New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-02
FEE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION IN
MASS MEETING.
Speeches by R. Is. Roosevelt esq, hH-
Judge whiting, and others.

Nearly four hundred peope mel last e'chhe
m the great hail Of the Cooper institute IN response to
ae call Of the Citizens Association for mass meeting
10 rafy the nominations Of the candidates OF that Asso
ation for the offices be filed at the Charter Election
Iext Tuesday Among the prominent gentlemen upon
he platform were James i. Whiting, Robert W. Low
YER Peter Cooper, Charles Macy i. H. McCurdy and
he Rev Dr.. John Marsh. Isaiah RynCers and E1'ho'i
iarnes ". Kerrigan were also present.
After excellent music by band, The meeting was
allied 20 order at u o'clock, and Robert B Roosevelt
&C., chosen 10 preside
Mr.. ROOSEVELT ON taking The chair, spoke asioho"S'
u thanking you for the honor you have done me- per-
nit 10 say that the time has arrived IN Inc history OF
ur CITY when the good honest and true men must take
barge Of public affairs or the most ueplorauie colse
luenees, eliminating in universal RUN are hevNanie
Che corrupions OF party politics nave goio On a
ng from wear 70 year till The CRY government Is only
c0ked upon as a means Cf Topenshng the treasury OF
PARTY organizations and greasng tn wheels OF the great
machine II has come to lie longer question OF tie
,ciaps ability TO serve toe city but 10 aid the porty
md places are held mp as Inducements ana parceleu
,ut as rewards If tins were al. the public. although
morally dscraccd would not DC materially injured, but
he system mas resulted in gradual deterioration IN
,hsracer of public til pecul1t10ns the most bare
aced and eorruitions tic most hagitoHs are III.
nle rather than The exception, and men OF the lowest
characters are placed in the highest positions. Nor Is
my one of the leading parties much better than another
he waning light of the McheOn Democracy threatens
Tor the perfume OF decay cd matter that Inc my III
pector leaves in streets; Tammanys only idea If
O carry out the symbolic character OF the ring and
make il eternal Mozart has lately thrown its into
be maternal embraces Of the parent society," Ike Tho
Modgal son, and fun OF corrupons as MS belly wa
II bQsks and the Republicans hat IN hand ere peg
ring for admission into any little swindle on almost any
erms In fact there IS the same difference in the hon
,sty Of these parties as IN the spelling OF Tweed ana
Weed-one has little more capital than the other Inc
CITY Inspector has recognized this fact and Ia order TO
,ropitiate the Democratic Sya OF the CITY Hall ana
he Republican Chary bids of Albany has parce'ed Out his
patronage equally between the two opposing dement's.
they may fight among themselves but they wiz always
combine 10 robbie public As proof Of this refer to
ne candidates before the people ~ the coming seuens
ranmany selects corrupt and Submissive tools and
he other parties make further selection among these
and inlorse the most OF them You are Thus offered
quite interesting assortment TO select from; the
present candidates include zeigh,els eInerantiun
pers baggage smOshcrs, bounty swlndlcrs notorious
yhicves State prison graduates and others whose oc
cupation has been too low 10 mention before ears oe
II YOU like these classes OF men, you can hardly go
auiss BY selecting any OF the strictly party candidates
With the aid of these that you expected 10
fleet as the representatives 70 the Assembly that you
have already elected the ruling classes expect TO carry
into effect schemes TO which all that have preceded
Common Council were content 10 hire
unnecessary property from political friends
II enormous rents TO vote themselves gold medals 10
AXE the place OF the salary which bad been Withheld
rom them by the charter and which their upright ser
Vces had in their own opinion justly earned. 10 create
necures and TO appropriate the public revenues but
meeting Of leaders, presided over by the famous
T. W., and in which the mythical Peter Grese ooh an
important part and in which all interests except those
the city represented The price OF gas is to Ia
.aised from dollars and seventy five cents thou
and 10 sixtho shopkeeperS are expected 10 vote for
his; the charge for street lamps from = TO $50; the
aroad fares are be increased ON five cents to ten
the aborng classes that live up town are 10 vote for
his railroads TO he run through Broadway, Fifth
and such other streets the private necessities OF
public spectators may regure. The terms Oh tbose
Docrruptibe officers, the Controller and Corporation
Counsel to be extended for years proposition that
would under any circums tanccs, receive Two votes.
