New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-21
A NOBLE SACKIFICE.

When flood of light is poured in upon
susceptible and intelligent mind 1t is always
interesting to watch the consequences. There
are some persons so prejudiced and stubborn
that such an illumination only serves to dis
close more clearly their intellectual shackles
mt 10 the credit of human nature the fact
should be often and gratefully proclaimed that
mankind are generally eager to be enlightened
and to make fresh knowledge the means OF
better service to their fellow creatures. These
reflections are suggested by the ingenious as
siduity which a certain section Of the Demo
cratic party has lately displayed in reconstruct
ing its former estimate of Senator DAVID D.
Hill and the Tammany Society spectacle
of higher moral value has seldom been pre-
sented for the edifcation of the world
Only a few months ago these Democrats
known to one another and to the rest OF the
race as our best and most constant thinkers,
and universally recognized rs the bearers oil
the heaviest burdens of the time were all en-
gagged in invoking a dreadful doom upon 'he
Hill -Tammany machine and all its works ana
WAYS. il cannot be said that words 1aiieu
them in describing the inquties Of that com
bination. for Of words they have always pos
sessed all inexhaustible stock but 1t sometimes
soemcd rs if their ideas must inevitably run
short They were convinced and felt 'nen-
selves in duty bound to declare, everywhere
and always with or without special pfovoca-
ton. that this combination was Il malignant
and brutal foe of good government the most
corrupt and corrupting element OF society :
blistering disgrace to the city, the state ana
the whole country; foul blot upon ciylliza-
tion. Their newspaper organs Numbered
against these shameless oppressors, as they felt
them to be. from day to day. and with reckless
patriotism invited libel suits and personal vIo-
lence in the sacred cause OF liberty.
They waited long, but at last their time came.
A tidal wave of reform submerged their Ma
tional Convention at Chicago and washed their
party clean They returned singing halelu-
iahs and if they exhibited some signs OF per
sonal pride and JOY in their sudden and dazzling
success. it was generally acknowledged that
under the circumstances such emotions were
pardonable They did not propose to waste or
impcril their triumph by acts OF magnanlmity
The vast importance of such victory OF good
over evil forbade the exercise OF mercy, ana
they forthwith set about driving their van
ouished foes into political peldition, scourging
them with such epithets as pirates" black
guards" "dcvils" and "misleaders and, to
mt the stamp of absolute completeness upon
the conquest they assumed all the functions
Of marty government themselves. Never in the
history of politics had such revenge been
taken upon the fallen.
But a, time went on, and the great day which
was to confirm their supremacy drew near the
wonderful illumination Of which we have spoken
began to dawn upon their minds. And then
the country gradually became aware that the
pinnacle upon which they stood gave only
faint idea of the moral heights to which they
were capable Of ascending. Their past convlc-
lions. ayOwals. cOnsecrations were all with
drawn un0inchinglv the moment they perceived
that they had fallen into a gigantic and fear
full error They were perfectly willing that
modification should set in if only thereby their
idol could be set up. They retired from the
command and welcomed back to power those
whom they had so egregously miscOnceived and
maltreated Thenccforth the toll and obscurity
of the ranks were good enough for them. The
honors and responsibilities of leadership were
restored to their rightful possessors Never
was a stupendous fault more superbly atoned
for. If the present conflict of parties were
otherwise unimportant it would be made for
ever illustrious and memorable by this sublime
and vet pathetic sacrifice upon the altar OF
Reform.