot il he remembered, was
organized for the sole purpose of discriminating
Tammany Hall ms political force, and thereby
making an end of its iniquitous methods.
Consider then tie GOODNESS and assurance-the
mpudence indecd-of Tammany Hail in send
ing over to this body organized to externlinate
it committee to confer upon terms of COM
promise and union, armed With IA resolution
which calmly describes the differences as
nominal and triy ial. unworthy of Democrats,
"invol wing 10 question of principle Says the
thief to the detective. Our differences are nom
ainal and trivial. unworthy of old friends, in
avolving no question OF principle; let us har-
amonize and divide the plumber"
Tammany Hall has not changed since De-
cember 1880. Its methods are the same its
zone man. power the same, its "Bossism"
and its " Boss y the same. Whatever valid
objections to any of them existed then exist
now. In December, 1850, the leaders of the
County Democracy declared incorporating
war upon all of them. To-day committee
from Tammany stands at their doors asking a
conference upon the ground that the differ
ences between the County Democracy and
Tammany are nominal and trivial "-lo you
think so, Mr. John Develin l-that they are
unworthy of Democrats'-is that your view,
Mr.. Edward CooperP-that they "involve no
question of principle us that your opinion,
Mr.. Abram S. Hewitt? Suppose such COM
mittee had applied for hearing upon such
credentials the day after tho great popular
uprising" in Cooper Institute in which the
County Democracy had its origin With what
n howl of derision it would have been greeted. |
Nothing has happened since then but the
lapse of time to make such action any less |
absurd. Was the Cooper Institute uprising"
a farcei Or is this performance q farce Or !
is the Democratic party with its warning |
factions, with its shams and pretcnces, its in
constituencies and absurdiues, contin uous
comedyf