Year: 1878

though that one man De honest ana capable.


The fate against which we have inces-
sanity warned Mr.. Kelly all summer long.
and in fact for more than two years, has
overtaken him. Always carefully acknowl-
edging the integrity OF his course rs Comp
troller and his undoubted desire to serve the
city faithfully. we persistently warned him
that his policy must bring him defeat that
the people of New York would not place
themselves under the control of one man
that he could not dictate nominations with
out raising a coalition against himself and
his ticket which would sweep both out Of
existence.


We freely acknowledged his great power as
the head, and not only the head, but the
brains, and not only as the head and brains,
but as the dictator, of Tammany Hall, but
we warned him that this could not make
him the dictator Of the city. We urged him
to use his power wisely and modestly; to
be content to consult the wishes of the
citizens and not to attempt to impose his
will upon them. We pointed out to him
repeatedly the true course he ought to
have pursued: to lend his great in
fuence to the object Of giving the
city an able, capable, independent
man for Mayor. and thus release
its administration from the trammels Of
professional politicians; and we took pains
to show him that by sucha course he risked
not an iota Of any just influence he might
wish to exercise over the city's interests |;
but on the contrary that by showing HIM
self unselfishly bent on advancing the best
good of New York, he could not help but
increase and consolidate his own influence,
which as we showed him, could rest Sc
curely only in the good will and confidence
arbitrary control of political close corpo-
ration, or of the patronage Of the city govern
ment


All our reasoning was in vain. The
truth is Mr.. Kelly, like other men Of his
stamp Of mind, became more arbitrary with
every years possession Of arbitrary power.
Two years ago he listened to reason. The
HERALD then seeing him about to commit
the. e.blunder which has now brought him
utter and ignominious defeat, advised him
to nominate Mr. Ely for Mayor. he was
not yet so spoiled but that he could listen
to reason; he took our advice and Mr..
Ely was elected. Mr.. Ely has been
an honest Mayor, but nothing more.
The people saw that he lacked en-
ergy and vigor. and this year they
demanded a stronger, more vigorous and
a more independent man.. Mr.. Kelly had
this demand dinned into his ears oil sum-
mer and fall He hesitated very long; ap-
parently there was struggle going on in
his mind between what he must have seen
to be wise, reasonable and becoming in him,
and his constantly increasing passion for
dictatorship; and, at the last moment, at
the very last moment, having already
offended the public by forcibly holding
back the action of Tammany, he nominated
his bosom friend and crony, Mr.. Schell.


Kelly to declare to the people of New York
that he meant to be their dictator; that
he contemptuously refused to advise with
them, consult their will or pay any atten-
ton to their wishes. Mr.. Kelly ordered
the people of New York to accept his friend
and obedient servant Schell as Mxyor-and
they have refused to obey him. To vary
somewhat the language Of Mr.. Kelly's pred
ecessor in the dictatorship of Tammany,
''What is he going to do about it?' Boss
Tweed asked the people Of this city, "What
are you going to do about it?" But now the
people ask Boss Kelly in their turn, "What
are you going to do about it2"


But the nomination Of Mr.. Schell by Mr..
Kelly showed something more than mere
defiance of public sentiment. 1t showed
to everybody Mr.. Kelly's weakness. He
could not tolerate rival near his throne.
He was not strong enough, even in his own
esteem, to give the city good Mayor. He
showed that he could not bear to have able
men about him lest their ability should
detract somewhat from his glory or power.
That is to say, Mr.. Kelly's own course CON-
demned him in the public esteem as o man
unfit to rule, and not capable to WELD the
great power which he wished to grasp. And
30 with foolish self-will he rushed on to his
fate, and, as we often forewarnsd him,
dragged defeat upon himself


The political combination which Mr..
Kelly's defiance of public sentiment cre-
ated, and which has been the means through
which the voters of New York have given
Mr. Kelly his defeat, could not appeal for
support on the ground of simple devotion
to the city's interests. Had Mr.. Kelly per-
mitted the nomination Of an able and inde-
pendent man for Mayor such man would,
we believe, have easily beaten the combina-
ton, which was distasteful to many good
citizens because it was well understood to
have in view State and general politics
rather than the welfare Of New York. Had
he even allowed himself to be nominated
he could, we think, have been elected. But
it il now seen that political coalition