New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-03
THE ALLIES OF TAMMANY.

Tho duty of respectable citizens at this time
Is set in 4 clear light by Mr.. Richard Watson
Cuder,s brief letter published yesterday. Are
we always" Mr.. Glider asks. ito be lighting
criminals on the one side and decent men on
"the other? Is special sensitivcness to known
"evjls necessarily accompanied by incapacity
"for effective action Those are pertinent and
searching questions A good deal depends upon
the answers which they are about TO receive at
the polls 1t does always in every contest LOT
good government. appear that decent men ell
roll themselves on the wrong side ana nave 10
he fought Nor is this merely an appearances
II is q melancholy and somewhat dlscouraging
fact Last year there were comparatively rev
such anomalies and the exceptions to the gen
eral rule Of loyalty to great cause came no.
where near accomplishing the object wnlch
would have covered their professions with con-
tempt. How many there are this year remains
10 be seem Tammany's only hope or rehapliila-
ton IS derived from this uncertain quaHtlt!-
from the possibility that there may be consid-
erable number of voters claiming unusual clear
noss of Judgment and conscience, whose special
CONSTITUENCIES TO known evils Is accompanied
by incapacity for effective action. we nave
ut,,o fear that there are enough of these to give
Tammany the victory, and we believe that 'heir
nrasent number will be diminished on Election
Day. when the privilege Of academic discussion
in club rooms is exchanged for an opportunity
10 do something in the public interest
Doubtless there are men who VIII refuse 10 the
last TO be persuaded that 1t Is immoral 10 an
tagonze the work of reform in New-1ork. HAY
ing set ND instead of the actual moral issue
..onothcr moral issue which cannot be dcclded
"thjs wear by votes they will persisently cling
IA II and derive a strange satisfaction from the
knowledge that they have done their utmost 10
holm Tammanv back into power. Some or these
citizens are entirely sincere and disnterestcd.
Rut If is not a fact that those who have been
most conspicuous in the recent political machine
work of the Good Government clubs are gen
erallv entitled to special respect and confidence.
They have not for the most part been aDle 10
win any substantial recognition in this com
muniiy, either by reason OF personal achie'e-
ments or large contributions to the public wei
fare Some Of them have keen desire Tor no'o-
riety not merely as an end bat as means
notorety being not infrequently prohtaDie III
one way or another. In years past some nave
been affiliated with other organizations or move
ments which seemed likely to be noticed ra'her
extensively in the newspapers. Some OF them
are still remembered in connection with unfortu-
nate and somewhat fantastic plumbers which
| their present activity does not tend 70 obscure.
| Recalling their names to mind, we do not feel
that single one of them is really entitled by
| any proofs Of sagacity and wisdom which he has
| heretofore produced, TO instruct Seth Low or
DR.. Parkhurst or Charles Stewart Smith In the
| duties of citizenship.
| But nasmuch as there are not few we'll
meaning persons to whom the frequent publica-
| ton of name is likely to convey an exaggerated
conception of the weight Of character behind it.
we say frankly that no force whatsoever ought
| to be impaired to the Antl-Fusion movement
of some of the Good Government clubs by the
personality of its promoters. Their propaganda
should be estimated a, It's intrinsic value and
embraced or rejected according to its merits
| The self-dstrustful citizen Of honest instincts
runs no risk in declining to be influenced by the
names appended 10 the manifestos Of Tam
many's Good Government club allies. The ques
ton il whether the reform which has been in
disputably begun shall be fortified and extend
ed. or aid and comfort given to a criminal con
| SDiracy.