New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-02
he WOULD DO 1T ALL OVER AGAIN

In the course Of his recent interviews with
numerous statements which he can scarcely
have expected anybody to believe. but he has
said one thing which nobody can reasonably
doubt. Il am not ashamed he declared on
Thursday. 'of any at ever did while leader
"of Tammany Hail. If | was there today
would do just as | have done in the past
That is an explicit avowal by man who I'M
ouesionably knows his own mind, whatever
else he may be ignorant of. 1t blows clear ont
of the range of credibity the last vesiige Of the
prcence that Tammany Hall has undergone
change of purpose and has been reconstructed
on basis of regret for past misdecds, hostility
10 old offenders and honest ambition to recover
mower for the sake Of using it TO promote the
public welfare Croker says that he is ont OF
nolitics If he u.s. he is out only just so far as
he has taken himself out. Tammany Hall has
not cast him off. but has eagerly tired 10 get
him back into the open and responsive leader
ship Of the organization. The leaders who are
doing all that is being done IN its name to-day,
whether under his secret direction or not. are
his disciples, trained by his hand devoted 10
his policies and saturated with his spirit. They
hope to win by his methods. and just so far as
they succeed 20 excmplify his principles of adj
ministration Croker speaks for the organiza-
ton when he speaks for himself.
Consider again what he says: Il am not
ASHAMED of any act ! ever did while a leader
"of Tammany Hall. If | was there to-day
would do just as have done in the past On
the highest authority, therefore, this community
knows Just how Tammany Will utilize every
victory which 1t gains hereafter. 1t will rein
state in every department Of which 1t RECEIVERS
control the identical practices against which the
people revolted q year ago, and Of which still
completer revelation has since been made The
people have lately ascertained that the Regis
ters office is stuffed with ignorant and vulgar
loafers. They will never be displaced by
Cookers Tammany, except to make room ior
vet more unworthy favortes. The DOCK Depart
mcnt long suspected. Is now known 10 nave
been patronage exchange, conducted primarily
for the purpose Of promoting jobs at the cost OF
the taxpayers 1t will be precisely that again.
when Tammany comes back TO power Sheehah'
formerly large purchaser OF supplies on pupIlc
account, has Just been confronted with the
record Of his persistent extravaganza, by winch
private fortunes were drawn OUT OF the munlc
ipal treasury Sheehan is the fgurehead OF TAM
many to-day. and will be up to his ears i'll the
spoils of office the moment that his political
ambition is realized. Wherever the surface OF
Tammany administration has been scratched a
stencil has arisen from the corruption below; bat
Tammany is not offended Richard Croker
swears that he likes it. The administration was
his absolutely, and lie approved Of 1t in every
detail If / was there to-day, he says, Il
would do lust as | have done IN the past.
The Tammany which Croker would resurrect
would be the Tammany under which, while
Croker was its dictator, The unspeakabe infa-
mics revealed by the Lexow Committee pre-
vailed once more the loathsome stream OF
blackmail would wind through the Police De
partment, leaving its putrid deposits wherever
heneiciaries were authorized TO receive them.
once more the flthicst despotism that ever OBJ
pressed plundered and degraded n community
purporting TO be civilized would close it's grip
upon New-York That is the prospect offered
to the city by Richard Croker. who was It's abso-
lutte ruler. and who never committed an act Of
which he Is ashamed How do the people feel
about restoration Of the Croker dynasty?