New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-05
majority will give our party suos'ah''a' "'''
jority on Joint ballot.
rpr rRJUupH or TAMMANi.

Tammany has won by majority which. II
y l. somewhat smaller than Mr.. Cookers
nrophecy il nevertheless large enough for all
practical purposes. and there is vocifcrous re-
io;cino m the Wigwam and its affiliated p'lr-
lieus this morning. The secret society whicn
has administered upon the municipal estate 1or
the last two years will have still compieter
domination for two years to come. III It's VIC
tory had been scant and strained there would
have been reason for saying that another such
victory would ruin it, and there might have
bsen not a little consolation in that view OF
tbe result. But the majority is large. There
IL no use in pretending that Tammany has
gained anything less than a>triumph The
nn;on of forces against it was seemingly COM
nact and determined The campaign was
nrosecuted with energy and enthusiasm. The
cause was fit to inspire good citizens OF all
narties TO work and vote for its success. The
moral advantage was all on the side OF new
methods and new men in the cty govern
ment. And yet, in spite OF every obstacle,
Iammany has won completely and decisively.
II is too soon to estimate with accuracy the
causes which brought promising campaign to
50 inglorious an end, but some OF them may DO
set down without danger OF mistake. In the
first place, there never was piece vi p0litlcal
mechanism more perfectly adapted to the p'lr-
poses for which it was designed than the
i'ammany machine, and that machine never
worked more efficiently than yesterday. Against
il was arrayed a combination OF elements I'M
used to cooperation, and much better adapted
70 the demOnstrative work OF campaign than
tnn ma
on Election Day. Moreover, fact which was
not disclosed during the canvass is now APP
parent, namely, that the great body OF ctlzehs
whose natural propensities are to clean ana
efficient administration of municipal ahairs'
but who are not easily aroused to ard0r IN any
cause could not persuade themselves that the
allies against Tammany were fighting III good
faith and with an expectation of winning. How
far this lack of confidence did injustice TO any
part of the united forces we shall not now
assume to Judge. Two facts, OF course, are
patent, that Tammany was in minority on
the registration lists, and that Tammany had
comfortable majority at the polls. All that
is imported thereby it is not possible to tell
lust at present. But evidently there were thou
sands of "stay at homes" and they did not
belong to Tammany.
On one point Of prime Importance the COM
munity will not be left in doubt. whether
the spoils ought to belong to the vict0rs or
not, it is certainly among the victors that the
municipal spells will be distributed. After
the first day OF January Tammany Hall VIII
monopoze the management of this great cor
poration. What 1t will do with thu sacred
trust the public knows too well. 1t will con-
tinue to employ the power and patronage OF
office for its own selfish ends, giving back 10
the people in the safeguards, comforts ana
conyeniences OF existence as small part as
possible of the vast sum of money which they
pay i'll taxes. 1t will enlarge its own fabric
perfect its own machinery, enrich its own lead
ers and fructify new fields with the stream
of patronage. If Tammany had just escaped
defeat by a bare majority there might have
been some reason to hope that it would he
terrified into at least show OF virtue, ana
that it's adversaries would find reward for
their exertions in filter appointments to ONCE
and a better administration OF local afairs.
But. as the election has resulted, lower level
of character and efficiency is all that we can
reasonably expect.
II this anticipation is realized, and still
more insolently extravagant and corrupt rule
dishonors and defrauds the city, no man who
neglected or msuSed the obligation of suffrage
will have any right to complain. The issue
had been made clear enough to illuminate the
darkest mind and, it might have been sup
nsed. to stimulate the feeblest conscience.
Citizeds who are accustomed TO think Ut them
selves as respectable, and who either voted
for or declined to vote against Tammany yes
terday, will be entitled to contempt rather than
sympathy hereafter when they rail at the bur
dens and disgraces which they are compelled
10 bear.