The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1885-07-10

The Tammany society in New York held its
usual Fourth Of July celebration Friday. In
the main 1t had the air Of political discourage
ment and lassitude. The "workers" and "heel-
ers" who have given Tammany SO much OF her
vigor in,ate years, seem to find little to interest
them IN politics now that the spolls era has gone
| by, and they contributed no enthusiasm to the
occasion. But for that reason the high minded
patriotic dignity which was once the glory of
| Tammany, and of which there Is still rem
nant in the organization, had an opportunity
to show itself. Ex-Congessman o B Potter
delivered an address, dwelling upon tho duty
OF standing unitedly IN support Of the presi-
dents arduous work of returning to sound
principles of government. The idea was not
received with exactly enthusias tic applause, but
with more favor than the complaints and twit-
tings OF the administration in which some Of
the speakers indulged. In fact the general sen.
tment OF the occasion, though somewhat spirit
less, was in favor Of the administration.
Abram S Hewett sent a letter declaring -
"We have president who is in dead earnest,
aided by cabinet who are proving the slnceri-
ty with which they are seeking to give effect to
the pledges made before the last presidential
election. The work of reform has not been un-
dertaken too soon, and now that it is under
taken it should have the cordial sympathy and
support of every good Citizen"
Mr. Cleveland himself had been invited to at
tend the observance, and be improved the op-
portunity for some vigorous and sensible words
on the situation. He said:
OF the purposes sought to be accomplished
by the people in their recent choice OF chief
magistrate, referred to in your note of invita-
ton, l am seriously mindful. In order that
the hopes! Of the people may be fully realized,
every member Of the party in power should
yield a cordial support to all efforts on the part
of the administration to restore pure, free and
Just government. The statement contained in
your note,-that "the administration should SO
discharge all its functions as to merit not only
the appreciation of the people but at the same
time insure a harmonious party united in JEFF
fersonian Democracy, meets my approval;
although my conception OF the true purposes
and the mission of my party convinces me that
il the present administration merits the inteIi-
gent approval OF the people, this result of itself
certainly should ENSURE harmonious party"
Secretary Bayard also responded to an invi-
tation with one of those admirably statesman
like statements Of political ethics for which he
is famous. He wrote:
Acting strictly within the limits of the con-
stitution, allowing no public power and 70 p1b-
lie property to be diverted to any other than
public uses and interests; maintaining the alb
solute equality of the states under the Union
and its legislative power, and of the individual
citizens before the law; harmony between the
local industries, interests and diversified occu-
patlons among our fellow countrymen can be
secured, and a unifcation Of sentiment in all
matters touching our national honor and ad-
vancement will soon obliterate the blots of Sec
tlonalism and render it happily impossible here
after for any political party to make appeals to
class interests, sectional jealousies, and dOmes-
tic dscord with any hope OF success. In the
good work of knitting firmly the bonds of cur
national union, and healing the wounds Of in
ternal dissenson, hope your ancient and pa
triotic society may bear, as heretofore, an emil
nent and honorable part.
Mr. Bayard may not be an entire success as a
practical administrator but as political phi
losopher and teacher of sound abstract prin- !
cples he fills, as he always has done, an i'm
portant place in the Democratic economy. And |
It is profoundly significant Of the change TAX
Ing place in the Democratic party, when advice |
and leadership like this of Cleveland, Bayard |
and Hewitt is accepted by Tammany, the |
representative OF all that Is bourbonish in the |
party. as the policy to which it must ally itself
n the future.