The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-01


now upon the floors of Congress- To yield to
the armies Of an open foe might be retrieved;
there will be no regeneration if we fall by the
hands of domestic traitors. The triumph of
nationalism, of the constitution, in the next
election, will save the republic; their defeat
will signalize it's overthrow. This is the issue.
THE TURF-SHAII. 1T BE ABOLISHED "A bill
for the suppression of horse racing in Queens
county is now before the Legislature of this
State, and has already passed to second
reading in the higher branch Of that body.
In the event Of no steps being taken to arrest
it's passage it will undoubtedly pass both
branches, and become q law at the close of
the session. 1t might not be inappropriate at
this juncture to inquire into the motives which
induced the advocates of this bill to intro.
duce it into the Legislature. A law more pre-
judicial to the rural interests of the State
could not well have been devised, as it's i'm
mediate effects, if passed, would be to deprs-
ciate the value of horses, and inaict great pc
cuniary loss on agriculturists- Horses that
now readily command from five to six hun
bred dollars in our market, would not bring
one fourth that sum, and as there would be no
inducement to breed fine stock our horses
would soon degenerate. We are indebted for
our superb and valuable horses solely to the
great inducements held out to breeders. Com
petition on the turf has been the means of
testing the qualities of the different breeds,
and Of enabling the farmer to make judi
cious selection of animals to breed from The
result of this is now seen in our present unri-
vailed breed of horses, at once the pride Of the
country and the admiration of the world.
The cause of the opposition to horse-racing
in Queens county, and which has led to the pre-
sent attempt to stop the sport, was the unfor-
tuRate selection of the ground for the Ma ton
al Course, the road to which being one which
a number Of wealthy retired gentlemen wish
to monopolize to themselves. 1t is true that
on racing days the road is somewhat crowded
with fast horses, and there may be some dust
thrown in the faces of the occupants of the
slow coaches of these reformers; but beyond
that there is no reason why racing should be
abolished in Queens county. The locations Sc
lected for the Centreville and Union Courses
do not interfere with the quietness and retira-
cy Of the wealthy; they do not reside in that
neighborhood. Farmers are not annoyed, as
there are few in that section who are not
racing men, and breed racing stock them
selves, and they have time and again petition.
ed the Legislature for a continuance of the
original charter to protect the improvement
Of the breed Of horses by allowing competition
on the turf. On the score of morality, there
can certainly be no harm In proprietor OF a
race course Offering liberal purses for competi
ton in speed; and as to the argument that gam
bling ensues from racing which is the alleged
motive for the passage of the bill, the facts be-
fore stated must controvert it. Our Presidential.
and, indeed, all elections, might be stop
ped for the SEINE reason they do great deal
Of good, but still they lead to betting to a
frightful extent. The objection to racing alone
rests on the supposed annoyance the wealthy
meet with on their rides from the ferries to
their homes on the roads leading to the Ma
tionai Course, on the northwest side of Long
Island.
1t is to be hoped that the members of the
Legislature who have the interests of farmers
and breeders Of good horses at heart, will see
this matter in its proper light, and act &C
cordingly; for why should few antiquat-
ed individuals, who have lost their relish
for sports Of the turf--a majority of whom
were its patrons in the palmy days Of First Cot
sui and Eclipse-why should these antedilu-
vians attempt to abridge the pleasures as we'll
SIS the interests of the fast men of the present
age? Thousands upon thousands in this vi
cinity are fond Of the sport, and will patronize
and encourage racing when properly conduct
cd; and instead of aboishng the charter, Its pre-
longation should be made sure, and some check
to improprieties adopted by legislative enact
ment The south side of Long Island is pecu.
Iarly adapted for horse racing, and if a club
of respectable gentlemen would take the mat
ter in hand, sports of the turf would become
one Of the most fashionable pastimes of the
day. Legislators, cut off the bad features of
the sport, but let the turf remain.
POLITICAL ScHEMING A AIBANY.--We motto |,
among the last discrediseble movements Of our
State politicians, that on of our city members
has proposed that the Office Of Fire Marshal be
made political one, and that an old fireman
be selected to fill it.
Now, the fact is, this Office was created by
its present incumbent, Mr.. A. L. Baker. who
established it when incendarism was so rife in
the city that men hardly dared sleep Of nights