The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-18

If anything was lacking To prove MIR
Bryan's willing alliance with the worst ele-
ments in American politics II was furnished
by the proceedings in New York on Tues
day. His OPEN. shameless and defiant fra
ternizing with Richard Croker, the Tam
many boss, and his public eulogy of Tam
many in his speeches can only be char
acterized as a most disgraceful perform
ance. There is no lower depth in politics.
There are many reputable Democrats In
New York who would as soon ride through
the streets of the city in an open carriage
with a Sing Sing convict I'm his striped
clothes as with Richard Croker. Samuel
j. Tilden, long a resident Of New York
city and Democratic candidate for Presl-
dent in 1876, was a bitter enemy of Tam
many. AS early as 1870 he led in opposi-
ton to the enactment of what was known
as 1.-THE Tweed charter" which confirmed
the power of Tammany in New York. He
was one of the founders of the Bar Asso-
citation, which was an organized protest
against the prostitution OF the judiciary by
Tammany. He was the master mind in the
impeachment proceedings against two Tam
many judges in 1872 and the director in the
prosecution of Boss Tweed, of whom Boss
Croker is the political successor and fully
as bad a man as Tweed. Mr.. Tilden's right
hand man and active representative I'm
the prosecution of Tweed and the tenn
porary smashing of the Tammany ring
was Charles O'Conor. one Of the leading
lawyers of New York and a Democrat
who would as soon have set fire TO his
neighbours house or stolen his horse as
to have fraternized with Tammany. In
his suits against the Tammany ring In a
book entitled "Peculation Triumphant, be-
ing the record of a five years campaign
against official malversation." Later he
succeeded in convicting Boss Tweed.
Wheeler HI. Peckham, another prominent
Democratic lawyer of New York, was also
of counsel in the suits against Tammany,
and to-day he would no more think of
f~raternizing with Boss Croker than he
would with Boss Tweed. Yet Mr.. Bryan ac-
cps Will I'LL III liiic a puOiC IVA
ton at Croker's hands,. rides by his side
in an open carriage, sits at a sumptuous
banquet between the Tammany boss and
the Tammany mayor, eulogizes Tammany
in his speeches and says, ST am prepared to
say that great is Tammany, and Croker is
its prophet"
What does this mean? 1t means first that
Mr.. Bryan in his mad ambition to be
President is willing to ally himself with and
stand as the representative of all that IS
worst in American politics-with Altgeld-
ism in Illinois. Goebelism in Kentucky,
with race octracism in South Carolina and
with Crokerism in New York. Bryan knows
that Altgeldism is equivalent to anarchism.
that Goebelism and disfranchisement estab-
lish an oligarchy. and that Tammany is
the one inseperabIe obstacle to municipal
reform in New York and a perpetual men,
ace to honest politics n good government.
Yet he openly allies himself with all these
elements because he thinks he can make
votes by it.
In the second place the Bryan-Croker
performance In New York means that there
is a Bryan-Croker understanding and
agreement relative to federal patronage in
New York State In the event of Bryan's
election. 1t means that in return for Tam
many's active efforts in Bryan's behalf.
if he is elected. Croker shall control fed
eral appointments In New York and have
the support of the national government in
extending Tammany rule throughout the
State. By thus publicly affiliating with
Croker and furnishing indubitable evil
dence of a secret alliance between himself
and Tammany Mr.. Bryan has given the
browning proof of his willingness to re-
sort to the basest means to gain the OBJ
ject of his ambition.