Year: 1871

den downfall Wood again succeeded to
power, while Bill Kennedy, Anson Herrick,
Cooper and others took upon themselves the
came the headquarters Of the red men in place
Of the New York Hotel, and Monongahela sup
planted Verzenay. But these leaders were
not successful, and In the great struggles with
Fernando Wood they were defeated as often
as they were victorious. The beginning Of the
existing regime dates from the time Elijah
Purdy became Grand Sachem. The old War
Horse originated the present race Of politicians
whose sins are before the people and whose
delegates are knocking at the door Of the
Rochester Convention. With Purdy figured
John Kelly, Dan Delevan, Harry Vandewater,
Dick Connolly, John R. Briggs. the Big
Judge and Frank Boole. On the death of
Purdy and the decay of Boole Tweed sue
ceeded to the honors of Grand Sachem, and
behind him stood the brains of Peter Bismarck
Sweeny and the oily policy of Dick Connolly.
In the old Purdyan days Tammany and
Mozart used to divide the spoils, taking
each q share of the Offices and plunder-
ing in copartnership. But the present
rulers determined to make no compromises
either in place or plumber, and they proved
too fast fighters for Mozart Fernando Wood
abandoned the contest, struck his colors and
took office under Tammany. Like the Vicar
of Bray, who must be Vicar of Bray to the
end of the chapter, Fernando, the member of
Congress, was determined to be member of
Congress, no matter to whom 1t might be
necessary to swear allegiance. These are the
men who now form the Tammany 'Ring,"
who roll up enormous democratic MAORI
ties in New York, and who will claim recogni-
ton in the Rochester Convention, despite the
recent developments, or pull down the party
taat ignores their regularity.


It is easy to see that the democracy of New
York are in an unenviable plight On one
side stands the powerful New York ''Ring"
breathing vengeance against them should they
join the cry to hunt down Tammany. On the
other looms up the Young Democracy, with its
venerable heads-O' Conor and Tilden-vowing
destruction should the Convention fail to reject
Tweed and his representatives, to denounce
the Eammany ''Ring," and to admit the
contesting delegation. If the Rochester


Conventionsts avoid the headland of Scylla
they run on the rocks and shoals Of Charybdis.
If they steer clear of Charybdis they are
dashed to pieces against Scylla. They have
but one chance Of escape, and that is to sail
steadily along with the popular current; to
denounce official corruption in plain, out
spoken manner and in unmistakable language;
to refuse to admit any Tammany representa-
tives to their conventions until the organiza-
ton shall have been thoroughly purified and
thrown open to the democracy; to wash their
hands Of all afiliation with municipal robbers
and legislative corruptionists; to establish
powerful. absolute State organization and
then to nominate honest men, 60 home to
their farms and their business and trust to the
people to elect their candidates. As to the
New York delegates, the best thing the Con-
vention can do is to exclude them all, and let
them fight out their own battles in the city in
their own fashion. Let the rural democracy
lay down the platform and make
the ticket by themselves, without the
aid, advice or consent of the city In no
other way can they fully satisfy the people of
the State and escape the taint Of association
with New York corruption. AS to Tammany,
let the democrats Of the State have no hesta-
ton in casting her overboard-bob, line and
sinker. Although she has the just claim of
regularity on her side, her history, from first
to last, is covered all over with dark stains of
treachery to the party. The defeat of Cass,
unfaithfulness to Buchanan, secret aid to Lin
coin, treason to Seymour, are but few of the
blots on her escutcheon. We repeat, let the
Rochester Convention kick out the whole
tribe of snarling, fighting, plundering, schem-
ing New York politicians in whatever guise
they may present themselves, and send them
home to fight their own local battles and to
be dealt with by the voters of the metropolis.
By this means the democracy may yet secure
q victory in the State and elect Legislature
that will put final stop to municipal plunder-
ing and rascality.