Year: 1875

| Hon. HOratio Seymour, Ex-Governor OF the
State and ex-candidate for the Presidency,
will address the democracy of New York at
the Cooper Institute There are none Of our
citizens who will be welcomed with more
courtesy and attention. They represent
some Of the best elements in our politics.
Although they belong to political ring, a
close corporation which has headquarters in
| Utica, with representatives in both parties,
which is as extreme in its discipline rs Tam
many Hall or the old Albany Regency, and
although in this respect are not under the
best influences, still their personal character
is 50 high and pure that they will be treated
with respect and heard with attention.


But what especial business have Herman
and Seymour in New York? 1t is not here
that the State is to be saved. The issues
upon which Governor Tilden hopes for the
Endorsement of his administration are Of
only secondary consequence to the people Of
this city. We are not contending about
them If the vote could be taken tomorrow
as to whether the people sustain the Gov
ernor in his war upon the rings, in his efforts
to give purity to the State government, in
his general management Of affairs he would
be sustained by hundreds Of thousands.
That is not the issue in the metropolis.
Upon that question there is really no differ
ence of opinion among our people, no mat
ter what their political affiliations. With the
exception of the few scattered remnants Of
the old Tweed empire who hang around John
Kelly, the old corruptionists have gone. In
their place we have the same causes which
led to the Tammany frauds, and which, un-
less reformed now, will bring about similar
results. We have the tone man" power,
political dictation, secret societies in
politics, terrorism, s'bosom friendship"
rings, inside and out every phase Of polit-
ical activity where they can excite the re-
sentiment of honest men. John Kelly is as
much the master of Tammany Hall as was
William NJ Tweed five years ago. 1t may
be said with truth and justice that there is
great difference between the characters of
Kelly and Tweed-that one is an avowed
and imprisoned thief the other a man of
integrity. But if John Kelly were Washing
ton himself if he possessed all the gifts
of mind and person and conscience which
could have endowed the greatest of men, the
system which he controls, which he
nourishes from day to day, would none
the less be false. Messrs. Herman and Sey-
mour will make speeches full of eloquence
and instruction if they will show us how it
is possible either for New York to have
good government or for the liberties of the
people to be preserved if we are to continue
under this iron domination of an irresponsi-
Bile secret political order


| If Herman and Seymour wish to commend
themselves to the affection of the democratic
party outside of this State and city, they will
raise their voices against this monstrous sys-
tenn which now rules in New York and Brook
! lyn. They will call upon the democracy of
these two great cities to rise in arms against
Boss Kelly, on the one side of the river, and
Boss Mclaughlin on the other. They will
remind democrats of the teachings of the
early fathers as to the influence of secret So
cieties in politics They will call upon the
people to break the shackles which are forged
in secret committees of Tammany Hall, and
which are fastened upon every Independent,
public spirited democrat They could paint
| d graphic picture of the sins and follies of
the last regime, and show that, by the very
| logic of events so long as this close corpora
ton exists the same trouble will again and
| again arise. Tweed Will succeed Kelly
as inexorably as q Kelly succeeds a Tweed.
The evil is in the system. Until that is
changed there is no certainty of good gov
ernment.


For we take it for granted that Herman and
| Seymour do not come to New York to drag
at the chariot wheels of John Kelly They
are not willing followers of Tammany Hall.
They cannot ignore the grave facts which
surround our political situation. Much as
they may respect discipline and courage in
| political organization, they are above the
temptations which have bent our politics
! during the last few years to the will of one
man. If Herman and Seymour should take
another view of their duty and confne their
speeches to mere echoes of the will of John
Kelly and praise Of his rule the effect on the
country will be disastrous. 1t is impossible
for the democratic party in the nation to win
the confidence of the people, if in New York,
where it is in absolute power, it generates
the fruits of to-day. How can Herman and
Seymour go through the country during the
Presidential canvass as the champions of
John Kelly? How can they defend the
democracy as seen in its ripest express
sion in New York city? How can they ex-
plain the zone man" tyranny? This secret
association which governs our politics, the


prescription Of independent judges who


decline to be political vassals, the violation


of every principle of civil service in our gov
ernment, the heaping Of taxes upon an OPP
pressed people, is making the city not
merely disgrace to our civilization but driv-