and extravagance. Hon. S. S. Cox, in his brilliant manner, after other pertinent remarks, quoted Governor Dix as affirming that "Democracy and National Freedom are identical."

Among the many cheering letters received on this occasion we can make space for only one from ex-Governor Horatio Seymour. He addressed the Grand Sachem thus: "I feel a deep interest in everything which concerns your ancient and honorable Society. If at any time its history has been stained by the conduct of unworthy men, we must bear in mind that their control was short lived in comparison with its long continued and patriotic record. The best and wisest citizens of our country have been proud to be ranked among its members. It would be a public loss if one of the oldest societies in our country should be allowed to lose any of its activity or usefulness, and especially a society which can show such a long list of distinguished members, unequaled by any other corporation in our land. If at any time it has been perverted from its proper purposes, honest and high-toned men must take charge of its management, and restore it to its old and honored position. I believe your Society is about to enter upon a renewed course of usefulness. I know that good citizens of all political parties approve of your efforts to make it again a society which aims to advance the welfare of our people, and to uphold good government.

"July 2, 1873.

"I am truly yours,

"HORATIO SEYMOUR."

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

JOHN KELLY.

MONG the more modern Sachems of the Tammany Society none has been more popular, for a time at least, than John Kelly. He was a native of the City of New York, and early identified himself with the Democratic party, which practically meant the Tammany Society; for, in his early manhood, there was no other organization of any importance calling itself Democratic. He was a faithful and energetic worker, maintaining his friendly relations with the Wigwam until the troublous times of 1871, when he temporarily withdrew. For many years Mr. Kelly was always spoken of with the popular prefix of "Honest." It was when he was in Congress, in 1857, that this sobriquet was first applied to him; it was the favorite term with which General Lewis Cass was accustomed to speak of him. Another of his fellow-Congressmen, and one not noted for his love of Northern politicians, had marked the absolute integrity of Mr. Kelly's course in Congress. Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, said of him, after an acquaintance of twenty-five years, addressing a fellow-member: "I have often said, and I now repeat it, that I regard John Kelly as the ablest, the purest and the truest statesman I have ever met with from New York." Kelly made his mark in Congress more especially in his arguments against the proposed measures of the Know-Nothing party. He had been elected to a second term, when, in 1866, he was elected to the lucrative office of Sheriff of New York. The meeting at which he was nominated was held in Masonic Hall on November 18th, and was presided over by the Hon. Nelson J. Waterbury, who introduced him as the "reform candidate." The object of these reforming Democrats was to wrest the power from the corrupt junta and their Republican allies at that time maladministering the affairs of Tammany, as well as of the city.

The Republican convention was held the next day, on which occasion the members of that party in collusion with the Tweed ring sought to force through a straight Republican ticket (knowing that it could not be elected), as the best way to secure the election of A. O. Hall. But there were obstacles to this plan; for there was a considerable body of reformers at that time in the Republican, as well as in the Democratic party. Some of these favored the nomination of Kelly for Mayor, but not all. In this muddled condition of affairs the influential Herald most unexpectedly came out against Mr. Kelly, on the somewhat illogical, absurd ground that he had been sufficiently honored already. The editor, Bennett, who knew John Kelly personally, said, in his paper: "John Kelly is a good citizen, and a respectable man, but he has been elected by the Tammany Democrats, to whom he owes all his past political favors, to the offices of Councilman, Alderman, Member of Congress, and twice to the valuable office of Sheriff of New York, being the only man, we believe, who has held that office a second time. We should think he would be satisfied, and give place to others who have not enjoyed such good fortune."

Later, on November 20, 1868, the Herald came out in favor of Mr. Hall for Mayor of New York, and wound up this tergiversation by roundly denouncing John Kelly for "deserting Tammany Hall, and joining with the enemies of Tweed." But the Herald was not exactly omnipotent in the land—the voters had something to say. And in the position which Kelly had taken he was supported by all the most respectable Democrats of the country.

The names of the Sachems in the years 1871-72, and a comparison of these with those of 1872-73, will show plainly enough, to those familiar with New York society, the immense change which was involved in the overthrow of the former. In 1871 we have the following names of the most influential officers, viz., Tweed, Connolly, Sweeney, Hall, Dowling and Garvey, with others. In the latter part of 1872 and 1873 we find the Grand Sachem Augustus Schell, and of the Sachems such honorable gentlemen as Charles O'Connor, Samuel J. Tilden, John Kelly, Horatio Seymour, Sanford E. Church, August Belmont, Abram S. Hewitt, and other names of that quality. The Committee of Seventy, which began the work of demolition so valiantly, as is usually the case where large numbers are concerned, had really left nearly all the practical work in a few hands. Tilden and O'Connor manipulated the fine law-points, but it took John Kelly to manage the rank and file.

At this time Kelly could have had any office which he desired, but he would accept none, not wishing to give any possible occasion to the thought that he was working against his old associates for personal ends. But he it was who really won the battle in the convention which met to make nominations in 1872. At that meeting, on its first session, the hall was crowded with the most noisy, coarse and disreputable followers of the old gang; and to overcome this element involved the severest political struggle ever fought out in the local politics of the Empire State. On this occasion Mr. Kelly had to confront an organization which held the enormous influence growing out of the employment of twelve thousand workmen, and the disbursement of a revenue of $30,000,000 a year; as also the machinery which dominated the judiciary, and indirectly influenced the officers of elec

Here was a combination of forces which might well have appalled the stoutest heart. But Kelly did not shrink from the unequal contest.

Among the obstreperous "ring" men was one Harry Genet, the leader of a contingent which included a good sprinkling of known gamblers and prize fighters. By this unsavory element, Samuel B. Garvey was named for the office of District Attorney, amid the vociferous applause of his rowdy follow

Kelly immediately took the floor to oppose him, but was interrupted by Genet. Turning upon the latter, Mr. Kelly, in the plainest and most scathing. language, arraigned both him and his nominee with the most searching severity; and, though frequently interrupted by howls and hisses, from the disorderly element present, he kept the mob well under restraint, until catching the eye of the Chairman, Augustus Schell, he moved an adjournment until three o'clock the next day. Mr. Schell, understanding that Kelly had some special motive for his motion, put the question at once, and it was carried, in spite of the protest of the Genet men.

Punctually the next day the same emissaries of the "ring" appeared before