New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-31
WHAT IS T4NM1NY HILLf"

This is not new question. IL was fired
suddenly at the late Hon. John Morrsscy about
fifteen years ago in Democratic State Con-
vention, when that statesman was at the head
Of the "Mozart," or Irving" or some other
"Hall Democracy" and was trying TO ring in
an anti -Tammany delegation. The Honorable
John was standing in the middle aisle making
hoarse remarks on some fundamental doctrine
Of Jenersonian Democracy over which the
"Halls' differed. We do not recall the precise
question, but it was probably one Of those pro-
found entanglcmcnts arising from conflicting
Aldcrmanic aspirations between some states
man who keeps a ginmill on the corner and
some other statesman who runs "A successful
dive in the middle Of the block. On his right,
in the seat next the aisle and little in front
sat John Kelly, looking straight ahead, with
fixed, immovable countenancc. Immediately
behind Kelly the mild hammered, dreamy eyed
Augustus Schcl held in his lap the plug hat
won on the first election Of General Jack
son, and never took his eyes off from the
organ of firmncss in the chronological develop
ment in front. In the midst of Morrissey's dis
course some distulbcr broke in with the soul
stirring conundrum, "What is Tammany
IIall?" The Honorable John was not faxed in
the least. lie answered with an cpigram and
"got there with both feet" "What is Tam
many Hal?' he repeated "Why, it's this
spreading his hand over John kelly's head
"it's this n er brick bildin"
Since then others have eSsayed 10 answer
the question more in detail. a little over a
year ago Mr.. Richard Croker in a magazine
article over his own signature, the authorship
of which was never clearly traced, cndcavorcd
to mako it plain that it was one Of the most
beneficent institutions ever devised by human
intelligence The writer Of the Croker article
said he did not propose to defend the Tam
many organization neither" he adds, as if
| Tammany held some such place as MasSachli-
sets when Daniel Webster asked the whole
world to look at her saying she needed no de-
fence, or as if its beneliccncc were automatic,
| beyond demonstration, not to be looked for
with telescope, but cautiously regarded
| through smoked glass" neither do ! propose
! to defend sunrise as an exhibition of celestial
mechanics" This writer considered Tanmany
| Hall "a political organization which in respect
of age, skilful management, unity of purpose,
devotion TO correct principles, public useful
ness, and finally, success, has no superior, and,
| in my opinion, no equal in politics the world
over" He compares it with the Jacobin Club
Of the French Revolution, which eve cannot
| fail to admire" mot because the club was
praiscworhy since its actions were abhorcnt,
but because it was skil'uly organized and
| handled" The comparison would have had
greater force if it had been added that the
success of the Jacobin Club was due entirely
to the Reign Of Terror which it inausurated
and conducted.
The literature Of the subject has been re-
Gently enriched by another magazine article, in
which the Hon. Joseph J. O'Donohue under
takes to answer the question, What is Tam
many Hall" lie, too, believes it to be a
benetcent institution, as indeed, being one OF
its benehciarics, why shouldn't he? He fling:
| back with scorn the "monstrous assertion,