Year: 1871

1As Dcoscrasie Bssss Cosveutsss-rhe Re-


Jccsiss aud Condemnation sf Tamaasy.


The Rochester Convention, now In session,
presents to the country in one respect graft
flying contrast to the Syracuse gathering Of
last week. Its proceedings thus far have
been orderly and dignined, while those Of the
republicans were marked by scenes OF rowdy-
ism worthy Of the palmiest days Of the Empire
Club or the Mozart organization. The time
was when democracy was supposed to be
. synonym for rufaanism ct all public meet
ings; but II We are to judge from the expe-
rience Of the present year the political parties
appear to have exchanged characteristics, and
the lighting. swearing, cudgelling and shoulder
hitting seem to be monopolized by the hitherto
respectable republicans. The Convention or
ganized yesterday and proceeded to business,
the details Of which ere to be found in our


full and graphic reports; but an adjournment


was taken until this morning without making


aticket. We are thus ignorant at present Of


the character of the candidates to be put in


nomination but the probability is that they


will be decidedly anti-Tammany in their COM


plexion, and as such the more deserving Of


public support.


The Convention acted wisely In the disposi-


tion made Of the dangerous question of the
New York delegation. 1t had no authority
and no precedent for recognizing the inde-
pendent delegates, who were simply self
elected opponents of Tammany, without any
thing to show that they represented any con-
siderable number Of the New York democracy.
There was no doubt as to the regularity of
Tammany, and the Convention had nothing to
do but to recognize 1t; but, at the Same time,
1t was resolved that the Tammany delegates
should not occupy seats In the Convention or
take any part In Its deliberations or action.
They were told, ssYou come with proper Gre
dentials as the only delegates duly elected to
represent New York city in our body. We do
not question your regularity, but we condemn
the Official conduct Of the men who at present
rule the organization that sent you, and we are
resolved to wash our hands of their corrup-
tions. We refuse to sit with you or to act with
you" The Tammany delegates, appreciating
the awkward position in which they were
placed, made virtue ofnecessity and withdrew
from the Convention, giving as their reason the
desire not to embarrass the great democratic
party, but pledging themselves and the New
York democracy to the support of til, ticket.
This was a shrewd stroke of policy; for, had
the Tammany delegates insisted on occupying
their seats, they would have been kicked out
neck and crop, aud in that event the
opposing delegation might have been
admitted. At all events, 1t would have been
blow from which the Tammanyites would
not have readily recovered. To call the re-
suit triumph for the Wigwam is, however,
claiming victory on very slender grounds. The
rottenness and rascality Of the close corpora
ton by which Tammany is ruled, and the no.
torious corruption Of some Of the prominent
members of the Ring who at present hold that
corporation under their control, were openly
declared by the most prominent members Of
the Convention to have forfeited the right Of
the delegates to occupy the seats to which, on
the ground Of regularity, they were fairly
entitled. To avoid being turned out as un-
clean members, unfit to sit in the company Of
honest men, the representatives of the Wig
wan withdrew apparently Of their own accord.
This certainly is sort of triumph which no
honest man would care to achieve. So far as
the contesting delegations were concerned, no
official notice appears to have been taken Of
them by the Convention. They could not lay
claim to seats with any expectation of
success, and If they have aided |
in the denunciation and disgrace |
of Tammany their journey to Rochester has
not been Without good fruit. But the Young
Democracy required more than this. They
hoped against hope that they might have be en-
admitted to the Convention as representatives
of the New York democracy, and thus have laid
the foundation for rival organization In the
city which might hereafter lay some claim to
regularity. They have been disappointed,
and no course 10 now open to them except to
place rival ticket in the field in the present
election for legislative and municipal
Offices, composed wholly Of democrats,
and to test their numerical strength against
Tammauy in every district in the city. If sue
cessful they will be in q condition hereafter to
meet their opponents in a fair fight on the
fioor Of State Convention and to point to the
vote Of November as proof that they repre-
sent majority Of the New York democracy.
In the meantime it remains TO be seen whether
the Convention, before its adjournment, will
take measures for the reorganization q the
party in this city, either By requiring Tam
many to open her doors and to abolish her
anti-democratic, oligarchical rule or by sweep
ing her authority away and providing for an
entirely new organization.


The Convention did moi content itself with
simply driving Tammany from its midst and
ridding itself Of all contact with New York cor
ruption. The resolution of the democracy of