Year: 1878

The democratic politicians of the city have
always formed different estimate of the
value OF the Tammany Society from that
held by other citizens of New York and by
men OF their own party outside the city.
All other men save the city democrats think
that the proper thing to be done with Tam
many is to extirpate il. All recent expert
ence demonstrates that the organization can
be so used as to concentrate political
power over a large body OF voters
in one man or q small clique or
ring. This is so undemocratic, so subver-
sive Of every. principle of republican
equality that most democrats outside the
city and all republicans, both here and
elsewhere, would join heartily in the cry,
'.Down with Tammanyr' if they saw
reasonable chance of uprooting and aboi-
ishing this mischievous compound OF
arrogance and servility- on the
part OF one or more leaders and servility on
the part of. abject followers. Why should
the democratic party be organized on
a different plan from all other
political parties? Why should the
democracy Of the city Of New York
be differently organized from the de-
mocracy Of every other large city in the
United States? Tammany IS perpetual
source of division and weakness both in
the city and in the State. There is seldom
an election in which large portion of the
democratic voters of the city are not in
open rebellion against the trained majority,
and their quarrels are carried into almost
every democratic State Convention. Ii
Tammany were abolished there would be
no more difficulty in maintaining the unity
Of the democratic party in New York than
in other States.


But we doubt whether Tammany will be
abolished or any essential change made in
the character of the society. The fttest
time tor discarding and destroying it was
Immediately after the overthrow Of the
Tweed Ring, when Tammany had become
SO odious and infamous that it was the in
terest of the democratic party to rid itself
forever both Of the name and the thing.
But instead of this sensible course the
corrupt Eing was no sooner driven out of
power and covered with ignominy than
vigorous attempt was made by the
reform democrats to reconstruct the dis
graced organization and make it powerful
engine of local politics in new hands. Even
previous to the democratic cry for ''re-
formed Tammany" in 1872 it was the aim Of
the reformers to capture Tammany, and not
abolish it. The so-called young democ-
racy" in their memorable fight in 1870 came
near ousting Tweed from the control Of
Tammany, Tweed saving himself on that
occasion by locking the doors of the hall
and shutting out his opponents We sup
pose that as soon as the dust and smoke
of the recent election have cleared away
another attempt will be made by the
boilers 10 capture and reorganize Tammany
in the interest OF so-called reform. 1t is
indispensable for the Tilden- Robinson
wing OF the party to do this as means OF
controlling the next State Convention.
After the 1st Of January Tammany, under
its present chief will no longer dispense
any patronage, and desertions from Mr..
Kelly will then cost nothing Mr.. Tilden
will exert all his astuteness and craft
to cause mutiny in Tammany
against Mr. Nelly ana tnen nave h1s
friends step in and WELD the or
ganization in his interest. Whether
he succeeds will depend very much
on the course Of Mayor Cooper, who has
other obligations than those he owes to Mr..
Tilden. The Mayor-elect has received more
republican than democratic votes, and it is
to be presumed that he will deal honorably
with all sections OF his constituents, ma
jority of whom have no interest in playing
the game of an ambitious democratic poll
tcan. But, more than this, Mayor Cooper
owes q paramount obligation to the city.
1t is his chief duty to give US good govern
ment, and we should be sincerely sorry if
he should let anything interfere with this
paramount duty.


Dean Stanlcy's Departure.