New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-21
= OPPORTUNITY FOR INDEPENDEN1S.

~ CPPORTUNIII FOR INDEFENDENIS'
No one who has read the quite vigorous and
ouspokcn editorial comments of our two con
temporaries. "Thc Ncw-lork Times and
"The Evening Post" upon the baleful ten
denotes Of Tammany rule. its degrading in1u-
cnce, not only in municipal, but III state ana
National politics, has doubted the sincerity and
earnestness of their opposition 10 that organAa-
ton. Their denunciatons have not stopped
with general and sweeping condemnation of the
methods and purposes of Tammany Hall a the
ruling organization, but have dealt specifically
and in detail with its personnel, with the IN
diyjduals who compose it, the men who control
its machinery and direct its operations. and tho
candidates whom it Offers to the popular suf-
frage for all Offices municipal state or Ma
tional The zeal Of these newspapers in the
crusade which they have been pursuing FOR
many years against Tammany Hall has led them
sometimes TO attacks upon private character
which their victims complained OF rs hbellouS
and which all Tammany men cried out against
in their vcrnacular * " striking below the
belt" Their attitude has through all these
wears been 50 bold and defiant, 50 strenuous
and uncomprOmi>ng rs 10 leave no doubt IN
the mind of any reader that they meant war
70 the knife. and without quarter against that
corrupt and dangerous concern. Whoever
doubts il need only refer 10 their files.
We do not doubt that they are at heart n
hostile 10 that organization, It's candidates and
all its belongings this year aS they have ever
been. But we regret 10 see that they are APP
narently doing nothing to give their opposition
force and effect. This, too, when the condi-
10, Ia
can be trusted. there il better chance to deal
it telling blow in the very citadel of its
powcr than has been offered for many years.
Upon direct vote between Tammany and its
opponcnts in this city the latter are in a ma
iority. This was shown clearly four years ago.
when the combined opposition to Mayor Grant
exceeded the latters vote by 10000. The
success of the organization that year
went far toward giving it the in
crease in strength and prestige which en-
abled it little later to possess itself abso
lutely of the party machinery in the State and
put it in position where it could and did in
the most arbitrary and high-ha fashion
refuse TO admit the faction represented by
"The Times and "Thc Evening POST to seats
in the State Convention, or any participation
in the councils Of the party.
This year it is quito possible for the opposi
ton to Tammany to combine on candidate
for MAYOR whose qualifications are undsputcd
and whose personal popularity is such as to
make il probable that he will run ahead OF his
ticket There is not only no reason why the anti
Tammany vote should not be aS large proper
tionately as in 1855. when it majority
but every reason why it should be larger and
much more emphatic. There are thousands Of
Democrats in this city who agree with "Thc
Times, and "Thc Evening POST in their OBJ
position to Tammany men and their methods
and who see rs they do the evil consequences
flowing from the unrcstraned control which
they now command and the greed with which
they seize upon everything in sight which can
give them a chance for quartcring themselves
upon the taxpayers. To-day they arc in array
to seize for Tammany Hall exclusively every
office. with single exception, that is 10 be
voted for in the coming election. Is it wise, is
it the part of good citizenship, nay, is it good
politics on the part of "Thc Times" and "The
Evening Post" and the Democrats who act
with them and who have been put under foot
by this greedy, arrogant and dctatOrial organ
izaton, to stand idly by and see it strengthen
itself still furtber-ntrench itself still more
strongly for future depredations?
Our contemporaries are in the habit of boast
ing of their independence in politics. Why
not show little now? They cannot suppose
that it would hurt Mr.. Cleveland. for they are
daily declaring that Tammany is thoroughly
committed to his support and that the Or
ganizaton will give him all its votes, no mat
ter how the anti-Tammary mon may vOta in