New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-19
CPOKERs CRIME AND BLUNDER.

democrats living outside OF the city OF New
York who deeply felt the afront Of Crokers nic-
tation M the Syracuse Convention are In moon
TO be profoundly impressed by his dehpera'e
scheme TO take personal possession of the courts
Of Justice though 1t is not probable that 'hes
needed any additional revelation or his inten-
lions 10 extend his sway in every direction ana
dominate the state. These men saw Win mug
nation and alarm that their representatives NJ
tho Democratic State Convention had no voice
IN it's proceedings: that their advice was not
sought or heard: that one man was dong all
tbe business of the party; that he had not the
slightest regard for the judgment and prefer
ouces of the party's workers and voters beyond
The limits Of the metropolis They saw him
nominate for Governor man who had never
been mentioned as n candidate. and II in their
establishment they did not Immediately coinpre-
bend tho significance of that nomination their
eyes were quickly opened. They perceived that
with one Van Wyck carrying out to the letter
Croker's plans for the government OF one-half
rhe people Of the State and another Van Wyck
sitting IN the Executive Chamber Mt Albany ana
welding the immense power Of a Governor In
perfect sympn thy with the Mayor and his mas
fer the project Of individual domination over
this Commonwealth would be far advanced.
To these Democrats. scattered all over the
state. and TO n multitude OF other citizens or IN
dependent or Democratic proclivities such pro-
cramme could not fail to be startling and Of
fensve They dislike and distrust Tammany
Hall under all circumstances and in the Tam
many Hall Of Richard Croker they see that or
gonizafon at its worst We believe that II the
demonstration Of his purposes had stopped with
oP Svro
would have been enough to secure their defeat.
But II lid not stop there. The vanity or the
boss had undermined his reason. and IN an In
sane moment he supplied the final and utterly
revolving proof Of his intentions. He set aside
learned and upright Justice Of the Supreme
Court for the explicitly avowed reason that lie
had refused TO obey the orders OF Tammany
Hall There was not even an attempt ut dis
guise Justice DAILY was rejected because he
would not violate his oath to please the organi-
cation. ''IIe is not my servant. let him shift for
himself. was the substance Of Cookers response
to every plea and remonstrance.
Here, then, we have the programme, so far as
It has been perfected. The executive office,
which administers the general affairs OF the
whole State; the Mayors office In this city,
which under the new charter has wellnigh com
plete control Of the vast and multifarious inter
ests of the metropolis Of the New World: the
Supreme Bench, TO the utmost limit of the boss's
power to create. to cajole and to terrorize-these
are 70 be the agencies and the implements Of
the Croker despotism. To suppose that such
programme can be carried out Is to suppose that
n ma ority Of tho people is made up of fools and
knaves. A majority so compounded can never
be more than temporary. We do not believe II
can exist long enough to win n single election.
If anything in politics was ever certain 1t IS
ROW certain that Croker's determination TO de-
bauch the judiciary has aroused intense indgna
ton in all parts Of the State. Our firm convic
ton is that II will grow and spread and find
overwhelming expression at the polls