New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-14
srV4TOR MURPHY FOR BRYAN.

Less than four years ago Edward MuTl'h!
was one of the most potent forces in practical
politics. His party controlled the State and
he rs much aS if not more than any other IN
dividual. dominated his party. He was chair
man of the State Committee. He was all that
the position implies There was no suggestion
of lgurchead about him. Other leaders were
more in the public eye non" OF them ranked
him in actual power with the machine. LIN
had more sway with the rank and file; Flower
possessed greater wealth, and thousand 9th
ers enjoyed more onviablc regulations, but
none had such support Of the powerful poll
ticianS rs he could summon at any time. Inc
reason of this is known. He was business
man as well as a politician and he taught his
Democratic associates business methods.
He showed them how politics might lead TO
wealth as well as TO fame. Under his skilful
direction almost every conspicuous exponent Of
machine politics found way to make money.
Croker was Il poor man when he met Murphy;
Shechan n brehess lawyer in Buffalo: to-day
the one is rich and the other on the road TO
wealth. Their cases illustrate hundred
more.
Such system was revelation to his party.
lis author was bound to become powerful, if
ton was surprised that for the sake of such
a man Croker was willing to deny TO Bourke
Cochran the nomination for United States Scna-
tor. even though the denial made the begin
ming of the end Of Tammany Hall as the all
powerful political force Of the metropolis. Nor
did it astonish many when Shechan at Muir
phys order was made Licutenant-Govcrnor,
even against the wishes of David b. Hill, who
1f
falo friend The politicians, both great and
small knclt before the business man, the
real power of the organization. He made and
unmade Governors and Congressman, shaped
the policy Of the State government, and was
I'm reality more absolutely a boss Of the party
than Hill himself
What is he today? \ member still Of the
United States Senate but mere figurchead in
that body, his political fortunes undonc, and
scarcely able TO have his way along single line
of his pariy'S policy in this State. His newspa-
per. "The Albany Argus. which he tore away
from its support of Cleveland. by methods which
have never been successfully defended. has,
through the efforts Of the man he permitted to
become Governor. Roswell T. Flower rcpud
atcd Bryan and Sewall and. in spite of his pro-
tcstations, is doing its utmost 10 swing the
+ coming Democratic State Convention against
the Chicago platform and candidate. Troy his
pocket borough, which. under him, became Il
synonymc for corruption and rascality has
been redeemed by the Republican party, and
the pioneer in The work Of redemption. his most
hated political opponent, is on the hShroad
10 the Govcrnorship. Sheehan, upon whom he
relied implicitly and TO whom he rendered val
liable service has deserted and. notwthstand-
ing all upbradngs, will support a sound
money candidate for Governor.
Deprived of his former power deserted by
his late allies and practically alone among the
conspicuous Democratic leaders of the State,
he presents. in his feeble efforts to rally the
demoralized remnants of his party to the
wretchcd work Of reputation, an impressive
object lesson of the logical outcome of such Il
political career as his has been. With age. cX-
pcricncc. wealth and position. at n period of
life when ii might he supposed higher motives
would govern his political action. he finds moth
ing in the situation that appeals TO patriotism
or arouscs him to defend the honor of the
Nation. Even at such n time his natural in
cnaions to the lower side of politics prevail.
lie is STILL in character, the Edward Murphy
of twenty years ago