The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-18
Our Electoral System In Practice.


Well the spoilsmen are triumphant, and
the ten million loan is carried by an immense
majority out of the hundred thousand votes
polled. We are as yet unable to lay before our
readers the whole vote, but we know enough
to say that this number-l00 000-will rather
exceed than fall short Of it. 1t is estimated
that the number of individuals who are d.
rectly interested in the proposed expenditure OF
ten additional millions on the canals amounts,
with their friends and those whose vote they
can control, to about one fifth Of the male adults
Of the population of the State: it cannot GER
tainly be less than one hundred thousand
souls AS therefore the vote polled on Wednes-
day does not exceed this figure, we may take it
for granted that the bulk of the public proper:
the four, FIVE or six hundred thousand people
who will have to pay the interest on the ten
millions, and who are able to form q dispassion-
ate opinion of the merits of the principle
at stake, remained quietly at home and
never troubled their heads about the election
The question was solv ed by the canal men, the
forwarders, boat owners, employees on the ca
nal, contractors, Spectators and politicians:
Judge and jury in the case. Those who should
have moved, and decided SO weighty matter,
shirked the responsibility; it seemed as though
the public thought mere sum Of ten millions
and half was not worth squabbling about.
In their private capacity, the merchants and
others who allowed Wednesday to passwfthout
attending the polls would think carefully and
chi 1u hafn hou rno6o fhorno luao
liable for any portion Of the interest on such
sum. As citizens, they never inquired or cared
how the point was settled, and will doubtless
pay without hesitation whatever share of the
debt to be incurred may devolve upon them.
The decision of the ten million loan is not the
first instance in which this apathy among the
public has come to light. 1t is fast becoming
the rule at some of the most important
State elections They are managed and con-
trolled by bands Of grogshop politicians and
abandoned knaves, who having failed in
every respectable business, have turned final
ly asa last resort to procuring votes as
trade. These are the present rulers Of the State
Of New York. They nominate candidates, and
elect the one who pays best. They build lying
PLATFORMS, and appeal to the community with
distractions under which their thirst for plum
der is clumsily concealed. They set up great
men at will, and pull them down when their
heroes purses are closed. The choice of our
representatives both at the federal and at the
State capitals is canvassed, arranged and deter
mined over adulterated whiskey and brandy in
low drinking saloons: the men who fulfil the
d,,fv ora Tho louoaf 70 hhlo tho y;1oof ucur,o of
the city's dregs Lack OF principle renders their
lack Of sense innocuous: with them cleo
tions are matter Of mere bargain and sale,
at which ambitious men, in consideration of
certain number of votes and q certain amount
Of perjury and violence, agree to pay them
specified sum Of money. They can make the
bargain confidently: it is quite safe to pay
them in advance, for they hold the franchise in
their hand, and have the keys OF Senate, Con-
gress and Legislature in their brooches pocket
In case Of murmurs or attempts at resistance on
the part Of the public proper, thick sticks and
similar weapons-or at least, formidable threats
are called into play, and the balance Of power
is restored. But it is seldom necessary to re-
sort to these weapons Many years ago, the
bulk Of the people of New York came to the
conclusion that it was waste Of time to exer-
else the franchise. They saw that elections
were in nine cases out Of ten, mere party con-
tests at which the only point decided
was whether the State should be plundered by
the wings or the democrats: and being tolerably
Indifferent as to which Of the two varieties of
barpies fe., upon the carcass polite, they began
to abstain from visiting the polls. Time con-
firmed them in this view. Every now and them
one of the two political parties would contrive
to put the slavery controversy or some other
abstraction prominently forward at the election
and go ronse temporary excitement among the
public, wnich would lead to a small indepen-
dent vote But in general, the voters at most
Of our State elections are simply those who
make trade of politics, reinforced by few
thousand individuals who vote as democrats or
wings because their fathers did. A Presiden-
tial election adds to their number further pro-
portion Of private citizens whose feelings be-
come engaged in the canvass; but even that, at
the present day, can rarely call forth half the
actual vote of the State of New York
The fact is ominous. Its effects as well as
its causes are worm considering. Inc latter
may be briefly summed up as general prosper
ity, thriving trade, and universal contempt
for politicians of every party. Every indus
trious, intelligent man in this community is
doing WELL His business engrosses the whole
of his time, and he cannot give thought to DO
litics without injuring his private affairs. He
therefore let's the State govern ITSELF He does
so with the less reluctance when he remembers
how universally corrupt politicians are shown
to be. and sees how those who clamored the
loudest about reform and integrity before
the election are the most abandoned leaders of
political profigacy afterwards. He abstains
and washes his hands of party strife nor can
we blame his act, or even deeply regret state
Of individual prosperity which gives rise to