Year: 1874

Manhattsa Club To-UigAt-The Aris-


toeraey Of DemoerstAo Politics.


The festivities appointed to take place
at the Manhattan Club this evening are
understood to have more political than social
significance. We know, as yet, too little of
their purpose to Justify comment but enough
to pique curiosity and provoke conjecture.
Since the unfortunate campaign of 1879 the
prosperity of the Manhattan Club, like that of
the democratic party, has been at low ebb.
Its finances went gradually into state of
dilapidation. and had it not been for the new
hopes inspired by the democratic successes
last autumn the property of the club would,
ere this, have been sold, the organization dis
solved and its affairs wound up. Even with
the life given to party hopes by last falls cleo
tions it has been no easy task to overcome
the torpor and Indifference Of many of its in
fuential members. II has required all the
persistent energy of resolute, indomitable mi
nority, inspired by the recent democratic sue
cesses in New Hampshire and Connecticut
to put the Manhattan Club again well on its
legs. The banqueting and speechmaking to-
night" the feast of reason and the flow of
sour' which the members promise them
selves and their invited guests-are intended
to celebrate, first of all, the rehabilitation of
the club itself, and, secondly. the revival and
reinvigoration of democratic hopes and
efforts.


As mere social organization the Manhattan
Club has not now and never had any sufficient
standing place in New York life. The purely
social needs of its most respectable members are
adequately met by the facilities of intercourse
afforded by the other and older clubs of which
they are members. The Manhattan Club was
founded as political counterpoise to the
Union League Club, which was formed at an
early stage Of the war for the purpose of
arraying wealth and social influence as o
strong auxiliary support to the republican
party. The democrats Of the city have their
fair share of social standing and distinction
and pleasant convivial talents, and their oppo-
nents taught them the utility of bringing
these advantages to bear as an organized
political force for the promotion Of party
objects. The reinvigoration of the Man
haitian Club, therefore, at this time, after
q period of torpor and comparative pros


ration, is an event Of which all observing
politicians will take note as q sign of the
times. It. indeed, proves little beyond re-
vival of democratic courage and hopetulness
and determination Of the party leaders to
marshal their forces anew for the great
campaign of 1875. 1t does not prove that the
revived hopes are well grounded, but only
that the democratic magnates have come once
more to have sufficient faith in the future to
attempt another great battle. When we shall
have had an opportunity to read the speeches
that will be made this evening we shall be
better qualified to judge of the hrmness of the
props with which the leaders of the democ-
racy are attempting to shore up the old
ed1fce. But for the present their super
abounding faith, like that Of the great
apostle, is ''the evidence of things not seen,'
and, therefore, wonderfully orthodox and Bib
heal


But on the supposition that they have any
''pillar and ground truth to support their
hopes, they are certainly managing well in
bringing the Manhattan Club into new con-
spicuousness as great radiating focus of de-
mocracy. In the present posture of their
affairs it is of the utmost consequence to them
to invest the Manhattan Club with all possible
prestige Among the few things which may
be counted upon with certainty in the politics
of this State is the denomination of Governor
Dix by the republicans. Governor Dix is not
only one Of the oldest and most trusted Of our
citizens, but he is q gentleman of the most
eminent social respectability, for whom thou
sands in this city who value that kind Of dis
tinction will incline to vote without much re-
gard to party lines. Inasmuch as the vote of
this city will decide the election, the strong
hold of Governor Dix on our wealthy and cult
waited classes Is factor which the demo-
cratic politicians cannot afford to leave
out Of their calculations Although the
social influence of the republicans
is organized in the Union League Club, it
really needs no organization to make it eff
cient, with such o candidate as General Dix.
The Union League Club might be dissolved
tomorrow, and yet General Dix would none
the less receive every republican vote which is
in any degree influenced by considerations Of
social caste. The danger to the democrats is
that he will take away portion of their votes
by their spontaneous preference for citizen
of such high and long recognized standing.
The democracy, therefore, are under a strong
necessity Of organizing their social influence
for counteractive purposes. The necessity is
greater in consequence of the odium and
obloquy brought upon the party by the old
Tammany chiefs, who were politically able.
but not socially respectable. The remem-
brance Of the Tammany frauds and ignominy
still causes many self-respecting people to
stand aloof from the democratic party who
would otherwise be rather attracted than re-