Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-10-06
HAVE WE A -TAMMANY IN
VIRGINIA.

t h. E 4 d 4 . ~
But in every case we would have
persuasion first resorted to In order to
show the independents the error OF
their way.""--Richmond Dispatch.
Has it never occurred to our esteem
ed contemporary that the organization
should be shown the error of it's way?
The Independents and kickers may not
be the Democratic party of Virginia,
but they are true Democrats, loyal to
the party, and constituting large por-
ton of the party, though in revolt
against an unfaithful and usurping
machine. But il persuasion will not do
what? We respectfully suggest to
our respected contemporary that talk
like that may imply too much, and may
be holly. resented as a threat.
Certainly the machine, nor the or
ganization, is the Democratic party of
Virginia, nor its masters, to whom abb
power. The Democratic people consti-
tute the party, and the Independents
haven't the remotest idea of creaking
their knees or bowling their necks to
rsolent and assuming officials who are
properly their servants. 1t strikes the
Democrats of Virginia, who are the
thralls of no man, and of no set of men,
that 1t is preposte ferrous pretension that
rcbellious and usurping official SER
wants may command and discipline the
citizenry who make parties, organiza-
tons and officials.
Virginians have no fear of the party
lash, nor of the men who WELD it, in
terrorem, after the manner of the big
injuns'' OF Tammany-Crolker and his
henchmen. We suggest that our cs-
tecmed Richmond contemporary read
and ponder what the Richmond Times,
an on-looker. has to5say. The Times,
treating the general subject. says:
There has been an uprising in va
rious I States OF the Union of late
against boasiSm In politics, and there
fore the people are treated to earnest
lectures from the, party organs on the
necessity for party organization. We
are not unmindful OF the fact that in n
government like ours political parties
are necessary. and we also understand
that party organization is necessary to
the successful conduct Of n political
campaign. But the organizing politi-
clan is the most dangerous man in our
government to-day. lie runs the polit-
ical machine in the interest of the
ofice-holdcrs, and good government is
matter which he does not consider.
The Tammany Society in New York is
model political organization and is so
powerful that although Il large ma
jority of the people OF New York city in
their hearts are opposed to 1t. they can
not put 1t down."
Again says the Times:
"rammanY is the greatest political
organization in the country, but there
are Tammany societies on n smaller
scale in almost every State. There is
a. Tammany organization in Kentucky,
and the people are III open rebellion
against 1t. THERE IS y TAAINIANY
ORGANIZATION IN VIRGINIA AND
HENCE THE UPRISING in various
countries OF the State Of Independent
candidates"
What? Are Democrats, and vir-
ginia Democrats, to be dragooned and
hectored into n meek servility to a
Tammany party and its bosses, or he
elected from their own household by
their employees? or communicated
from their own faith and communion
by traitors who are where they are on
the solemn trust and promise to serve
where they now undertake to rule?
Have we indeed already a Democratic
ofilcial-trust In Virginia? Let who will
succumb to it, the people will defy it!