New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-12
" TN4RM, EROS !"

The touch Of nature in the not altogether
lovely company gathered in East Fourteenth
Street ON Thursday to witness the abdcation
of the uncrowned King was undoubtedly gen
nine and sincere The manifestation Of feeling
was not strange II would have been strange
indeed had the rough men who had so long
enjoyed the material advantages OF MI. 'r"N-
er's leadership exhibited no emotion when he
laid down his sccptrc. And in so iar as "h''-
ever is genuine and sincere Is praiscworthy
and admirable due credit for the deinohS.r'-
tlon of feeling is not withheld. Mr.. Croker
stood TO most OF the men surrounding MN III
the relation of benefactor And though neither
he nor they were under any Illusion as 10 his
motives. not one of them suppoSng for mo-
ment that in what he had done for them ne
was actuated by any phanthropic or nlereN
benevolent purpose, they ana KNOW ana iee'
that they were under obligations TO him FOR
having selected them to do his work ana the
worl, Of the Tammany organization and giving
them the enorm Jus opportunities Tor poiI'ic".
nromotion and pccuniary profit which accrued
thcrefrom The emotion of gratitude was nat
ural and becoming though it was not I'M
mingled with the conplacent reflection 'ha,
thcv had themselves contributed in no small
measure TO the success Wui'il H'' "'''"''
Mr.. Croker's leadership If they had cause for
gratitude to the leader under whose guidance
they had attained honors to which they were
in no way entitled, he too had occasion LOT
Contamination in having had through all the
stormy years of his political campaigning Such
4 loyal and devoted following.
Now can there BE- any question mat WIFI
the exception OF perhaps two or three am
bilious aspirants for the influential anu proh'.
able position he resigned. the expressions or
regret at his withdrawal were heartfelt ann
sincere For the most unintelligent ana slor'-
sighted of them could not but be aware 'ha'
the retirement of the leader at this time Is
serious blow TO the compact organization upon
which they depend for livelihood Ana IL Is
only fair 10 say that the satisfaction WIN "h'ch
the advocates Of reform in municlpai ahih'h'S-
tration view the withdrawal OF Mr.. croker
from the leadership of Tammany Is IN precise
nroportion 10 the grief Of his satellites ana w
pendents II l. not too much 10 say 'h'' !"
all the qualities Of leadership for such an orEhn-
ization as Tammany Hall. Mr. Croker s'ahoN
head and shoulders above any OF ms pr''i'-
cessors Partly because he mas peeh apie ~
profit by their mistakes, hut more because Oh
his innate tact and shrcwdness, he mas sue
ccedcd in holding his following together HI"
in kccping IT In control as well OF the party III
the State as Of all departments or the ely
Government Escaping the shpwreck when
oefcn most Of them. he has shown greater
wisdom and sense than any or them IN laEln|
down his office at q time when the ORGANIZATION
IS comparatively harmonious and uni'cd' AZ"
if not as strong now as AT some times III inc
mast with nj least the prestige or large iha-
ioritv at the last election. lie retlrcs WIN II
qroot fortune the only drawback 10 which N
that II was so suddenly and mys'crlouSlE a'-
oIlred as to give rise to ugly insinualohS
which he Is either indispOsed or unable I'D
rcfutc.
r is not likely that Tammany will have as
his successor so able or so dangerous leau'r'
The head of n corrupt organization the sources
Of whose strength are in the haunts Of vice ana
tho dcns Of disordcrly and dangerous classes,
no kent himself personally free from vicious
faint. and maintained outwarlly sober SELF
respecting life His very virtues made DIN
moro useful 10 the loose and corrupt organlza-
tion whose ends he served and more dangerous
,o rho orderly processes Of good government.
He WAS as popular with 'thc boys as lWco1'
hut without that leaders volublc reckleSsh'Ss
and audacty. As roticcnt as Kelly, n" WAS Iar
more sagaciOus. self-coniained ana dlploihaIc'
Better than either Of them he knew his Hihi'a-
tons and realized that In the silence when ne
ci.joincd upon himself and rarely broke excep'
under necessity. lay the secret OF power IL
cannot he other than Il mcrciful dispehsanoh
70 the citizens of this mlsgovcrncd ana tax
ridden community that he has stepped down
from the leadership Of the banded plundcrers
who have so long held sway. And 1t Is inc
browning stroke Of genius on his part that he
takes this opportunity for his abdicaiion. lie
is rich; the organization is at the point OF
elimination. "Unarm, Eros! The long days
task Is done