And finally the Common Council Is 10 be abolished and
he city governed by q commission composed exclusive
yofthe ring. and YOU are all invited 10 vote ior them
,, the terms Of the Controller and Corporation Counsel
will merely mention that judgments for nearly mil
ion Of dollars have lately been rendered against the
city mostly the signature of TIE Controller and by
consent of the Corporation Counsel and many OF them
claims considered by able members OF the bar entire
~ Illegal. The money, however, went 10 the beneGt o
strict party men. and perpetuated the influence Of
those departments. YOu may observe therefore,
how desirable II is especially TO the incumbents,
that their terms of Office should be extended.
This is but specimen corruptions gross 20 be
found every hand. We have tnkoTed at the charter
In the vain hope that could eslae honesty into the
dishonest till is patchwork deomity very siey,
ofpublc interests. with responsibility nowhere. or op
portunities everywhere We give an Office power he
sanse the incumbent happens to be honest and IT,
10 take il away when corrupt man Is substituted Nc
,fhcial can prevent peculaton but every official car
,ecuate We give property into the OF thieve
and pass laws that they shah not steal; select vii
.ains the guardians of our dearest rights and read
Them bomilies virtue Unless we take care they
M prove 10 be executors and all that viii be left
,f us will be broken table Of the ten commandments.
The meekness with which the people endure this state
Sf affairs is wonderful probably IN the hope OF reeeV
ing the reward promised by holy writ Blessed are
The meek for they shall inherit the earth" but where
will be the benefit of the lher.ance if Peter Griess
stands ready 10 steal it from There is but
Ii cannot be found IN legislation II viii not come OF
ITSELF the people must take the matter up ruin to our
our city, our principles and our Government is before
Already some :, 600 lives are sacrificed yearly by
the want Of sanitary regulations and incalcu-
table sickness and suffering entaied upon
sl classes; already taxes dcvour one half the
income OF real estate and rents up fabulous pri
Every article necessary TO comfortable life is sold
Mt starvation rates and twenty thousand fellow beings
live in cellars, burrowng under ground Ike rats in
their holes. Children are daily poisoned by foul exha
latiOns till one half die under tive years OF helpless
women must submit 20 starvation pollution; labor.
ing,men with families look despair In the face. and
scspectabty wonders that III Tree country there are
dangerous classes Cergynen preach missions 10 AT.
rica, while heathenish nigny exists 'Gder their eyes
In the City Hall II is useless 10 say Nese men have
the votes and eject their candidates, aud
responsible for the present condition OF affairs wealth,
Intelligence and responsibility have the power and will be
ted responsible for its exercise fact that bowling
mob OF desperate wretehes may some aay enforce.
Now is the opportunity for reform. The parties
are divided. We have TammaDy, Mozart No. !, Mozart
no. . McKeon, TWO German and two Republican or
<api2atons and they all busy from the lenders down
TO the rank and lie. selling their candidates.
What glorious opportunity for the good men TO
10 their own WIangling and quarrelng the order
of the political day. Weed is abusing Opdyke. Bren-
nan has attempted TO Dust BoOc aud they have not
quite kissed and made up. The anti-emigration Mayor
lhimself the Of enigran daily at oggerheads
with the Common Council who are mostly original elni
grants and Owen ". Bremen is squabbiFg with Jas.
b. Taylor his share OF The profits. Altogether there
Is healthy development Of mutual animosiy; ard at
ths opportune moment the Citizens Association offers
you good Ii Places before you candidates that
YOU cannot only vote for but associate with; men Of
character and INTEL genceof honorable pablo career