New-York tribune., 1896-09-30
cOVGP4 TO TAMN4NY.

We hasten TO congra atillate the Tammany De
mocracy of this State-Or so much az there is
left of it-upon the first real streak of good luck
II has struck for several months. The Tribune
has not often had occasion 10 offer the encOur
agement of it's sympathy to that aged and pow
erful organization. but the distressing comph-
cations with which II has been wrestling Tor
many weeks could not fail 10 excite the coln-
mispration of its bitterest opponent. ard Inc
Tribune cOnfesses to a degree of pity for lis Tor
lorn condition that has come near compelling
forgctfuness OF all the evil it has done And
now. that it has struck streak OF luck-not
equal of course in the language OF poker, 10
a "royal fiush" but good. at least. as par
of deuces'-we feel like Offering our most heart!
congratulations on the changed conditions
If the State Committee did really appoint a
subcommittee on Monday morning-as there ls
reason to suspect II dd-tO stand on the corner
of Broadway and Twenty y-hrd-str in front OF
the Barthod Headquarters. with instructions TO
seize upon the first German Democrat who hap
pened to be passing. hale him up into the com
mttee-r room. and force him to take the nomlha-
ton for Lieutenant Governor. it did an uncom-
monty wise and discreet thing. 1t was bold ana
yenturesome but after all. not too bold nor too
venturesOme for party in such straits. Chair-
man Danforth has done nothing since he took
part in the seizure of the State Senate In 1871
for which he paid in the haIdsomeSt manner n
mulct for contempt Of court-that so well lllils-
trated his capacity for Democratic leadership
And no subcommittee ever had such luck Al
the very first dash they collared German per-
son named "Scraub' or "Schraub'-there seems
to be a difference of opinion as TO the orthography
of it-who turned ont TO be a perfect jim dandy
for the emergency. BY that time the programme
for the moving up OF Mr. Porter. whose first
name escapes us, from the candidacy for Lieu
nant-Governor TO that Of Governor had been
carried out and the Leutenant-Governors place
lay wide open, waiting for victim. Then rose
Charles " Bulger, from somewhere in the IN
terror, with the remark that the hour and the
man had once more como together. or words 10
that effect. and in speech which had the rare
merit Of brevlty proceeded to nominate Scraub
or Schraub for the place. Scraub or SchrauD,
he said, was in the prime Of life, and in touch
with the agricultural interests OF the state as no
other man ever had been or probably ever could
be- More than that, light had broken in upon
him since the Chicago Convention, and he was
in favor of free silver up TO the hub.
Then another man said he knew Scraub or
Schraub and felt certain that he would be a
tower OF strength. This Is absolutely necessary
in candidate. We do not now recall any can
didate of any party who was not at the time OF
his nomination a tower of strength. Mr.. Bryan
is not only that but tower Of Babel besides
which adds a Scriptural aspect TO his candi-
dacy. Then Senator McCarren chpped III his
testimony that "in whatever Crucible Mr.. Scraub
"or Schraub might be tested 1t would only re-
'yeal a true and tried Democrat. Scraub or
Schraub was then Unanimously nominated, ana
a committee was appointed to search for him
and bring him in, so rs TO make sure OF HIM
This was a mere formality. for everybody knew
that Scraub or Schraub right there waiting
to be sacrfced-a scapegoat that was perfectly
conten. with the garlands on his horns. ana no
thought of the barren desert into which he was
about TO. be sent Scraub or Schraub showed
not the slightest sign of reluctance. He fairly
pranced up to the altar-the most cheerful and
playful scapegoat the Tammany Democracy has
had for several years-a great deal more cheer
full than David b. Hill was two years ago. And
then he made a speech, saying that he had never
expected to be raised TO the proud eminence
where they had placed him, and that he was
gratified at this mark of confidence. Think of
the luck of the committee in finding n man to
take this nomination gratefully and considering
III IL
the State over without such luck. And they
seem to have waylaid and caught him right in
front Of headquarters.
Then Scraub or Schraub proceeded to make
some very eloquent remarks about the necessity
for stopping all this cavllling and quarrelling
about mere questions of finance. and standing
together "the rockbed principles of Democ
racy" "hcre in this great Gibraltar of Democ
tyh a "A =
full of meaning as anything Mr.. Bryan has said
in the last three months. 1t was really great
speech. When Ii over everybody congrat
ulated him. He said. in reply. that it the
greatest surprise Of his life He is not alone in
his surprise. Everybody else is surprised All
the same, he is a godscn1 10 the Tammany De-
mocracy. He Is probably the only man who
would have taken the nomination with feeling
of gratitude And we cordially congratulate a
party which has been in exceedingly bad luck
for long time on having stumbled upon him.
tHSTDkE'S SDrDCU