The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-02-25
AGAINST TAMMANY.

From leading articles in Harpers
Weekly it is evidently the intent of
the liberal branch of the Democratic
party, represented by tina! periodical
and the president elect, to cut loose
from the debasing influence of the
Tammany ring of politicians; but these
attempts are always made after an
important election and never before
When the battle of the ballot is to be
waged Tammany is cajoled by every
possible means, and nothing is heard
in Democratic prints in reference to
the corrupt practices of the New York
bosses. This was true during the last
campaign, and Mr.. Cleveland was
hand in glove with Mr.. Hill and other
leaders of the ring. But when sue
cess was secured the Tammany can1i-
date for the position of U. S. senator
was bitterly opposed by Mr.. Cleve-
land, and the members of the cabinet
are chosen without the least recogni-
tion of New York. This dual plan of
pettlng and whipping the tiger stamps
these after election efforts for purity of
the ballot as dishonest and only made
for personal ends. If Democracy de-
sires to rid itself of the disreputable
practices of the most corrupt pollti-
clans who have ever disgraced free in
stitutions, it should hold no fellowship
with them at any tims, and not quiet
ly submit to their control when an
election is pending and, after they
have served its purpose, pave its way
to public favor by completely ignoring
them. The editor of Harper's Weekly
and Mr.. CleYeland may be honest in
their animadversions about corrupt
politics, but their motives will be
doubted by all conslderate men while
they follow this dual policy.
There is no doubt in the mind of
any patriotic American citizen that
free institutions and universal suffrage
have developed in this country class
of ofice-seekers whose only ambition
is to manipulate the franchise to their
personal aggrandisement, and whose
object in life is to feed at the public
crib. Patriotism with them is only
means to accomplish their ends, and
nothing is too disreputable for them to
call into action to secure success. To
them the people are like chessmen on
the board to be moved at will to fur
ther their purposes, and their only OBJ
ject and aim in life is to become expert
In the manipulation of the game
of politics. Tammany is undoubt-
edly in the front rank of these
spoils-seekers, and by long years
of experience and careful study
of men and means has become almost |
perfect in that line. The evil has
grown with the republic, and now per.
meates nearly every political organiza-
tion. 1t cannot be stamped out in
day, but will take long and continuous
effort to uproot its hold on American
politics. This must be done in thor
ough, radical manner, and there must
be no compromise made with it for
partisan ends. If the great mugwump
publication and the mugwump presi-
dent had commenced their war on
Tamnany last summer it would have
accomplished great good in eradicating
machine politics from elections. By
pursuing such a course very likely Mr..
Cleveland would have suffered defeat;
but the people would have had greater
confidence in the honesty of his mo-
tives than they have now, The defeat
of the New York ring would mean
the discontinue of such influences
throughout the country. But this after
election wrath does little good.