New-York tribune., 1906-10-04
DEMAGOGRACY.

Charles +. Murphy is the only man prominent
In New York public life to-day who Is not the
target for Hearst abuse.
We do not know whether most TO congratulate
Murphy on the stOutness of his palate, his ability
to stomach the nauseous dose which frees him
from the attack of the man who plans 10 vitu-
perate his way into Office or the others who
have the courage TO be the targets of the Sian
derbund Each position confers a sort Of dis
tinction. though Murphy's is unique. 1t is also
more practical; has more immediate utility. Ii
is worth something not TO be called thief and
q candidate for Sing Sing. It is worth some
thing more 10 stop the mouth Of one who has
habitually called you O thief and a criminal; to
see him restricted TO stammering on the hust-
ings and faltering In the public prints: Really
'.now, you may not believe IL; but am not for
Murphy" Such a change OF tone should give
Murphy much keen delight. And 1t is worth
something to the boss TO have Hearst say he is
mot for Murphy" If anything could drag
Murphy down lower in public estimation, it
would be TO have Hearst for him.
But Murphy may be for Hearst By all means
let him be for Hearst; let him fasten upon the
editor the odium OF his support. If the boss has
a drop Of red blood In bis veins, If he can hate
through twelvemonth unappeasably, it should
be worth something TO him TO be in position
now where he can "be for Hearst Whatever
happens, let him be for Hearst In all their
haggling let him give the extortionate "inde-
pendent" the best of the bargain, the necessary
length OF rope! Let him be regular in these
days OF fantastic regularity, when "Indepen-
dence" budgeons regularity into subOrdinatiOn.
Let no suspicion attach TO the reality of his
being for Hearst He has sold the editor his
support; let him insist on delivering it. On
Election Day he should enjoy one Of times
revenges. The bargain which made Murphy
for Hearst strips the candidate of every vestige
of his character. It dulls the thunder of his
shallow pretensions. If, when the votes arc
counted, Murphy by being for Hearst, shall have
beaten both his enemies, Mcclellan and Hearst,
he should go down IN the annals as one Of the
shrewdest, most resourceful leaders Tammany
has ever had.
AS for the other mud-bespattered victims OF
the Slanderbund. they may extract their cOnso-
lation from the sense of their own virtue and
await the lanes turning. This strange medley
Of sansculottism and bossism which masquer-
ades as the Democratic party is not the party
OF such members OF Hearst's rogues gallery
were wont 10 call themselves Democrats. Tom
Grady, the spokesman OF the buccaneers who
seized the Democratic ship at Buffalo. said:
I'VE shall say who are Democrats, and you are
mo Democrats because we say SO Walk the
plank" Such urbanity invited tn quoQue, and
everywhere throughout the state angry Demo
Gratis arose and retOrted: You are no Demo
Gratis :" What Is this medley crew OF pirates
which turns its mud batteries on Cleveland, twice
President by grace OF the Democracy; on Bryan.
twice the Democracy's candidate for President
and likely TO be again; On Parker. the Democ-
racy's latest national standard bearer? There
seems some virtue in the tn quOque TO a party
which has no place within it for such men, and
for Herrick, the last candidate for Governor;
for Stanchheld, a recent candidate; for Sheehan,
chairman Of the Democratic National Executive
Committee, and for others too many TO name.
These mud marks seem entitled, by their history
and achievements, TO say something about what
is Democracy. Is the name TO be forever pro-
prietary institution Of the Slanderbund? Or
is this years Endorsement Of Independence by
Regularity venal outbreak OF emotional insan-
ity, produced By overstrain in q prolonged effort
10 be safe and sane? If the latter we suggest
temporary name TO carry US through this years
political mock heToics. Why not call the party
Of Charlie" and willie" and "Fingey" the
Demagogracy7