The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-06

ject Of quasi leadership, addressed to New
York's delegates TO the Cincinnati National
Convention In 1880, are full OF instruction:
~ have withheld no sacrifice. and neglected op
portunty uphold, organize. and consolidate against
the enemies of representative Institutions the FreA
party which alone under Con can erectualy accom-
psh their overthrow. Having borne faithfully my
full share OF labor and in the public service and
wearing marks OF its DuFtsuE dosirt nothing 90 much
as All honorable discharge wish to lay down the
honors and tolls OF even quasi party leadership and
to seek the rspose OF private life"
For variety OF excellent reasons the APP
| proachng municipal contest in this city Will
be ore OF great Importance. Not alone are
Congressman to be elected and the office OF
Mayor to DO filed for term extending be-
You'd tho Presidential battle, but District
Attorney, Comptroller, and Sheriff are also
to be chosen for terms overlapping the
Mayors Tho result Of the November cleo
ton will, therefore. decide the question what
faction or party will be in charge Of the gov
eminent of New York city in the Presiden-
tlal contest OF 1892 And unless all signs
| fail, that contest will be determined by the
vote OF this city and Vicinity.
The attitude and availability OF Tammany
Hail. tho most ancient and influential DEM
ocratic body in this city. must, therefore, be
| q matter Of great concern to the Democrats
OF the country. Wisely led, 1t will con-
tribute materiallyto the prospects OF Demo-
cratic victory; fooishly conducted. on the
other hand, 1t may do much to make prob
able n Democratic overthrow.
1t Is not to be forgotten that very large
body of Democrats, even while not sharing
the views of Tammany leaders in respect OF
I'm n
Tammany Hall as tho only Trustworthy
CONSERVATION of real Democracy in New York
city. They remember its courageous struggle
against the proposed property qualification
n dozen years ago. when persons now pro-
Tossing to DO Democrats deserted to the en-
envy. They remember Tammany's battle
against Known thinglsm and prescription
q couple Of years later; and they remember
the warning voices OF Tammany Democrats
In 1884 when the underdone Mugwumps OF
tho civil service brand proposed audaclously
to scuttle the Democratic ship. Let us here
quote the words OF Mr.. COCHRAN in 1884:
why are we asked to take this plunge in tho dark,
subject tho future fortunes OF our party to the
hazards Of lottery to thrust hands into bag and
bring out unknown number, which may turn out q
regeuerAtor and MoSRs for tho may turn out
false prophet that It would be much better we had
discovoed Why arc we asked to close our eyes
and jump b,indy over precpice. and trust TO tho
hazards Of fortune what may DO the result why
are told that candidate is available we are told
that he can carry the State of New York and judi
cious but omnous silence 10 preserved as to why he
ought to carry and why, above ALL he should
be selected the standard bearer OF the Democracy
OF the nation"
Within the course OF few months, still
another evidence Of this loyalty to the
Democracy's innate principles has been fur
nishcd by Tammany Some OF the shrewd-
est Republican managers having presented
specious but well-considercd scheme for
DISTINGUISHING thousands Of Democratic
voters by establishing an educational test,
as preliminary to property qualification
for voting, Tammany Hall stood alone, the
only Democratic organization in this town,
in favor Of strengthening and sustaining
the hands Of a Democratic Governor in the
arduous but glorious contest, now Triumph
antly concluded, for the preservation OF
manhood suffrage. In this emergency, the
other Democratic organization OF the city
fed in fear and abject cowardice from the
field, and took refuge in the Republican pad
dock, while Tammany emerged from the
encounter stronger than before. The DEM
otidlS VI lLC SouIIly MhoSo Soiocih III
New York's municipal government is
comparatively slight, but whose eyes
rest upon New York city as the
bulwark OF Democratic success in the
nation, have an interest in political ques-
lions here which far transcends all the i'm
portance that may attach to the health, con-
tent, or convenience Of any leader, however
his services in the past. They
are not inspired by the spectacle Of head
less Democratic organization, the acknowl-
edged general OF which is separated from
his followers by the Atlantic Ocean. They
see that the contest which is approaching is
one Of peril to the Democratic party, for
it marks the parting of the two roads, the
one opening the way to Democratic triumph,
the other skirtng along tho hillside Of dan
ger and ending in the valley Of defeat.
1t is for these reasons that the brief but |
authentic interview published in THE SUN |
Of yesterday with tho Hon. RICHARD
CROKER Is worthy of the careful perusal OF |
those who study Democracy In its strong |
hold, and are not employed In the strictly |
diversion OF shadow-chasing.