Year: 1876

| There could not be more curious or
unique political situation than one in which
a nomination for Mayor in single city may
determine which of the great national par
ties will win Presidential election. Yet
| precisely this singular situation seems to
exist at present with reference to the Mayor
atty of New York It is conceded by all
intelligent judges that the Presidential con-
test is likely to be decided by the electoral
votes of the State of New York. 1t is admit
ted, or at least cannot be reasonably dis
puted, that the republican party is likely to
have large majority in this State outside OF
the city, and that the ability of the demo-
cratic party to carry the State for Tilden
depends on a majority in the city
heavy enough to outweigh the republican
vote of the interior. Governor Tildens
on the city vote. If it should be
large enough to overbalance the republican
majority in other parts of the State he will
be elected if not, he will be defeated. 1t is
equally his interest and the interest of the
democratic party in the State and nation
that oil the candidates on the city ticket,
and especially the candidate for Mayor,
should command public confidence. If one
of John Kellys puppets is nominated for the
Mayoralty Mr.. Green will come into the
field supported by the whole republican,
moiety of the democratic and the entire Ger
man vote. The democratic party Of the city
would be disintegrated, and Mr.. Tilden's
majority in the city dwindle to so small
figure that it would be swamped by the re-
publican majority in the interior of the
State.


1t concerns every democrat in the city,
State and nation that so great danger be
averted. The whole democratic party has
an interest in restraining the waywardness
of the obstinate and wrong-headed
Tammany Boss. If he is permitted
to have his way the democratic
ship will be stranded and the whole cargo
lost. Mr.. Kelly's adherents say that he
means well but good intentions cannot
prevent wreck when an unskilful pilot
steers q vessel upon the rocks. Mr.. Kelly
ment respected. Was he a safe guide last
fall, when he tried to ruin Recorder Hackett
and wrecked the democratic party of the city
under an adverse majority Of nearly thirty
thousand? Did he evince good judgment
in the early part of last summer, when he
went to st. Louis and vehemently opposed
the nomination of Governor Tilden? He is
q played-out politician, and everything he
has recently undertaken has turned out to
be q stupendous failure. He had pet can
didate for Governor at the Saratoga Conven-
ton; but Mr.. Kelly's advocacy ruined the
chances of the candidate. Since the tre-
mendous thrashing he got last fall nothing
remains to him but the dregs of his former
influence. Everything which he has since
attempted has turned out to be pitiful
abortion, including his opposition to Tilden
at st. Louis and his attempt to nominate an
anti-Tilden candidate for Governor For
the last year his leadership has been in
every instance march to defeat. That por-
ton of the democratic party which con-
tinues to trust him are blind followers of
blind guide, and they will all fall into the
ditch together, as they have SO often done
during the last twelve months, in which
everything attempted by the Tammany Boss
has been humiliating failure. Why should
the New York democracy follow a guide
whose judgment is SO uniformly mistaken?
Why should the friends of Governor Tilden
submit to a leader who has been so actively
hostile to their Presidential candidate?


The citizen whom Mr.. Kelly is under
stood to be pushing for the Mayoralty is q
conspicuous gentleman who went to st.
Louis to oppose Governor Tilden's nomina-
ton. 1t is not supposable that Mr.. Tilden
wishes the city canvass to be led by one Of
his known enemies. He ought to put an
extinguisher on Mr.. Kelly and "my candi-
date" With the great power he wields in
the party as the head of its Presidential
ticket and democratic Governor of New York
he might easily set aside Mr.. Kelly and COM
pose the democratic dissensions in this city.
Unless he interposes right early, and inter-
poses with vigor, his Presidential canvass is
"lost cause" He cannot expect to carry
the State without large majority in the
city, and it would be supreme folly to trust
his interests in the hands of broken-down
leader who wrecked the party in the last
municipal election, and has attempted moth
ing since which has not proved to be an
utter failure. Mr.. Kelly has lost the glamour
of success as q party chief, and neither Mr..
Tilden nor the city democracy should any
longer lean on this broken reed.


What imaginable necessity can there be
for following q battered and broken chief
and accepting ''my candidate?" Is that
known opponent of Mr.. Tilden, my candi-
date" the only democrat in the city quail
fed for the Office of Mayor? Nonsense.
The democratic party of the city could sup
ply dozen better candidates-a dozen can
a;dotaa snnorior in personal Qualifications