New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-10
THE SFARCHLTGHT.

The probe OF legislative investigation Is EVIL
IDENTIFY that which Tammany has some rea-
son 10 fear The first day Of inquiry has
brought out more that Tammany cannot afford
TO have known than was disclosed in the earlier
stages Of the former investigation which made
Tammany Hall a stencil in the nostrils. What
the relations of Democratic officials have been
TO Mr. Croker and his family, how officials Of
the Building Department and the Chief Of Po-
lice have performed their duties, comes to light
IN G. striking way before the work of disclosure
has fairly begun. 1t is not the duty or the
privilege Of public journals to PREJUDICE any case
while inquiry is in progress. There has been
enough Of that disgusting treatment on the
part of Democratic journals during the Inquiries
growing out of the war to make men realize the
indecency and folly of trying to manufacture
public opinion in advance Of adequate evidence
to sustain one. II will be enough for those
whose honest desire Is the better government
of New-York TO call attention to the facts
as they come out in evidence and to invite the
Democratic organization to refute them II pos
eible. or to show why obvious differences are
not warranted.
One might imagine that men shrewd enough
TO build up and manage a machine Ike Tam
many Hall would long ago have foreseen that
searchlight would be turned on them Their
defiance Of public wishes and feelings has in
many matters been so insolent that it was GER
tain to call forth demand for inquiry The
fact Is that the Democratic organization has
never learned to care anything for public opln-
ION or to comprehend its force 1t has gone on
with as much recklessness as II 1t could make
no possible difference whether every decent and
honest man in the city could be turned against
the organization or not. The leaders have not
that idea. il they think Of the thing in cold
blood But their contempt for public opinion
has been so profound that II never seemed to
them worth while 10 bother about it or 10 avoid
acts which could not be concealed or misnter-
preted II the searchlight Of judicial inquiry
were once turned People who have OBJ
served this temper Of Democratic leaders for
years past have come 10 wonder how the or
ganizatlon could be so reckless, II current re-
ports about its doings had any foundation.
The city is going TO see. apparently whether
the reports have any foundation or not. II
Tammany Hall has been entirely spotless and
sinless and has done nothing in its conduct Of
city affairs the exposure OF which can injure 1t,
then its insolent behavior has one explanation.
But II acts of corruption. abuses Of power for
private benefit. systematic refusal to perform
duties because their non-performance could be
made profitable. are once established by legal
proof the other explanation will have to be
adopted-that the possession of apparently alb
solute power makes men mad. deprives them
of ordinary faculties Of reasoning, robs them Of
conscience and Of honor, and renders them an
easy prey when avenging justice starts out to
punish wrong.
1t is probable that the Democratic party would
not have been subjected 10 this test so soon II
II bad not set itself solidly against every meas
ure Of reasonable form which the Governor has
hoped TO see carried through. 1t was open TO
Democrats throughout the State to give assent
to such measures as the surest way to prevent
other steps Of graver character. But II the
party consolidates fits entire power in the Legis-
iature TO stop every effort toward lettering the
condition Of New-York. TO defend every Demo
cratic vil.doer and shield every Democratic
iswbreaker. and to make the defence Of Tam
many Hall and all its abuses the first function
- Democratic lawmakers, then some light may