The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-15


creased to tbirty-four millions Of dollars or not.
Wesay one hundred thousand at rough guess;
it is quite possible that much smaller number
OF individuals will exercise the right Of suffrage
on behalf OF the people of New York The
bulk OF the community take little or no inter-
est IN the question or it's result. Wealthy mer-
chants and prosperous farmers are quite pre-,
pared to pay their share of the new debt. and !
would rather do SO than lose any chance how
ever slender, of beneitting the internal i'm
provements of the State. They are told by q
party which counts among its members many
respectable and influential citizens that the
ne~ loan viii bring traffic to the city and aid
in the Development of the Western States,
They have too much business of their own to.
inquire into the soundness of the argument or
the probable destination of the money. And
being themselves Indifferent to their aliquot
part of the interest on ten millions, they will
either vote in favor of the loan, or will abstain
from voting altogether. This we have no doubt
will be the course pursued by large proper
ton OF the citizens Of this State
There are others certainly who feel that the
right OF suffrage imposes duty while it con-
fers privilege. These will deem themselves
bound IN honor to inquire into the question
that is laid before them, and to vote UNDER
standipgly on one side or the other. Their
vote will be cast against the amendment.
Could We bring ourselves to believe that n
majority OF our fellow citizens would pursue
this conscientious course, we should have no
apprehensions as to the result The case is 50
clear to one who really examines the facts and
the antecedents of the men who demand the
loan, that the blndest can hardly be excused
for erring in their judgment. All the articles
which have appeared in the journals devoted to
the cause OF the amendment as well as the
speeches at yesterdays meeting contain but
one argument the canals are great enter
prise, have done much for New York, and there
fore deserys enlargement and completion. Let
us grant all this. We too have said as loudly
as any of the canal prints, that the canals re-
fleet undying honor on De Witt Clinton, and
have contributed in very notable measure to
build up the present greatness of the Empire
State. We too agree that everything should
be done which can improve their usefulness and
enlarge their capacity. But is this any reason
why we should take ten millions out of our
pockets and thrust them into those of the spe-
culators and contractors at Albany? We put
it to the gentlemen who attended yesterdays
meeting at the Exchange-there were some
among the number who have no contracts or
expectation of contracts or plumber in
any shape, and who enjoy large political
experience-we put it to them whether, il
in their private business they had large
undertaking to complete, an expensive work
to perform, they would confde the money for
the purpose to the hands of the politicians
at Albany? Was there one gray headed
man at yesterdays meeting who is not sick
and tired OF hearing of the populations and
frauds OF the very men who will grasp these
ten millions the moment they are voted? It is
not possible that people have so soon forgotten
the exposures to which the predecessor Of the
present scheme-the nine millions loan-gave
| rise; how politicians, editors, Wall street
| spectators and contractors banded themselves
together like gang of highwaymen, and would
| have shared the bulk of the money among them
selves had they not been defeated by the Court
Of Appeals. Not that the individuals who then
| acquired SO unenviable notoriety were excep.
tional cases, or in anywise worse than their
fellows. Read the report of Mr. Division Engi-
neer Jenne published in another column, and il
will be seen at once that fraud and peculatior
are inseparable from the construction of public
works by State authorities. The very names
are conclusive against the practice. Lawyers
bidding for canal contracts-editors furnishing
masonry-we have seen in every instance of
canal lettings does not the thing stink Of
fraud on the very face of it? 1t can hardly be-
otherwise. Private individuals are cheated daily
in undertakings to which they give their whole
attention, and feel direct interest how could
the State escape in matters involving millions,
in the honest disposal of which no living indivi-
dual is personally interested? 1t is fact, than
which none is more undeniably established BY
experience, that in every outlay of large sums
ofmoney by the State authorities, shoals Of pro-
fessional politicians contrive to defraud the
State, and to appropriate to their own use hea-
Wy per centage on the total amount. How they do
it, no one can clearly tell. There they are at
Albany-"a 9isly band"-linked together by
fellow feeling of incapacity, and love of plum
der. Whether they are themselves State
officers, or have connections in that employ
whether they have labored for the elections of
others, or have been elected themselves
whether they are lawyers, editors, brokers,
contractors or merely stump speakers-they
are equally eager, equally sure of their prey.
1t is well for us when one-half the amount
escapes their clutches.
1t is for this reason that we oppose the alte-
ration Of our wise constitution of 1916, and the
grant Of ten millions Of money to the State
authorities. 1t is because we know, all expert
ence dins in our ears, that half that amount
would 60 to set up Peter and Paul, broken
down politicians, and complete the fortunes of =