The morning news., 1888-11-04
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE
POSITION OF THE OPPOSING
ARMIES IN THE FIELD.
New York is the Gettysburg OF the
Political war-Will There be Treach-
cry in the Democratic .Camp9-Unfav-
orable Altitude of the Local Factions.


Political War-Will There be Treach-
ery in the Democratic CampP-Unfav-
orable attitude of the Local Factions.
New YORK, Nov. 3,-All eyes will
be riveted on New York city on election
dav. Ali ears will be turned that way on
election night Here it is that the great
battle for the presidency is being fought.
The key of the situation is here. The city
is the battlefield. II is the Gettysburg of
this political war The County Democracy
hold Round Top, Tammany is in position
on Cemetery Ridge and the Coogan De-
mocracy holds Culp's Hill. These points
must be held, or defeat is certain. Each
faction flies the flag of the National Democ-
racy. Each apparently maintains firm
front against the advancing republican line.
The real situation, however, is little under
stood. The lines looks firm, but it is ex-
fremely thin. Very few democrats are
fighting the common enemy. Each faction
.corns assistance from the other, and away
behind the intrenchmentS they are fighting
each other with the ferOcity of tigers.
Both Tammany and the County Democracy
asserts undying fealty for Cleveland and
Thurman, yet each maintains its clutch at
the Otler s throat. MedDIllue UDe bDOuJIllg
republican column is mounting the sloi ie.
Its leaders are within pistol shot of thJ
escarpment. The whites of the eyes OF the
men IN the front rank are plainly visible.
The danger is imminent. Through either
carelessness or treachcry, the enemy may
slip in on the flank or either faction, turn
Its position, and achieve victory. Yet
there are enthusiasts who declare that tins
factional fight strengthens the national
democratic ticket
1T MS analyze the situation and ascertain
the facts.
There is no sentimentality III New York
city politics. Seffisnness alone is para
mount Every point is played for what it
is worth This Is a fight for the loaves and
the fishes. For city politicians the next
mayor will have far more patronage than
the next President The mayor will control
the distribution of nearly $50, 100000
year. All this will be divided among resi-
dents who take an interest in politics. The
mavor's power of appointment is absolute.
1t is entirely independent of the sanction of
the board of aldermen or Of that Of any
other municipal body. The next mayor
will have the appointment of twenty-three
commissioners, who will distribute the vast
municipal patronage. Compared with this
the federal patronage Is mere drop
in the bucket. 1t amounts to less than
s., ,0O0, 600 year. And this S5,000,000 is
not distributed among city democrats
Under q democratic administration the re-
pubicans nov retain more than half of it.
County democrats take half of the re-
mainder, and the city democrats are forced
to put up with what is left. 1t is safe to
say that to-day not 500, 900 year in
federal patronage is distributed among CITY
democrats The collector of the port is a
democrat from the strongest republican
county in the state. He holds the richest
office here within the gift of the President
1t is filled with republicans. The postmas-
ter is a republican, and the / 800 places in
his Office are held by members Of tha-
party. The appraiser is a mugwump, and
republicans hold the most of the places under
him. The naval officer is also a mugwump
His Office is filled with republicans. and
recent developments show tnat there is a
taint of corruption about it. The only
stancn democrats are the surveyor and the
United States marshal. The patronage is
small, but the Democratic party gets the
benefit of it. Worse than all this the ?. esi-
dents power of appointment to any federal
office is limited by the consent of the United
States Senate.
Such are the facts. They explain them
selves. Any man can draw deduction.
Is it reasonable to suppose that either the
County Democracy or Tammany Hall will
throw away a sure municipal patronage of
federal patronage of $1000002 ANY bust
ness man knows better. Politics in large
cities is purely a matter of business. Men
invest in it with a view to a return on the
Investment. Sentiment has nothing to do
with il. Assessments on impecunious can
diGates for county officers are frequently
raised by capitalists, who take a mortgage
upon the receipts of the office for return
Ii the candidate Is elected they may get 80
or rnr thair
money. Ii defeated they lose the principal
The interest is proportioned to the risk,
and the WI ole thing is a speculation. Who
ever heard of a speculator governed by
sentiment.
1t costs each faction of the democracy in
this city at least $500, 900 year TO main
tain its organization. This money does not
come from the pockets of off ceholders 1t
comes mainly from the pockets of office
seekers They are looking for reward in
the turmoil of municipal politics. The re-
ward comes through the distribution of
municipal and not through the distribution
af federal patronage. II it is to their in
terest to make the federal ticket subservient
TO tie municipal ticket it is reasonable to
assume that it will be done. There will be
no sentiment about it. 1t will be business.
] do not say that either 1ammany Hail. the
County Democracy, or the Coogan Democ-
racy will trade votes for presidential cleo
tors for votes for mayor. The facts arc
stated, and the reader must draw his own
conclusions.
Right here make note. One of the can
didates for mayor acknowledges personal
dislike for the democratic candidate for the
presidency. This candidate for mayor was
nominated by a citizeus' committee, in
which republicans predominated. He is
looking for republican votes. HIS ncmina-
tion was afterward indorsed by wing of
the democracy. In accepting the nomin a
tion this candidate sent his official letter to
the republican citizens committee, and not
10 the democratic organization. When
importuned TO withdraw for the safety of
his party, he offered TO do 50, provided the
union candidate was selected by the same
citizens committee that placed him in
nomination. This candidates urother-in-
law, as well as himself, are decisive factors
in the councils of the County Democracy.
With these facts in view, any man ought to
readily see how much the national ticdet is
benefited and strengthened by the factional
fight here.
The truth is that this is fight not only
for the spoils but for the imperial purple
Tt carries with it supremacy in state and
national politics, as well as supremacy in
Iluuicipal politics. Tammany lost an em-
Tire under the leadership of John Kelly.
She is striving TO reclaim her provinces. she
regained Alsace three years ago when she
downed the County Democracy in fight