The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-23
A Georgia View Of Tammsnn.

A Georgia View of Tammany.
From the Atlanta Constitution Of
June 81.
There can scarcely be a doubt tbst
the democratic party has run against h
snag in the shape of Jobn
Kelly and Tammany Hall. 1t il the
same old story of Obstinacy, confusion
and treachery, especially treacherv
During the past twenty years we have
seen many plans of compromise with
Tammany devised and discussed. bn,
during all that time we have never heard
of plan to appeal to Tammany's hon.
esty and patriotism. There are some
pretty rough and reckless iokers in tbs
United States of America, but, as far a.
our knowledge extends, none are rough
or reckless enough to impute honesty or
patriotism to the men who control the
shambled voters that support Tammapy
We are told that such nomination will
be obnoxious to Tammany, and that nm.
less Tammany is satisfied the Democrats
cannot carry New York State. This has
been the cry for several years, but we
have observed that the democratic party
is no nearer victory to-day than it would
have been had it ignored this disreput.
able gang from the beginning.
Since the war, if our memory serve,
us well, there has not been a Democratic
National Convention in which the
paramount question was not what can.
didate will please. Tammany, rather than
what candidate will please the people,
The same question is brought up for
democratic consideration to-pay, and Il
is the paramount question. The party
must ask itself, not what candidate will
be popular with the people, but what
candidate will be approved by John
Kelly. The history of the democratic
party since the war may be comprised
in the statement that every four years
it has truckled to John Kelly and Tam.
many.
Now, the question that occurs to US
and it is a question that must occur to
every honest democrats this. If
nothing has been gained in the past by
trucking to Tammany, what more is to
be gained in the future? In our humble
judgment the opportune moment has
arrived when the democratic party
should commend itself to the approval
OF. honest men of all shades of opinion
by cutting loose from its John Kelly and
its Tammany Halls. 1t is proposed, if
the programme of the party is to fit
itself to the situation, to make an appeal
to that large and earnest reform element
among the republicans which refuses to
support Blaine or to indorse the platform
on which he was nominated; but how
can party which is practically CON
trolled in its nomination by such con
Germs as Tammany, how can such s
party consistently appeal to refOmeE
for support
From first to last Tammany has been
dead weight on the democratic party,
and on more than one occasion il has
directly and Intentionally contributed to
the party's defeat. In spite Of thee
things, the support of Tammany Is rt-
garded by the leaders of the democracy
as one of the essentials. Before a move
ment can be made, before a resolution
can be passed, before candidate can be
nominated, the question of surprising
interest is, will Tammany be satisfied
In other words, will Mr.. John Kelly be
satisfied? The entire resources OF the
party are employed in an effort to please
Tammany and satisfy Mr.. John Kelly
and they have been so employed IN
every campaign in which the democrats
were supposed 10 have the ghost oil
chance.
After all, what does it amount to-
Nobody knows whether Mr. John Kelly
is satisfied until it is too late TO satisfy
him. He was supposed to be satisfied
in 1880. Tammany went home from
Cincinnati Aourishing its glittering array
of whiskey bottles and shouting for
Hancock. 1t went home enthusiastic
but before some of It's followers had
sobered up Mr.. John Kelly had con-
cluded a dicker, which made Tammany
solid at Albany and gave New York to
the republicans. The trade was made
with Arthur, and while it is true, as has
been claimed, that it was a snug piece
of political engineering, it was fatal to
the Democrats.
It is generally understood that Mr.
Kelly is opposed to the nomination Of
Governor Cleveland-not any reasonable
or just grounds, but because Mr.. Cleye-
lard, in administering the affairs Of New
York State, mas not seenproper to adjust
his actions to John Kelly's gauge. Tam
many is not opposed to Cleveland be
cause Cleveland would be a weak, an
unpopular or an improper candidate,
but simply because he has refused to
truckle to Tammany.
1t is said that John Kelly has written
q letter favOring the nomination Of Dir.
Bayard, but no human being, except
the republicans Mr.. Kelly dickers with,
will be able to say, until after the elec-
ton whether he is in favor Of Mr.. Bayar4
or opposed to him. Mr.. Bayard is a good
mamie is a good man and an honest
man, but he is not strong man. HH
record would fail to commend him to the
arge class whose war preiudices are to
be counted among the active political
tacts Of the time. He is too good man
n our opinion, for Tammany to support
ind should he receive the nomination
he probability is that Tammany would
promptly sell him out.
The democratic party owes it 10 itself
md to the country to put and end to
ne confusion that Tammany imports
nto the organization every four years.
Kelly has announced time and again
hat he is independent of the democratic
,arty; let the democratic party show
nat II is independent of Kelly. If the
'arty is to 60 before the country crying,
Turn the rascals out" let it demon
trate its earnestness by turning such
ascals as Kelly out. In our opinion
MS Is the one road to success. To con-
iliate Tammany is to invite the oPPos-
lion Of honest man.