The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-04-25
"The Ring" in the Courts.

"The Ring" in the Courts.
The term Ring" has peculiar significance in pol
tcal matters, and means vicious circle" Imagine
series Of such circles each than the other and
you have formed an intelligent idea of the government
Of this city. A New York circle combination Of
has genuine 'ring in its formation
is actuated by two controlling ideas and no more;
how much money is there in given scheme, and how
best it be extracted If any other thought is per-
mitted to ose these in the aggregate intellect is of
negative character and consists in intense dstrust
Of popular rule except interpreted and carried out
by a the ring" Hence, under the form of popular
nomination. fixes the of the candidates for pub
lie Office (who must be of the right knd) and elects
them afterwards the people going through the form of
voting but not allowed to change the prearranged result
on penalty of finding their baot-boxes broken, and
sometimes their heads The close observer may always
find much to instruct and amuse in of our municipal
elections although it is generally no laughing matter to
the public who have to pay the piper"
The administration ofour city government involves
expenditure of twenty-five millions of dollars,
and accordingly, the patriotic" persons who devote
themselves to this line, such as Aldermen Councmen
etc. live well Gin the way of creature comforts) as
the spoils, and they the victors every time The
City Hall is their headquarters and their position there
is we'll fortified by bason and buttress trench and
paisadefguratively speaking-as to defy all manner
Of assault whether carried openly from the front or
stealing round coyertly in the There their plans
against the city fnances-in plain words to empty other
peoples pursesare concocted and are of so complex
character, that experts " have been known to make
considerable money by affecting to let the public into
the naodus operandi There, all departments of the
city revenue pressed into their service, not even
alowing-if that halftold story Of judicial ring"
elected by the DrewV Vanderbilt conflict be true-the
administration of justice ) to pass unscathed of their
illustrations.
1t is in this latter aspect that the operations of the
ring have recently startled public attention. and set
people to thinking question often dscussed-is
the elective SYSTEM as now administered in New York
city, compatible with incorruptble Judiciary? What
candid and upright judge, holding Office under the
present regime will that is or that any change
would not be for the beer If the tree is to be Judged
by its fruits may reasonably apply the same standard
determine the character of the existing system and so
judged it is disgracefu failure. A Bench politically
constructed must reflect back its moral status on the Bar
until the neamens of the latter lose all sembance to
noble profession. Upright judges there will be- in de-
spite Of the corrupt influences surrounding them and
counsel such as the other day dragged the judicial
ring to light in it's own hall But they will be few
and Tar between and as we descend from the sphere
they occupy the ugly features of the creation of ward
politics become more conspicuous, and revolving.
Here the dignity" impressive in accordance with