New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-24
THE TIUUdNY PENITENTS.


ton on Tuesday night would have been a very
tame affair, if not fiat failure Grady, Tor
whom the crowd shouted and clamored long be
fore the regular programme OF speakers WIS
finished and for whom they waited impauenily
while the iridescent Jackson congratulated NM
self upon the honor Of presiding. and the IN
terminable Belmont recied prepared remarks
OF a historical character In curiously dull way
and the backsliding Anderson justified himself
at great length for having once tried to be good
and keen out Of bad company; Grady, when he
did arrive at his opportunity after the decehcies
OF the occasion were over and the low 1inks han
full swing really redeemed the occasion. for
Grady is humorst. His humor may DE
coarse. to be sure. but for Tammany gathering
there is nothing like 1t. The cOarser the better
for them Neither Grady nor anybody else can
nlay II too low down for them. So after the
crowd had waited through long evening for the
nIotitudcs 70 be- pronounced and the decencies
IN he done. II felt paid for its selfhcnial when
Grady bounced to the platform and turned loose
the sewer Of his eloquent discourse. Iammahy
is never so much itself rs when Grady Is on MS
legs with his large. loose mouth in eruption.
And Grady. as before said. was the only redeem
ng feature of the occasion for the faithful
But why. we ask-though it will no doubt he
said we have no right TO ask-but why were all
the preliminary solcmnities thought necessary
in order TO lead I'D to Grady and some semblance
Of low: Mr.. Charles A. Jackson did not need 10
make proclamation that he had been Tor lilhe
q County Democracy man. Everybody knew
that 80 long ago as 1890 he had aroused 'ha'
small but respectable coterie of well-meanng
persons 10 a high pitch Of enthusiasm by the
statement that he had determined 10 stand by
that organization till everybody else had gone
our. and IL remained for him only to turn OF
the gas And everybody knew that he publicly
recanted in December 1892. and went over 10
Tammany leaving Tom COstigan TO turn on
the cas. in consequence Of which nobody turned
# off. but somebody blew it out and the whole
concern was asphyxated. Everybody knew
that. Why dwell upon it unnecessarily even If
he was clad Of the opportunity To preside over
the organization which he was little while ago
80 anxious 10 eliminate cNtermnaie ana wipe
out: Nobody cared about Jackson's record any
how. Why east gloom on cheerful company
by referring to it? Then there was Perry Bel
mont-Perry is well enough in his way-one
whom Tammany loves for Scrlptural reasons
for II is written that the Lord loveth cheerful
giver." and 80 does Tammany-but Perry had
his innings at the Syracuse Convention-wfy
depress a crowd that already had trouble enough
with half or three-quarters of an hour of Perry
when everybody was dry for one thing, ana
for another wanted to hear Grady?
Then there was Ellery Anderson. Why was
if necessary TO drag Ellery in: He has been for
MANY years one of the most determined oppo-
Inns n
every Antirammany movement that has wor-
ricd that patriotic and charitable association
and only fell from grace because he got dis
corraged AT the slJw-cOmng of l. = Millennium
last vear-why was it necessary to ring him in
when the only effect of it could be to deepen
the depression which was already so profound
that nobody but Grady could relieve ii: For
Ellerv. as the managers Of the performance
might have known. is not the sort OF backslder
whose fall exhilarates or inspires the company
into which he drops He had 10 justify and
yipdicate himself: TO say thai he had made no
mistake in lighting Tammany heretofore. and
that really he had fallen away from his late
affiliations only because Of confusion OF mind
in making a choice Of evils And that's no way
for "A backslider 10 talk if he desires To gain ap-
plause or awaken enthusiasm. The Tribune has
a soft side for Ellery Anderson. We believe he
means 10 he honest. but is so tied 10 his tradi-
lions that he actually thinks the party which
calls itself Democratic il the same in principle
and policy as the one founded by Jefferson ana
he sludders at the thought of its being repudi-
ated because it has come to De dishonest. mis-
cbievous and corrupt. But Ellery had no bust
ness 10 he standing up there in Tammany Hall
advocating the election of Tammany candidates
This year. He knew il and his hearers knew it,.
The fact embarrassed him and depressed them.
II was a painful spectacle, and ii was cruel 10
him. 1t added unnecessary gloom 10 a melan-
cboly occasion The whole demonstration was
a mistake llp 10 he time when Grady cnvened
and redeemed II.
10 get IN iollfcation over backsliders il should
he particular to get together If ii can. lot Of
backsliders who not only have fallen from grace.
but are glad Of il and are ready to make a night
OF II with the boys without ever making any
reference TO their period Of grace These fell
lows. who not only tried TO be good for while
and nut on airs about It, but who, after sue
cumbng TO natural gravity and inherent de-
pravity and falling into old habits and assocla-
tons undertake TO justify their alteration. are
no good" among a crowd who have never pre-
tended to be any better than they are. No one
can tell how soon they will have a reconversion
and try to be good again.
TUr ISSTp ~ RPOOELYN