Year: 1877




politics. Those surprising shows being
over the attention of local leaders will be
concentrated on the city canvass. For
few days, until the municipal nominations
on both sides are settled, the hopes and
fears Of aspirants will change like the
figures in kaleidoscope. Candidates will
furbish up their telescopes like the emu
lators of Professor Watson after he discov-
cred one Of the satellites of Mars, seek
ing what they can discover for themselves
near the red planet which bears the
name Of the god of war. The red planet in
the political sky is John Kelly, colored with
Tammany war paint, and the tomahawk is
his emblem. His first discovered satellite
is the new democratic State ticket. 1t was
the outermost moon Of Mars that was first
disclosed to astronomic gaze, but no time
was then lost in pointing all the telescopes
for q closer survey 1t may happen that
Mr.. Kelly's nearer satellites will surprise
observers with their number, and that sew
eral cometary city democrats who have
crossed his orbit with flaming tails will be
drawn within the sphere Of his attraction.


Tammany, which has SO long maintained
its place in the political sky, though often
obscurod by storms, is likely to be all-pow-
erful in our city politics for while. 1t has
held its course, in spite of much checkered
fortune and many disasters, by the unswerv-
ing attachment of the faithful Irish
voters, whose loyalty is like that of
the American patriot who exclaimed,
Fright or wrong-my country" But
the steadfast Irish voters modify it
into "Right or wrong-Tammany And
yet there have been times, or rather there
was one memorable time, when the power
full Tammany spell was broken and our
Irish citizens followed with oil their impul-
sive heartiness and enthusiasm another
guidance. This was some twenty years ago,
when Fernando Wood was Mayor. The
ascendancy gained by that able man over
the Irish mind is one Of the most noted phe-
nomena in the political history of the city.
So much time has elapsed, and Tammany
has undergone SO many revolutions, that we
may allude to Mr.. Woods former attitude
toward that organization without wounding
any political or personal sensibilities Mr..
Wood created and led rival organization
known ns Mozart Hall but Mozart Hall was
a mere name and shadow intended to veil,
though not yelling, the potent personal in
fuence Of Fernando Wood. He was elected
Mayor for the third time in 1860, when he
was running the Mozart Hall organization
as q rival Of Tammany Hail. and
he never lost his hold on the de-
voted Irish vote. But Mr. Wood is
the only man who, since Tammany became
great power in city politics, was ever able
to detach from it the greater portion Of our
Irish citizens. The example is instructive
as showing what one man of great political
tact and capacity is capable of accomplish
ing. Mr.. Wood built up his great influence
while he was Mayor for the first time, in
1856. He surprised his enemies and revilers
by the vigorous reforms he introduced,
and disappointed thht part of his supporters
which consisted of the worst classes in the
city. But during his second term he lost
much of the public approval he had
extorted during his first, and under
went q temporary eclipse. But it must be
said of him that his mistakes as well as his
merits were entirely his own. He was
never the slave Of ring influences nor at
tempted to rule by ring methods. All he
did which offended, and all he did which
pleased the public, was dictated by his indi-
vidual judgment or impulses. All the at
tacks upon him and there was never bet
ter abused man in the Mayoralty-were at
tacks upon Fernando Wood. His acts were
never charged to Tammany or to Mozart
or to any clique or organization, but to the
one resolute, independent, self-guided man
who never shrank from the responsibility
of their authorship. He was the Napoleon of
city. politics for the time being, issuing man.
dates to his followers, but not taking ad-
vice, and never shrinking from the bold
execution of any purpose he might form.
Now, without passing judgment upon the
good or the evil OF any of Mr.. Woods three
administrations, we think his bold, self
dependent spirit is worthy of praise and
imitation. 1t was satisfaction to the public
of that day to know exactly where to place
responsibility to be able to fix it upon one
individual and not divide it among the
members of q clique or ring


Without presuming to advise Mayor Ely,
who has been doing so well under SO many
difficulties, we should be glad to see him
initiate that part Of Mayor Woods character
which we have just noticed. Tammany has
been SO strengthened by the late events at
Albany that it will not hereafter be disposed
to tolerate even that degree Of courteous in
dependence which Mayor Ely has thus far
maintained. Tammany will claim to be the
city government 1t will demand CON-
plete subservience-will tolerate no dis
sent The example of Mayor Wood
shows that such clique dictation can
be successfully defed by strong
man. Mayor Ely has still fifteen months to
serve, and il during that time he acts with
resolute independence of cliques he may