The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-15

20 TINS view, That, here in the city OF New |
York, the ascendancy of the Democratic |
party has been uninterrupted; that its ma |
jority has been so great that il has had no. |
thing to fear from its opponents; and that |
the city patronage has supplied it with the |
ordinary motives of vulgar politicians. So
lar as TINS may be true, or is even believed to
be true, 1t operates to the disadvantage of the
Democratic party. Dexterous Democratic
politicians in the city, seeing that they had
niue 10 nope IN broader sphere. have been
under strong temptation to act from narrow
local views, and to disregard the general
interests OF the party IN the pursuit of selfish
aims. The other party would have adopted
a similar course in the same circumstances:
and, indeed, one of the chief sources
OF decentralization in our State politics has
been the bait presented by the city offices to
the cupidity of the Republican Legislature at
Albany. The State Constitution has been re-
peatedly violated to create all sorts of COM
missions for transferring large portions of
the city patronage to the party that could
never have gained it through the local cleo
tons. The Albany politicians are no better
than the Tammany ring; but we must con-
cede that the city government of New York
has not exemplifed the disinterested purity
and steady devotion to principle which may
be justly claimed for the Democratic party in
the rural districts of the State and throughout
the country.
The baleful influence of the Tammany ring
is, however, subject to two powerful checks;
and when the Democratic party of the coun-
try regains its old ascendancy, it will be sub
ject to third. The first, and perhaps the
most important of the present checks, is the
necessity which the Tammany organization
is under of meeting with the Democracy of
the State every year in the Democratic
. State Convention. In that convocation of
Democrats, every Assembly district is repre-
sented; and the Democrats of the interior
who have been trained in the school of ad-
versity, have the majority of the convention
and control its action. The consequence is
that our candidates for State offices are always
able and reputable men, men whose character
is above reproach, and whose integrity is
never questioned. The Democracy of the
interior feel distrust of Tammany and never
put III nomination any of the candidates it
proposes, unless their character and record
have been such as to command universal con-
fdence. The shining career of Mr.. Hoffman,
both as Recorder and Mayor, made him
most acceptable candidate for Governor: for,
although he was supported by Tammany his
credit and reputation were as great in the
rural districts as among all classes and par
ties i'll the city. Whatever may be thought
of some of the persons nomin ated and elected
in the city for judges, the Democratic State
Convention has never asked the suffrages of
the people for any man as Judge of the Court
of Appeals against whose standing and quail
fcations even the Republican press could
find anything to say. The Democratic State
officers elected two years ago are so able, up
right, and faithful that it is universally con-
| ceded that the party cannot do better than to
| nominate them all for reelection. The
sound feeling and rectifying good sense of
the Democracy of the State confine the in
fuence of the Tammany ring within the
TI,I.. r
| the interior have a cordial fello wheeling with
! the honest Democratic masses in the city: but
not with the ring, which they regard with
distrust, and whose influence they always
| think it safe to restrain.
Besides the salutary check of the rural De-
mocracy, exerted through the State Conven-
tions, the Ring is subject to the wholesome
fear of an honest, Independent Democratic
press. In the city of New York it is easy for
a vigorous, enterprising newspaper to be
honest and independent, because it can live
and prosper in defiance of any clique. Read
ers are so numerous, and the legitimate adj
vertising business of first-class newspaper
in great commercial metropolis is so large,
that party journals feel no dependence on
party leaders, and dare to reflect the senti-
ments of the honest masses without minding
the hostility of rings or iuntas,
OF currying for the patronage which
they control. When the general interests OF
the party require that the misdoings of 8
clique shall be exposed and scourged, pros
porous journal in great commercial city car
always afford to do it, and is sure to gair
popularity for its pluck and courage in pro
portion as the squirming of corrupt leaders
betrays their dread of the lash. The more they
kick and cry out, the more certain the public
feels that the press w :ch castigates them il
neither timid nor seryile, and that they fea
and abuse what they cannot bribe or control
The masses of the Democratic party ar,
honest, in the city as everywhere; and al
organ which is true to their interests ant
reflects their sentiments, may confidently rel,
upon their support.
Another influence which will in time operat
as restraint upon local rings, is Demo
cratic administration at Washington. Th
leaders of local cliques will then be more sub
ject to party discipline than they are at pre-
sent and as they will wish to stand we'll will
, the party at large when the party at large ha
patronage at its disposal, they will not dare t.
compromise the general reputation of tn
Democratic organization.
THE VICTIMS OF MADHOUSES-A DE
MAND FOR INQUIRY.
From the NJ Y. Times.
There must be some means adopted witt
all possible promptitude, for inquiring int
the management of our lunatic asylums, ant
the agencies by which persons are there in
carcerated.
Within the past year very considerabl
number of cases have come to light in thi