New-York tribune., 1891-10-14
TlMMANY'S OWN ISSUE.


baloo. The issue. even as presented by the
Tammany organs and Tammany orators, Is too
plain to be misunderstood. For it is to be re-
marked that these gentlemen in the press and
on the stump are not discussing the tariff, or
silver coinage, or any other Nauonal question:
e1cept in the most casual and incidental way
as frins upon the body OF their discourse. Whav
they are all talking about, and talking about all
the me, and determined not to be diverted
from. is the Worlds Fair and the selection Oh
Chicago instead of New-York as its location
In his spasm of activity at the Cooper Union the
other night Mr.. Cleveland did make futile en-
desvor TO lift the canvass up to the level OF
his own high thinking but the real exponent
Of Democracy who succeeded him on the plat
form the gentleman who now holds the two
offices of Governor and Senator and hopes Tor
something higher the headpiece and mouth
niece of Tammany Democracy because he stanuS
for all there Is in it, Governor-Senator Hill,
switched the audience back to the al-absorblng
issue of the Worlds Fair and held them there
That was the topic upon which he had fortlied
himself with the largest assortment OF facts ana
most considerable array OF figures the theme
on which he worked the pump-handle OF his
eloouence and stirred the blood OF his hearers
We are quite willing it should be so. quite
willing that all the orators and all the organs
should from this on keep up the ding dong.
For though not practical question in the way
they present it, it does, nevertheless suggest
and thrust in the foreground the paramount
issue of the present campaign. The question
whether Tammany Hail. for some time absolute
in this city, and now made absolute IN the con-
troll of the Democratic party in the state by
the action OF the State Convention, shall Obtain
absolute control of State affairs and preSuge
which will 60 far to put 1t IN control Oh ule
Nation is so far-reaching that even questions OF
National importance are subordinated to 1t. Inc
manner of Tammany's putting it is this That
because Thomas c. Plat, then and now prl-
vate citizen, having made up his mlnd Iast
vaar not hastily. but from careful inyeStiga-
ton. that the plans proposed for procuring ieSiS-
lauon at Albany in aid OF the effort 10 secure
the location OF the Worlds Fair In this city
were shaped with view to give Tammany Han
an enormous increase OF patronage, ana 50
strengthen the hold upon power OF secret or
ganization which the best men In the Demo-
cratic party, beginning with Mr.. lllden, nave
denounced as corrupt and dangerous, called pub
lie attention to the facts, and was instrumental
in compelling change in the Tammany scheme {;
and because the present Republican candidate
for Governor, being then State Senator and a
recognized leader of his party, exerted himself
actively in favor of the effort to bring the Fair
to New-York, but against the scheme to make
il Tammany Fair instead OF Worlds Far
and because, as they endlesSly voclfeIate' New
| York lost the location on account OF the deIsS
which ensued from the refusal OF the Legislature
to rush the Tammany scheme through; because
of this they say the citizens OF NeW-1Ofk oughl
70 rebuke Mr. FaSsett for his action in defeat
ing the Tammany scheme by voting for the
Tammany candidate for Governor. This Will
also be a rebuke, they say, to Mr. Platt to
whose active exeitions in calling public atten-
tion to their plans they chiefly attribute then
| failure.
That is the issue as they prefer it, and as we
are quite willing they should make It, IL IS a
campaign of rebuke. Mr.. PlatU is to be rebuked
| for opposing what he believed to be danger
ous scheme in the interest and for the sole ad-
vantage OF Tammany Hall. Mr.. Fassett Is to
be rebuked for the influential part he took III
compelling Tammany to terms, and the Repub-
lican party is to be rebuked for refusing to push
this Tammany scheme through the Legislature
without change and almost without debate.
Tammany Hail states it with the utmost pialn-
ness, even while it endeavors with characteristic
inconsistency to evade responsibility anu per-
suade the voters that the Republicans are rails
ing false issue in representing Tamm2ny CON
trol as the most important factor in the contest.
Here it is in nutshell. Tammany Hall lost
the most magnificent opportunity for patronage
and power since Tweed and his gang ruled and
| plundered IL was angry over 1t. 1t went 70
the state Convention and demanded that the
Democratic party OF the State should take uI
it's fight and lecompense it for lis loss 1t
elbowed out all other factions and put itself
aggressively, extensively, viciously in 'front.' say
ing "This is Tammany's fight. We lost the
Worlds Fair, and we demand compensation.
Give us the party rens; give Us the State ;
give us the prestige that will assure US the
naming of the Presidential candidate; give us
the Federal Treasury give US the earth % The
convention recognized the daughter OF the horse
leech and gave all it had Now comes the ap-
peal to the voter "Rebuke every body who has
hindered US Give us what remains now that
we have lost the Worlds Fair. We deserve
compensation for the sacrifice which Fassett and
Platt and the Republicans oompeHedlus to make.
Rebule them and give us the State"
Yes the Werld's Fair is a very proper and
pertinent issue. And the question prescribed
is whether Tammany Hall shall be compensated
for the loss of that prize by being put in pos
session OF the whole State.