The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-06-05
John KELLY.

The death Of John Kelly removes from
the field of American politics q parsonage
who, in many respects, was remal kable
among the public men of the day.
Throughout his long career, covering a
period of more than thirty years, he never
failed TO attract attention to himself,
whether participating in the political
movements of the Empire state. or reach
ing beyond to the domain Of national az
fairs. He was always an intensely practi-
cal politician and, though possessed of
some of the elements Of a statesman, he
persstently dwarfed his influence for good
by always acting from motives that are the
inspiration of the party "bOss, as that term
is understood in the political parlance of
the day.
Mr kelley's first appearance in public
| life was as a member Of the New York
| Board Of Aldermen three decades since,
his last, as member Of the Democratic
National Convention Of 1884, at Chicago,
protesting against the nomination of Gro
yer Cleveland AZ his Inty's candidate for
the presidency. From first to last he was
always an active worker in every campaign,
not always for the success of his party, but
always worker United with his unceas:
ing activity was an indomitabie will and a
exercised as TO draw 10 himself a personal
following great enough 70 enable him in
1879 to secure vote of seventy thousand for
Governor, as against the regular democrat.
&c nominee in his own state, sufficient
number to defeat Governor Robinson and
render the success of the republican party
in the national contest of 1880 an assured
fact.
The course pursued by Mr.. Kelly in 1879
furnishes key to the motives that con.
trolled him in every political movement
He never failed to keep in view one object,
and that fixed determination to rule and |
not be ruled, and with this thought ever in
mind, he made the members of Tammany |
Hall, over whom he had the complete mas
terry, a constant menace TO democratic sue
cess both in the state of New ok and in
the nation at large. Not for one moment
did he ever hesitate about defeating his
own party, if he felt that his party's sue
cess meant any diminution of his own per
sonal influence or taking away from his
nenchmen either city, state or national
patronage. Believing that Tilden's success
meant as much he vigorously opposed his
nomination at ST. Louis in 1876. For the
same reason he proved traitor to his party
in 1879. and at Chicago was hostile to
degree never before witnessed in nation.
al convention against the nomination of
Grover Cleveland Had Mr.. Kelly, been
influenced by better i'm pulses, his power In
the councils of the party would have been
greatly augmented, and he would have
drawn to himself the good will of demo
Gratis everywhere, rather than distrust and
dislike which democrats at large always
accorded him.
Mr.. Kelly's many and varied abilities,
MS SOuuOl o'cI Ills leiioNhcu anu MS uL-
questioned personal honesty entitled him
to rank high among great men and patriots,
but he chose to walk the uncertain paths
of the politicians of a great city, and to dis
sipate his power in contests that should
have been beneath him. His own selfish
desire to dictate, whether right or wrong,
prevented him from doing his party that
patriotic service which it of right demand
ed of him, and made him fall far below the
true standard of Il great party leader.