The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-17


The recent political revolution In all the
State elections, from Maine to California, was
the result Of the reckless policy OF the repub-
licans in power, and does not by any means
imply that the country has abandoned those
republican principles which carried the war to
successful issue, suppressed the rebellion
and would have accomplished the reconstruc-
ton OF the South long since had they been
faithfully carried out Still less is the great
change to be taken as any indication that the
loyal people arc prepared to relnstate the old
copperhead democracy In power, after lis at
tempt to destroy the government and its per-
sstent efforts for four years to embarrass the
Union cause and make the war failure The
republicans have been defeated and their
large majorites scattered to the winds be-
cause they yielded to the violence of radical
leaders, who insisted upon dragging the
party into all manner OF vindictive and ex-
travagant legislation and who defed popular
sentiment in the measures they brought for
ward, "a well "a in the men they put in
nomination FOR public trusts. These leaders
believed that their large majorties all over
the North could not possibly be overcome,
and, assuming to represent their party, they
forced upon the country the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, the national banks, the military govern
ments in the Southern States, and other
schemes, all calculated to swell the public
debt and heavily increase the burden of taxa
ton. They left the South unreconstrucsed,
her valuable commerce lost TO the nation and
her idle black population pensioners upon the
general government, in order to force negro
supremacy upon her people. The verdict Of
the recent elections was rendered against q
policy that is bragg ng the country rapidly to
financial ruin and threatening to involve us in q
war Of races.
So far as our municipal affairs are con-
cerne1, tae Tsmmany democracy occupy a
similar position in the city Of New York to that
filed by the radicals in the nation. The Tam
many ring has long hsl possession Of the city
government and now controls all its patron
age and profits. The leaders have pressed
through all sorts Of Ubiquitous jobs, and have
increased the expenses Of the government to
twenty-four million dollars year, or twenty
four dollars for every man, woman and child
in the city. They have felt so confident in the
strength of their large patronage, their money
and their machine organization, that they have
believed II 10 their power to defy popular
sentiment In tho measures they have adopted
and in the men they have put forward for
Office. They now desire to re-establish in
power for two years longer the Same admins
tration under which the Court House job has
fourished and the taxation Of the city
been swelled TO twenty-four million dollars
year.
This is the real issue that e before the people
in the approaching charter election. II is
question OF debt and taxation in the city,
ss In the State elections il was q
question Of debt and taxation in the nation.
The taxpayers Of New York, after being
robbed OF some ten million dollars year by
the corrupt rings that have held control Of the
municipal Offices for two years past, are now
coolly requested to replace the same admins
tration In Office for two years to come Under
these circumstances II Is no longer a consid-
Grafton OF party, Of organization or of regu-
larity. II Is . question Of increased debt and
increased taxation alone ; and Is the radicals
were swept from power on this Issue in the
State, 90 will the Tammany rings he swept
from power in the city