The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-25

Immediately after the election there was
loud talk about displacing RICHARD CROKER
and Tammany Hall from the control Of the
Democratic party in this city, and conse-
quently in this State. 1t was raised prl-
marily in the Mugwump contingent OF the
Democracy, but it was listened TO gladly
by certain Democrats of the old-fashioned
sort who maintain a sullen discomfort with
Tammany at the Manhattan Club-the
silk stocking element" as they used to
be called.
The cry, however, has ceased suddenly
even among the Mugwump Democrats
themselves. The Manhattan III grumblers
have withdrawn from the movement, and
the sway OF CROKER will continue undis-
puted. The Mugwump Democrats and the
silk stocking" Democrats will get into
line behind him and confine their denuncia-
tions OF Tammany to confidential CONVEX
sations among themselves under the privi-
lege.of clubroom communications.
The truth is that the Democratic party in
New York has no reason to find fault with
rammany, and cannot find fault with Tam
many without accusing itself, for Tam
many is the Democratic party here. The
party has no existence apart from Tam
many, through which all its nominations
for Office are made, and in which is centred
all its vitality. TIL history OF Democratic
politics in this city is full Of the wrecks Of
rival "halls," built up at great cost for the
purpose of displacing Tammany from that
position Of party representation and domi-
nation, but Tammany remains mistaken.
And why? Because it and it alone ex-
presses and embodies the spirit Of the New
York Democracy. The machinery of its
organization is adjusted with marvellous
skill, but no such artificial continuance
could have given it the power it has welded
IL it's motive force had not been sympa-
thetic Democratic sentiment.
In the Manhattan Club, however, are some
Democrats who are ashamed Of Tammany
Hall. They are offended by its "vulgarity."
They would not be willing to admit aver
the great body Of its leaders to association
with their superior refinement and more
sensitive tastes. They would prefer to
belong to a more respectable party thar
that which has its fitting representative in
the Fourteenth street Wigwam; and in
times past they have sought to distinguish
themselves thus as a "better element" by
herding together in an opposition hall; but
unfortunately for them, the separation
has resulted always in showing them
to be so insignificant a minority among
New York Democrats that they lave retired
eventually to escape from the Notifying
revelation. II they should o make the
experiment again, they well know that they
would make an eve moro paltry show
than ever, as was indicated 30 plainly in
the petty reduction OF the Democratic vote
for Tammany's judicial candidates at the
late election. A small section Of a tenement
house district contains more Democratic
voters than the whole lot of them.
Every attempt to dissociate the Demo-
cratic party from Tammany is based on
false pretence and humbug. The two are
inseparable; they are n and the same
thing. Tammany is strong simply because
the Democratic party is strong in New
York. and to destroy Tammany would be
to destroy the Democratic party. II q
Democrat is ashamed of Tammany he Ia
ashamed Of his party. II he is unwilling to
follow CROKER as a leader he must get into
some other party.