Year: 1875

Tammanyis the only conspicuous instance
in our history where secret society has
worked the political machinery persistently
and steadily through many generations
Other secret societies have come up from
time to time, like the Know Nothings, and
been swept away by the results Of the next
election but here is q regularly organized
society operating through whole political
periods like the secret tribunals of Italy and
Germany in the Middle Ages, always for the
support Of certain class of society and for
the oppression of all others. Now, the per-
sons oppressed by the Tammany machinery
are the democratic voters of this city; 1t dis
franchises them; it permits them formally to
vote, but not before it has determined for
them how they shall vote and whom they shall
support Is this freedomr No! The demo-
cratic voters are tired of that machinery.
They are the political vassals of Tammany
Hall, and the way to free them is to demolish
the machinery.


This is vigorously said by the Times of yes
terday as follows:-


It is outrage upon the people OF this city that
government should practically be under the control OF
q secret society No one associate any good work
with the name and history Of Tammany Hall When IL
has not been engaged in the endeavor TO punder the
taxpayers has ceaselessy endeavored 10 prevent the
viii OF the people from finding fair expression at the
polls


And the same point is made by the Saa as
follows:-


In his speech denouncing Recorder Hackctt Mr.
Kelly did appear to to show an almost utter want
OF comprehension of the great principles OF indepen-
dence and liberty which lie at the foundation OF Amer
can institutions. So there was an astonishing degree
of arrogance and assumption in his speeches after the
election, the burden OF which was that he had fur
nished to the OF New York good list oil candi
dates and yet the voters had not elected them He did
not reflect that every other in New York had just
as good right to supply list OF candidates as him
self He assumed q junction which does not exist
under our system of government


1t is well enough known in the Tammany
machinery that ''this function does not
exist, /" for if it did their society would have
died long since The function to name the
ticket exists in the nomination conventions;
these are created by the General Committee,
which is inspired by the Boss, and the Boss
and committee and all alike are the creatures
and tools of the Tammany Society, which
thus puts itself in our political system boldly
in the place of the people.


The Times says justly


Nor is II within the bounds of probability that the
organization ever be reformed house which is
built rotten foundations cannot be made by
putting In new door here and there and mendng the
broken windows The principle which Tammany
exists and is managed is thoroughly bad and the sub
sttuton of another 'Boss' for John Kelly would be
idle form The only means by which it can be pre-
vented from doing further harm is to abolish alto
gether


That is the point. Reforming Tammany
has been tried. Attempts to reform" Tam
many have often resulted in defeating it at
the polls But what then2 Beaten by the
honest democrats the Tammany democrats
first organized the Ring system for plunder-
ing the treasury of the city with the assist
ance of republican votes. Attempts at re-
form are futile it must be destroyed