New-York tribune., 1896-12-07
CROKER AND TiMNiNY.

Mr.. Croker has been here fortnlght-sufli-
cent time 10 investigate the local political stua
ton and ascertain Tammany's actual condition.
He has, doubtless arrived at some conclusion re-
garclIng its future and decided to what extent he
will resume relations with the organization II
is not likely that he will take the public into his
confidence. but he cannot. even II he desires Ia
do so, prevent people from obtaining toirraby
clear Idea as 10 whatever course he may decide
10 adopt.
Notwithstanding the confident predictions OF
the sInabeer politicians who seem 10 be in con-
troll Of Tammany at present, The Tribune Is III
clned to think that Mr.. Croker will never again
be the Wigwams ruler. This belief does not rest
upon the internal dlssensions. nor the rcbcllous
attitude Of certain leaders. nor even the muir
murngs of the rank and file AT his abscntecism
during recent campaigns. lis foundation Is that
clearness of vision and sound Judgment which
Richard Croker has demonstrated the possession
Of to a greater degree than Kelly, Morrlsscy,
Tweed Wood. or any of his predecessors. He
sees things as they actually are. III" deals with
facts as he finds them, and he has the ability TO
diagnose prevailing public sentiment with re-
markable accuracy. These qualities. at all events,
he has displayed in the past; it Is fair 10
assume that they are still his own. and If they
are he will allow the record that he has made
10 stand. without further effort Oh his part tow
ard additional achievement in the realm Of local
politics.
The reasons for saying this are obvious. Tam
many Hail. rs It has existed in the past, is "
tery impossible again in this city. 1t is an or
ganlzation held together by the cohesive power
Of spoils. It's chief component parts have al
ways been the criminal elements seeking pro-
lection from the penalties of their wrongdolng;
those who profited by violation Of the law; the
liquor dealers. who, in consequence of the mis-
cradle Excise law were under the control Of the
Democratic machine: and the great horde Of Of
flceholders represented by a payroll Of about
seventeen millions of dollars. All this has been
changed. The Civil Service law now covers
every department Of the city government. Not
even n street-sweepcr is exempt from It's pro-
visions The district leader, once all powerful,
IS now unmportant in the matter of appoint
| ments His influence Is gone and his followers
| know IT, Neither Is he factor in the lower
courts. Police Justices no longer defer to his
wishes; the dspensation Of criminal law has
| ceased TO be one OF his prerogatives. The
Raines law Is long way this side Of perfection;
the lduor business Is still in politics. but II Is on
| the highway to emancipation. and compared
with the old order Of things It's position to-day Is
| almost enylable Thus the three great bands.
patronage. the liquor traffic and the criminal
| courts, that held together Tammany's incon-
| gruous and dlscordant elements are broken. and
1t Is not in the power Of Mr.. Croker or any other
man who may succeed him to weld them to-
gether. The people of New-York have tasted
the fruits Of genuine, though imperfect, reform.
and they Will never so back TO municipal rule
by the criminal classes.
To be sure, Tammany polled remarkable vote
at the last election but no clearheaded poti-
clan, certainly not Mr.. Croker. is deceived by
these returns He must know that the 135,OO0
votes cast for Bryan were not all Tammany's.
Every political tyro Is aware that they included
the dlsaffected. misguided laboring masses who
thought they saw in Popocracy n panacea for the
woes inflicted upon them by the frce-trade ex-
pertinent Of the existing Administration. These
people voted for Bryan. not because Tammany
was for him, but in spite of the fact. Tam
many's real vote was undoubtedly under the