New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-17
TIE OVERTHROW OF TAMMANY.

The first week of the Anti Tammany cam
paign closed last night far more ausplciously
than its most enthusiastic leaders would have
predicted the day after the citizens ticket was
announced. The growth in popular favor OF
the people's candidates is remarkable. Day BY
dsy their canvass has gathered strength until
now the prospect of the election OF every man
named by the conference committees IS most
assuring. Last Saturday the shrewdest poll.
ticians were predicting the success OF the Wig
wan; to-day they are declaring that Tammany
will be beaten if the campaign for reform main
tsins its present astonishing rate Of progress.
This is not the opinion merely OF those
friendly to the movement The most COM
petent authorities of both parties, Democrats
as we'll as Republicans, take the same view OF
the situation. "The Brooklyn Eagle" for ex-
ample, unquestionably as shrewd and accurate
an observer of public feeling as any Demo-
cratic newspaper in this neighborhood, frankly
declares in its issue of last evening that "if
tho fusion ticket continues to grow in New
York up to the election at the rate at which
it has increased in confidence and popularity
since its nomination, the November result will
be great surprise to that always credulous,
invariably confident and seldom sagacious class
known as the practical politicians"
The practical question now is, Will the ticket
continue to grow? Will the fight for honest
city government 20 forward with the same
energy that it has displayed thus farP we
believe that it will. We see no reason to think
otherwise. We can conceive of none, and we
therefore, look forward confidently to COM
plete overthrow on November of the present
corrupt and debasing municipal administration
This is said in perfect sincerity. 1t is the re-
suit of careful examination OF the canvass.
We do not think this is in the least an unduly
sanguine view. The grounds upon which our
expectation is based are numerous, but it will
be sufficient to state few of the most impor-
tant and substantial of them.
In the first place. Tammany is in the MI
nority in this city, and has been for more than
fifteen years. The majority against it has been
gaining steadily during all that time until now
it is over 80, 900. The records show that since
1874 Tammany has not won in single in
stance against the united opposition OF the Re-
publicans, Independents and County Demo-
Gratis. The last time that it attempted fight
of this kind, in 1878 its candidate Augustus
Schell, was beaten nearly 10000 votes by
Edward Cooper. From that year till the pres
emit campaign the Wigwam has never dared
to run a candidate of its own, unsupported by
the Counties, except when there was Repub-
lican candidate in the field
Secondly, the respectable people of this city
are aroused on the subject of municipal re-
form. The disgraceful condition of city affairs
az shown by the Eassett Investigating Com
H.. Al af ho COnfaSt
perfectly clear to all intelligent citizens, and
there is evidently widespread determination
to have a, change for the better. This en-
couraging fact is seen in the results OF the
registration thus far. As pointed out by the
alarmed organ of Tammany, the heavy gains
are in the Republican and Independent dis
tricts, while the losses are almost entirely con-
fined to Democratic wards, to the sections OF
the city where bribery and corruption long
have fiourished, but where now, in consequence
of the new Election law, the heart OF the hecler
and intimidator is weary and heavy-laden.
Again, Tammany's campaign thus far has
been failure. The alleged resources of its
willy chicftain seem to have become exhausted.
His most carefully studied moves on the po-
ltical chess-board when not absolute mistakes
break the opposition line by indorsing Con-
troIlcr Myers's nomination was twOfOld blum
der. 1t revealed Mr.. Croker's lack of conf
dence in the success of a straight Tamnany
ticket, and Mr.. Mycrs's practical reputation
of it placed the Wigwam in an unenvable
position. Equally unsuccessful was MIR. Cookers
effort to capture Patrick Keenan,, the stalwart
pillar of the County Democracy in the Xllth
District, by naming Newburger, Keenan's
former lieutenant, for City Judge. Instead OF
having the desired effect, it has caused Keenan,
to redouble his efforts on behalf of Mr.. Scott
Mr.. Nicolrs nomination was also mistake,
from Tammany point of view, for reasons
which the rank and file of Tammany are max
ing clear to the leaders.
1t must not be supposed for an instant, how
ever that Tammany will relax single effort
in it's desperate struggle for existence. Its
oppont ntS must fight, and fight hard, if they
would win. The League has done effective
work, but to keep this up it needs financial
support This it should have promptly and
generously. Nh Gustaf IL. Schwab, No. 2
Bowling Green, the treasurer of the League,
will receive all contributions.