The sun., 1895-03-29
Tho Democrats Are Not Dead Yet.

have been accustomed to look to the Hon
RICHARD CROKER for political guidance ii
the past, and who, despite his formal retire
ment from the cares and responsibilities o
leadership, still continue to regard him a
the authoritative chieftain Of that grea
organization, have found much to commend
In the part OF the interview with him pub
lished on Wednesday which relates to loca
politics. ~ am glad to see," Mr.. CRoKEl
declared. "the Mayor appointing anti-Tam
many Democrats to Office because in short
time they will all be loyal members Of Tam
many Hall"
This declaration Of opinion may SHOCK
the feelings Of Col. STRONG and his non
partisans, yet there Is nothing in it which
they should seriously dispute. Unde
niably, various organizations Of Demo
Gratis temporarily alicnated from Tam
many Hall. united in promoting the
success of the STRONG ticket, made mp OF
one Republican. four anti Tammany Demo
Gratis, and two political nondescripts con,
nected in an officeseeking way with the
| German American Reform Union.
1t must have been plain to every one, even
to those less keen in observing the currents
and eddies of opinion and politics and less
skilled in gauging and interpreting them
than is RICHARD CROKER, that the object OF
the reform movement, 80 called, of 1894
having been attained in the overthrow of
Tammany. the original elements which
made up the accidental union would after
ward resume their former political relation.
New York is Democratic city and
has always been such. The supremacy
of the Democracy here was rudely
shaken in November by the Republi-
can ground swell which carried away
Democratic majorities everywhere, but it
has by no means been destroyed. New
York, even with its forces divided on the
head of the State ticket, gave a small but
sufficient Democratic majority, n record
equalled by no other city of the North
heretofore Democratic.
Should Mayor STRONG continue to appoint
Democrats, or those claiming to be Demo
Gratis on State and national issues, to mu-
nicipal office in New York, in fulfilment
Of his ante-election pledges, or Of the prom
ises made by others with his knowl-
edge and for the benefit of his
candidature, the individuals 80 appoint
ed will probably, when party lines
are drawn as they will be in 1895 and
1896, resume their former allegiance and
become. if not loyal members of Tam
many" as Mr.. CROKER expresses it,
at least loyal Democrats, acting in practi-
cal accord with Tammany in support
of Democratic candidates. 1t will be
the contest preliminary to the Presi-
Dental battle of 1896, which the Republi-
cans hope and expect to win. They hope
and expect to win by Republican votes, and
not by the aid Of Democrats. A new Legis-
lature is to be voted for in November, both
Senate and Assembly. If the Republicans
should hold the control OF that Legislature,
their effort will inevitably be to strengthen
their party friends throughout the State,
as they would now be intent upon doing
but for the embarrassing opposition of
Mayor STRONG. a Republican Legislature
in session in Albany after Jan. l, 1896,
would mean warfare against Democrats
in Office everywhere and for self-pro-
lection, If for no higher or better rea-
son, those Democrats who hold Office
in New York, Brooklyn, Buffalo, or AL
bany, as result OF nOn-partisan move
ments, must seek the aid Of Democratic
legislators against Republican mo!esta-
ton: or else they must become Republi-
cans. The election of the next Legis-
lature, therefore, the upper branch of
which will participate in the choice of
a successor to DAVID b. HILL. whose term
expires on March 4, 1897. will necessarily
be decided on ordinary party lines; and it
requires no prescent sage or political necro-
mancer to foretell that in the Presidential
election of 1896 the Democrats Of New
York city will get together and eschew all
non-partisan man9uvres
Assailed, shaken, undermined, betrayed,
dishonored, and disarmedI the Democratic
party in New York State, and conspicuously
in New York city, retains it's vitality and
preserves its integrity 1t will go into
the Presidential battle of 1895 IN the
spirit OF '16, II not with the cheer
ing hopes and rosy prospects of 1899. 1t
will 90 in to do its share of winning, if'a
victory is possible and to battle valiantly
for honors il triumph has been by other
hands put beyond it's power.
The Republicans of New York who, after
less than three months in Office, are now
disputing among themselves over Presi-
dental favorites would be fools indeed to
auy VI luelT present Hu-
vautages by rebuilding or rehablitating
Democrats of any faction, and thus
equipping them with arms and am
munition to DO used against the Repub.
leans In 1896. Mr.. CROKER Is on firm
ground and well supported by arguments
and illustrations in the position taken by
him in his interview, that any appointments
ofantiTammany Democrats made by Mayor
STRONG will inure to the benefit OF Tam
many at succeeding elections when all
Democrats get together.
But what is our Ohio statesman to do
about it3 There is no escape from
the 20. He has them on his hands,
with all their pledges and his pledges.
How many times day, and how
often at night, must WILLIAM LYCuR-
GUS STRONG wish he had been nominated
and elected Mayor OF New York on a straight
out Republican ticket, without entangling
alliances and obligations.