New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-01
rs rAuMANY RULE A STEP UPWARD'

Il IL "
The latest argument for the benefit of Gov
ernor Hill and Tammany Hall has the merit Of
novelty IL not of strength. "The Newton
Times, asserts that after years of degradation
under Hill the Democratic party "has at last
started once more, a little haltingly, perhaps,
upon the inward track Of progress" 1t must
be admitted by every wondering reader that the
undisguiscd and absolute dictation of Tammany
Hall has never before been described as inc
upward track of progress" Among the many
things which have been said from time to tune
by men of some decency and self-respect IN the
way of excuse for supporting Tammany HAL
and it's candidates, no one has yet bethougnt MIN
to say that Tammany mastery in this state
would place the party upon the upward track
of progress Perhaps there could be no more
nainful disclosure of the degradation into which
the Democratic party of NcwYork has fallen
than this painful and hating encomium of its
latest ticket.
The whole country knows what Tammany
Hall has been and is. To do justice to the or
panization there has been no disguise about us
laundering or its single-eyed devotion to p un-
der. 1t has never pretended to carry electiohS
by honest means exclusively or mainly ana mas
ALWAYS selected in places Of management ana
nower men who knew best how to employ I~
the success of the organization the various cor
run+ means which control of the offices and con-
tracts in great city places at It's disposal
The character of the men it has selected Tor
nlacos of honor and trust is notorious, and mono
have criticised the conduct of Tammany Hall
in that rospect more severely than the very same
nrcfcSsed advocates of reform who are now man
ufacturing excuses for putting entire conIfol
of the State into the hands of Tammany Hall
But it is claimed that Governor Hill IS no
longer at the head of affairs. Thus Inc
New York Times says ut is our beIef that
the reign of Hillism in this State is at an end
but its blight upon Democratic prospects re-
mains" The blight remains, because the peo-
ple know that the reign of Hillism is not at an
end Not the slightest difference to the people
does it make whether Governor Hill IN person
is to have control of things in future. The one
thing certain is that the men who have been
his most unscrupulous tools, and through whom
bo has done the most dctestlble work in this
State. are to be in control if he Is not. Inc
pretance is that they have rebced against
him. and if it be 50 the public has no reason
whatever to hope for Improvement These men
have neither reputation nor prospects to lose.
Governor Hill was at least restrained at times
by the hope that he might be candidate tor
the Presidency.
The blight remains; about that there IS no
doubt. 1t remains because the decent people
If the State do not see that transfer OF power
10 Tammany Hall is in any sense or degree
stem forward or upward They know, and
1.-The Ncw-York Times knows, though 1t IS
not candid enough to say, that this latest de-
parture of the Democratic party in New-l orR
is the longest step it has taken for years IN
dscracefu! downward course. The control OF
TammaDy Hall and of such men rs Murphy and
Sheehan. whether with Hill behind them or
not means more shameless reign OF corrup-
ton. yenality and fraud than the country had
reason to expect from any great political party
however debascd. 1t is not long since the Dem
ocylts of this State outside of Newly ork City
would have fet themselves diSgraced past en-
durlnce by the dic;ation Of Tammany Hall in
! State convention and campaign. If some OF
them have been 50 far dcmoralized that they
feel no shame, and with thin excuses propose
to do the bidding eff Tammany masters, 1t IS
vet +, be hoped for the credit of the state that
many others have not been 50 dcbaSed.