The Red Cloud chief., 1884-04-11
A Democratic Necessity.

There Is an interesting phase OF the
situation of the Democratic party which
it would be well generally to hold in
mimi. Whatever conclusions it may
come 20 with respect to the tariff or any
other public question. there is no
chance for it to succeed ut the coming
National election if it does not lend its
support to L gang of politicians in New
York City who have long been 4
DISGRACE to popular government. The
better citizens of the metropolis are
struggling TO free themselves from the
control of the successors Ot the Tweed
ring, while the whole Democratic party
must put its shoulders to the wheel to
uphold these political plunderers in
their grasp upon their prey. The
Democracy can not win this fall unless
it carries the State of New York, and
it can not carry the State of New York
unless it secures that large majority in
New York City which can not lie gained
without the cooperation OF Tammany.
1t may be defeated Notwithstanding the
aid OF Tammany with its fifty thousand
votes, but it is certain that it al not
succeed without it. Tammany support
is beyond all n of doubt the sine
qua non of Democratic success.
And Tammany does not sustain the
Democratic ticket as a labor of love.
That sort of thing is not what it exist;
for. 1t demands and gets a high price
for all the political goods it has to sell.
1t is troubled by no principles or scru-
pies whatever, and is commanded by 4
~. ,.-Lo l.r 10Th tho will nnl tho
nerve to array it against the Democracy
whenever It has not been duly promised
the remuneration insisted on and the
payment is not amply secured. But a
Jew wears ago Kelly himself ran rs an
independent candidate for Governor
for the sole purpose of defeating the
regular Democratic nominee, and did
it. The price Tammany insists on is
the control OF the fat Offices in New
York City, and that price the Democrat
cy must pay it so far As It lies in its
power to do so. 1t goes without saying
that the party will sign and seal the
compact. And what is it that the De-
mocra.y of the Nation must aid in its
hold on New York City? The State
Legislature has been besought to inves-
tigate it with a view OF in>tituting some
kind of reform, and Il committee has
been delegated to do SO. 1t has made
4 report which the Times says. ''cOn-
tains a record of corruption and abuses
in the public service of the City and
County of New York which would be
astounding if we were not accustomed
to look upon that service in the light
of past re yelationS as a system Of plum
der carried on by professional politi-
clans of the lowest order.
The report is not merely general in
its nature. The particulars are def
nitely given, and they constitute an en-
tensive system of blackmaiI on the
people of the city, who have grown so
accustomed to it that they have actu-
ally learned to grin philosophically As
may be and bear it. There are Occa-
sional rebclliOns and efforts at reform.
but they have hitherto all died down,
and matters have resumed their Gus
tomary course The particular attempt
which is made now is to cut down the
avenues of plumber as much Is posi-
BILE by Legislative enactment. and to re-
move from the Board of Aldermen the
power of confirming the Mayors ap-
pOintees. This latter is something of a
in the dark. for Tammanv saws it
would rather have the Mayuralty under
such conditions than the Presidency of
the United States. The hope of secur-
inc relief through the change rests in
The belief that an honest Mayor can be
while an honest Board of Al
dermen is an im~possib;litv. But this is
DEPRESSING. What we mean To show is
the Democratic party at large. in
or,le- to elect its President. must lend
itself to the defeat of the efforts at re-
form in New York City. and obey the
beheS,s of the political brigade com
posed of the criminal classes, Plug
uglieS ard ritf-ratf generally. which
into large and powerful proper
in the chief city of the Nation.
Many will be inclined 10 scout the
propoSit on that a body of fifty thousand
To:erS. crowded into thn space of I few
III les. holds the dcStinies. or
all the chances OF success. o: the
Democratic party in the Presi-
DENTAL election in its hands: but such
is the living fact. aad the more it is
into the more will its truth APP
pear. If the Democratic party does
agree to permit this low-lived crew
to 90 on with lis piunder.ng it can not
elect it man. At times the more de
,ent elements of the New York DemOc-
racy have rcvolted at the dcgradition
Of keeping such men in power, anu sey-
eral years ago they had a grand reOr-
r~anization which was Endorsed by
virtually all the party in the state.
refused 20 Il sorganize
and was left out in the cold. But
It stood as firm and fixed as Napo-
cons hollow squares in Egypt. 1t
get nothing itself. but the regu-
ar Democracy shOn!d get nothing
1t adhered to its policy. and
he regular Democracy weakened and
ell. The same wcanOn which Kelly
holds over the Democracy of the State.
10 holds owe the Democracy of the Ma
ion. No general account. or plan of
"A be made up without Kelly.
Md this is the party which depends
on the cry of publication in
Ugh places fo- its campaign material!
There is a law Of compensation in pol
les as well as in other things. and this
APPARENTLY unavoidable bargain with
ammany, though it may bring in to
be Democracy a large number of votes
j New York City, will probably en-
are the Republican majority in ether
II. Co., a >,.& "a