Year: 1869




for the Democracy.


After months of repose and state Of un
certainty as to what course could be taken tc
revive the hopes of the democracy, Tammany
last night was aroused again to action. The
sleeping, or, rather, the smothered volcano
burst forth once more, and q great noise il
made, as may be seen from the full reports
published in another part of the HERALD to-
day. 1t has yet to be seen, however, whether
anybody was hurt or terrified. The gathering
had all the eclat of a meeting during politi-
cal campaign, and was presided over by
Mr.. A. Oakley Hall, the Mayor Of
the city. The first object appears to be to
exercise some influence over the elections to
take place in several States this week, though
rather late for that and the second to lay down
platform for future action.


The resolutions adopted at the meeting may
be regarded, therefore, as the platform and
new departure Of Tammany in the Hght to be
made on the administration and with the domi-
nant radical republican party. The rights Of
naturalizsd citizens abroad and the protection
Of all Americans in foreign lands are the leading
ideas proclaimed in the resolutions. And these
are made the basis for assailing the adminstra-
ton for its shortcomings and neglect to protect
our Irish-American citizens who have been
imprisoned by the British government, and
the Americans who have been executed by
the Spanish authorities In Cuba. It is de-
manded that the United States government
shall make an issue With England on its old
tory dogma of ''once subject always sub
ject," and insist upon the same rights for
adopted as for native-born citizens. The ad-
ministration is denounced for not doing this,
as well as for trucking to Spain and suffering
great cruelty in Cuba. Strong ground is taken
also in favor of the Cubans, for the Tammany
democrats say that they will, as far as they
can without rendering themselves amenable to
the neutrality laws, endeavor to succor and
comfort the struggling people of Cuba.


This platform is calculated to catch the Irish
vote as we'll as that of other adopted citizens.
But with regard to the recognition of the right
of expatriation or change Of allegiance there
will be shortly no issue at all. All nations
are conceding this, and the old dogma of once
subject always subject is practically given
up. Even England, which has held it 30 long
and tenaciously, is preparing to surrender by
some legislative action or ddoaration Of the
SO inimical to the enlightened spirit of
the age. Nevertheless there is an i'm
preston among our Irish-American citi-
zens that the administration does not act
with vigilance and boldness in protecting them
when they are on British soil, and this will
have its effect. But the issue is not broad and
comprehensive enough, and will not last long
enough for the platform of great national
party. With regard to the question of C ba
there is more vitality in that. 1t is live one.
The people Of all classes and sections native
and adopted citizens, sympathize with the
heroic Cubans struggling for freedom. The
issue between the colony and the mother
country is fairly made, and the insurrection is
sufficiently strong and has promise enough of
success to call for the sympathy and recog-
milton of every republic and republican
people. On this question, too, the weak
and short sighted conduct of the administra-
ton is generally condemned and affords good
subject for democratic thunder. The inde-
pendence and acquisition of Cuba is a political
issue that will last some time. Even after
Cuba is free and annexed, should that be ac-
complished, it would be excellent political ma
terial for whatever party might be most in
strumental in securing the freedom and an
nexation of the island, just as the results of
our late war have been the best political capital
for the republicans. This, then, we regard as
the best plank in the Tammany platform; only
the democrats did not make as much of it as
they should have made.


Still, this new departure of the democracy is
not sufficiently broad and comprehensive. It
is too negative. Denunciation of the admin
istration is not enough. There is not in the
resolutions any question of great national
policy with view to the future. The reduc-
tion of our burdensome taxation, the best and
easiest way to pay the debt, the stupendous
national bank monopoly, the currency ques-
ton, the policy of the republican party in pro-
tecting special interests to the injury of the
mass of the people and ruin of our mercantile
marine, the lavish grants of land and money
to the Congressional and lobby monopolists
for internal improvements, the reckless
extravaganza Of the republican party
since it has been in power, and
numerous other subjects of vast import
ance, affecting the welfare of the country,
were all ignored. It seems, really, that the
politicians Of Tammany have no comprehension
OF important national questions, and that they
are only playing little game Of their own to
secure the spoils Of this city and State, just as
they did in the last National Convention, when
they insisted upon the nomination Of Seymour.
The democrats have prospect before them II
has tANlr 4xlr