Year: 1870

L


warning upon each other, sacrificing the tri-


umphs of party and their principles to personal
spite and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The Manhattan


Club and the Sixth ward have formed an slli-


ance. at the head Of which we see Samuel J.


Tilden and Mike Norton, supported by som


sation opera 6oute newspaper and subsidized
organ of the roughs and thieves Of this city.
Thus far they have done nothing except to pre-


vent the party from carrying out its pledges.


The end of the intrigue, as it now seems, will
| be to destroy the democracy as an organiza-
tion, continue republican ascendancy for


twenty years, and secure tho reelection of
| General Grant in 1872.


This proposition may seem to be rather
| sweeping But let us consider it. At the last


election the democratic party, marshalled by
the Tammany chiefs, carried New York against
| the tremendous popularity of General Grant.


The soldiers reputation swept over the country


and overthrow every element Of democratic
strength. Far off in California there was


q little successful opposition from local irrita-
tion occasioned by the Chinese immigration.
| In Kentucky and Maryland and Delaware
| there was kind of feudal Middle Ages devo-
| ton to slavery and the plantation democracy
which still survived the war, something like
| the whipping post and pillory and lottery
wheel, which in those States even yet resist
the march of reason and religion. Here in


New York we had LIBERAL progressive demo-


cratic organization, recognizing the lessons Of
the war and willing to bring itself in line with
inevitable events. Upon war issues it made a
battle and won it. In the submerging food


which covered the country with radicalism,


scarcely leaving spot large enough for


democratic dove to rest its feet, the democracy
of New York remained intact, luminous,
organized and triumphant. To N ew York the
country looked for deliverance, and to its
democracy the beginning of the reaction, which
would enable it to elect General Hancock, or
Judge Chase, or some acceptable leader, in
1872


On the contrary, what do we see? The tri-
umphant army is dissolving into mob. What
Is it's earliest duty? Certainly those municipal
reforms which even republicans believe to be
necessary for the good government of the city
of New York. We have Charter which is
thing OF shreds and patches-rag after rag
sewed on to the original until nothing remains
but an ungainly and unsuitable garment.
Plainly the first duty Of this triumphant party,
pledged as it is to the amplest measure Of re-
form, and committed over and over again to the
destruction of the existing commissions, is to
give us Charter which shall be the enactment
of the peoples will into law, the establishment
upon substantial basis Of the true democratic
principle. There can be no easier, no more
necessary work. The party is pledged to it
the democratic party Of the country looks for
it with anxious eyes. Upon it's success will
depend the general triumph Of the democracy
in the Presidential campaign.


A harmonious democracy quietly proceeding
to the work of reform, and showing, by the
energy and vigilance of its legislation, that
moderation which is the strength and beauty
Of victory, would have produced upon the
country profound impression. It would have
been as beacon set upon hill shedding its
light far and near. Its example would have
stimulated the enthusiasm of followers added
new recruits and organized successful cam
paign for 1872 All this is sacrificed to
petty and disgnceful struggle for spoils, and
to-day the republican managers virtually die
tate the policy of the democratic party. A few
malcontents, allied with the radical politicians,
control the legislation of the State. They
are cheered on to their work by couple
of newspapers, which profess to be demo-
cratic, but are really republican in disguise.
Under the pretext of reforming the party they
are paralyzing it. A great part of the session
has passed and nothing is done-nothing is
heard but the quarrels of Sweeny and Norton,


Tweed and Genet. What does the country


CAFE for these men-for their griefs, their am


pltions, their aspirations, their sorrows? Is
there anything in Mr.. Norton and Mr.. Genet
that the democracy Of the country shall prefer
them to Mr.. Sweeny or Mr.. Tweed, or, at
least, 50 strenuously that all good works and
every wise measure Of Legislation must be
arrested? Are their ambitions and quarrels go
sacred that the democratic party must be de-


stroyed at their whim?


Here the quarrel is, and 1t can have but one


result General Grant will be the next repub-


lican candidate for the Presidency, and walk
the track as easily as Lincoln did in 1860,
when the democratic party was rent by the
ambition Of Douglas and Breckenridge. If the
party cannot hold together in New York, where
its power has stood every assault and


triumphed in the darkest hours, where can it


stand, Of what use is it, and why not say
its usefulness is over-cut it down as some


thing that cumbereth the ground? This will


be the answer Of the country to the unseemly


quarrels that now disgrace the democratic


councils at Albany. The wisdom and patience
and moderation Of General Grant, especially


his financial policy, will strengthen the repub


lican party. The folly Of the democracy will