New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-11

originating brain ana Tweed dS tho
hand. Their relative positions are re-
spectively those of the Mikado ana lycooh
of japan prior to the late revolution In when
the latter was suppressed; and, while sweeney
| in the inner councils is virtual dictator, Iweed
is the ioyial. ready, ee-handed, approachaoie
dispenser of favor and patronage, and thus
the more popular OF the duumvirate. lie proo-
ABLY exerts as much actual power as sweeney,
but has not equal reserved force; so that IL
each had promised the same Office to per
sonal friend and they should be tempted 10
lock horns on the result, Sweeney's man wouid
he bound to win. But they are men oil SO
widely contrasted character and aims, ana
their close alliance is so profitable and its fruits
so agreeable to both, that each is likely 10 re-
spect the others orbit, and thus maintain JOINT
ascendency for years.
The most obvious vice of this sort OF rule Is
its horrible expensiveness. 1t can only be per-
petuated by a rigid adherence to the maxim
that Every man has his price," ana by
careful gauging of each so as not TO pay
judgeship for services only worth foreman
shin on a Job of street-paving. The art mere
involved requires rare and quick natural dls-
cernment, long practice, and profound though
concealed disdain of fattery. But, since the
perpetuation of such despOtism involves the
purchase of thousands of the needy, the prodi-
GAL the rapacious, the INSCRIPTIONS, IL ne
cessitates lavish distribution OF public
money. Greenhorns wonder why Tweed and
Sweeney-since they must by this tihie
have money enOugh-do MT turn short
corner and come out in the novel
character of reformers and economists. They
might, for instance, sell the downtown mar
kets, and part of the wharves, and some
other public property for which the City has no
further need, and pay off every dime OF the City
Debt but that incurred for the introduction OF
the Croton Water. The greenhorns do not re-
fleet that this, though sport for the City,
would be death TO its rulers, who are enabled
to retain and reward regiments OF active,
efficient Janizares by means of the very patro-
mage which they would thus destroy. Graft
tude, in politics, is a "lively sense OF tayorS
expected" or presently enjoyed; nobody
dreams of working for dead horse" Take
away their present and prospective power TO
reward devotion, and these masters of the sit
uation would be of no more account than
hundreds of others.
For the last three months, an active canvass
for the Offices to BE- filed this Fall has been
carried on; but no one thinks of what the
Nominating Conventions may wish to do Ill
the premises " Has Sweeney promised McCunn
"another term7' Has he agreed that Bob
Hutchings shall be SurrogateY ' Does Tweed
"want his son made Judge y care they go-
"ing to let Harry Genet go back to the SEN
"ate ?"-such are the questions passed from
Sc, \. M
ter Mug, and wherever thirsty politicians are
apt to cOngregate. 1t Is perfectly understood
that "fhe Primaries" will be carried by the City
employees who often will not recognize name
on the ballots they present; but they know the
man who hands them those ballots, and that
he is Tweeds and Sweeney's man, through
whose favor they hold their places; and they
need know no more.
If the taxpayers should consider that
Sweeney and Tweed cost more than they
come to, and should thereupon decide to
oppose the continuance OF their plenaiy power,
we warn them that the obstacles they HuS'
confront are very formidable. First to he en-
countered is that of their ownership OF sundry
nominal and noisy Republicans, who run the
machine in their interest. Should there bc
spontaneous coming together OF citizens
intent on restoration 10 the people OF
some voice in the expenditure of their
own money, these Republican machinists will
vehementy protest against any " surrender
"of our principles" and bawl at the
top of their lungs, keep the flag fly
ing p" Can't go Copperheads -" Grant
q and Coltax candidates are good enough for
Gus "" Give us a square issue, straight
ticket, and genuine victory, or an honorable
defeat" &C., &C.; and then will whip around
the corner and claim their pay of the Tamma-
ny magnates for itheir important and timely
services. The very fellows whose gorge rises
at the suggestion that they can ever vote for
a Democrat, are often on the secret pay-rolls of
Tammany and draw their allowance with laud
able punctuality.
On the whole, it seems probable that we shall
have no election this Fall, but let things 90 as