New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-07
THE SIGNAL TICTORT."

In an article i'm Wednesdays issue on the
anti-IIil meeting at Buffalo 1.-The Times says
of ex-Mayor Grace, who was one of the speak
crs. that I" he appeared as the representative
of that considerable and respectable portion OF
the Democrats of the city of New-lor not
affiliated with Tammany Hall" This would
seem 10 imply that there exists in this city
something in the nature of a Democratic or
ranizaton, or at least a " considerable and re-
Specialize body of Democrats capable OF beng
organized in opposition 10 Tammany HAL
"Thc Times" adds, however "1heSe Dem
ocrat> a he explained. had at the saratoga
Convention last year been denied all representa-
ton. They had, nevertheless, faithfully sup
ported the ticket and contributed to the signal
victory that had followed" This is not only
o,litc true. but an excellent illustration of what
tho usual opposition stands for, and what III
the end it means These respectable Dem
ocratS it will be observed, had been denied all
representation in the convention. Did they
protest? Not at all. They faithfully sup
ported the ticket and contributed to the signal
victory that had followed" OF course they
did. They always do.
And what followed tho signal victory?
Oh. nothing but series of signal political plots
and outragcs Of the most scandaous nature cul-
minating in a signal theft Of the state senate
and the signal promotion Of the chief thief to
the bench Of the Court of Appeals as his re-
ward for making the signal victory complete.
Did the respectable Democrats raise any
objection TO these proceedings? Not whlS-
per. On the contrary, they invited the arch
inStigator Of this series of outragcS and crimes
10 Peacock Dinner at the " respectable Man
haitian Club. and made speeches 10 him and to
each other about the "Signal victory which
had been achieved by his management and
under his leadership. And until this man be-
Gan 10 gather in for himself the fruits of his
signal victoryr instead of waiting and taking
thc chances of dividing them with some re-
,pcctablcr or losing them altogether, there was
not a " respectable" peep of protest against any
step in the whole dishonest and dlSgraccful
procedure. Only when Mr.. Hill took steps to
scoop into his own net the proceeds OF his crime
by hurrying mp state Convention little did
il occur 10 those respectable Democrats that
| ANYTHING wrong or unusual was going on.
And what have they got out Of the " signal
victory" 10 which they " contributed" so much
! and 50 mcckly after being denied representa-
ton in the convention? Why. there it is al
Albany. Look AT it. \ Legislature which no
decent citizen of the State can think of with
out hanging his head in shame; the looScSt.
| rottcnc,t. most reckless, incompetent and cor
nIpt gang that ever looted a treasury, bcd a
corporation or betrayed Il trust. Just look at
the gang Three months in session and moth
| ing done except 10 accumulate slime and plie
up scandals. Defenders of theft and accom-
pccs Of thieves, dividing their time between
| browbcatng and insulting honest men and
promoting r;lScaIIy schemes for their own ag-
grandizcmcnt, dcSpiSing public opinion, Snccr-
ing at popular camor riding roughShod over
| law and Justice and common dcccncy, and lcav-
inc to good citizens only the single ray of hope
that comes from the possibility of their falling
out among themselves over the division of
| plumber.
\ fine lot they are. And they are the men
whom the " respectable Democrats faithfully
supported" the perfect fruit of the 4" gnal
victory" to which Mr.. Grace and his associates
contributed. Phcw. These men could walk
calmly through gauntlet of poIccatS and then
| kick like steers at the smell of red herring