New-York tribune., 1870-05-07
OUR RULERS And THEIR SUBJECTS.

| For the last ten OF twelve years, it has been
a standing accusation against the Republicans
of our State that they deprived this City of a
portion of her rights as selfgOverning COM
| munity. And the accusation had this basis of
| truth-that, knowing well that such local
government as would be constituted by Mu-
nicipal Election would not enforce our Excise
and kindred laws, the Republican ascendency
in our State did provide the machinery and
the men whereby such laws could be and mere
enforced. The condition was exceptional, and
exceptional measures were required to meet it.
We have had far more efficient and reputa-
BILE Police, better order, a more general obedi-
ence to law, less drunkenness, less rOwdyism,
and less pauperism, because of what was stig-
matized as the subversion. of local self-gov-
eminent.
These local benefits have been achieved at a
heavy cost to the party through which they
were secured. The very few drunkard-factO-
ries that formerly went with us were trans
formed by our Excise and kindred measures
into what Mike Walsh insisted all such places
properly were" nurseries of Democracy" We
gained no votes, while we lost quite number
by such legislation; while the fraudulent vote
against US was swelled by resistance thereto
till it overwhelmed us. With at least Twenty
Thousand majority of the legal vote of our
State for Grant and COlfax, the Electors favor
able to Seymour and Blair were declared chosen
by over Ten Thousand. And though our Leg
islature then remained Republican, gigantic
fraud and wholesale corruption subverted our
ascendency last Fall, and gave us a Demo-
cratic majority in both Senate and Assembly.
"NOw for local self-government !" was the
general exclamation, in conformity to the pro-
fessiOns and prOtestatiOns which had been put
forth to secure this result.
Well: our Democratic Legislature has ad-
journed where is our "local self-govern-
"ment ~
Oakley Hall was last Fall reelected Mayor by
a very paltry juggle. The official notice for
our Charter Election said nothing of an cleo
ton for Mayor; no candidates were nominated
no canvass was had; yet, when the polls were
opened, 10! a box for votes for Mayor! and
plenty of ballots provided and distributed-all
for Oakley Hall There was no other candi-
date-no chance to bring out one. The votes
cast were, of course, all for Oakley Hall And
Oakley is Mayor, accordingly.
And this Mayor, elected by trick for the
like of which a blackleg would be booted
out of the lowest gambling-den in our City,
appoints the Heads of Departments, not for
his own term only but for four, six, and eight
years ahead
The people are permitted to choose new Al
dermen and Assistants at the election ten days
hence: but those Aldermen and Assistants have
no power over the immense patronage of our
City Government. Next Fall, we may elect a
Mayor; but that Mayor will go into Office with
his hands tied and the legitimate functions of
his Office forestalled and usurped. William NJ.
Tweed has made himself the Board of Public
Works for several years to come he has made
Richard B. Connolly Controller for five years
and he has filled every Department with his
favoIites, so that no popular verdict can dis
lodge them. And this is our "local self gov
" ernment'-a government which the people
did not make and are not allowed to change
an "Erie Directors bill" over again.
We propose that the sense of our voters be
taken on this swindle. Even though we be not
allowed 10 overthrow it, the interest of public
morality, the vindication of our own manhood,
require that we protest against it,
We do not care a button whether the anti
Ring candidates shall be Republicans or Demo-
Gratis. We desire that they be well known
as able, honest, and worthy-that they do not
belong to the Tweed dynasty, and cannot be
made its tools but their politics are not of the
slightest consequence. Let them be good men