The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-05

heavy assessments are placed on real estates
and all this enormous expense is paid by
the minority in taxes on their property;
while we venture to say not one in thousand
of them ever has voice in the matter, or
can in any way control or prevent the exac-
ton Here, for instance, q half-dozen pot
house keepers in the poorest wards, who have
been put in the Common Council by the
roughs and wire-pullers of those districts,
decide that one of their most vigorous sup
porters shall have "a big Job" provided he
divide the profits. They accordingly de-
termine that the finest avenue in the
city, whose inhabitants represent mil
lions of property, shall be paved with a
problematical pavement at an exorbitant
rate, with the understanding that, if
it be taken up, their creatures shall also have
the profits of the removal. The Stewards,
Astors, Lorillards, Grinnells, and other
wealthy citizens are only as clay in the hands
of these potters, or rather as convenient ami
mails who are to be millIed for the sustenance
of the needy multitude They easily put the
measure through that virtuous body-the
Common Council-and pass 1t over Mayors
veto. The tax for the job then comes from
the pockets of all who own real estate, and
finally is paid in rents by the poor and middle
class.
This is only one measure out of thousands
government, in which the cunning leaders of
an ignorant majority plunder the minority.
1t is no worse than many other jobs, nor
more expensive and tyrannical. 1t is notorious
now that the chiefs of the Democracy of New
York have made vast fortunes for themselves
1t is most alluring and profitable profession
now, to win control of the iquor-sellers,
repeaters, and roughs of poor ward, and
thus become the absolute disposer of the
&c H.. IasN
No other business pays half so well. The
only obstacle is the number of competitors,
and the danger that too many will share in
the plunder.
And what is to check the continuance of
this reign of plunder? Not the vigor of the
Republicans in this city. They have not
numerical power or unity of action sufficient.
The managing of ward politics has become
science. No neophyte, like one of our Demo-
cratic wealthy citizens, can learn it in year
or two 1t demands a thick skin, strong
nerves and plant principles. We might as
we'll expect any body of respectable men to
go into one of our courts, and manage a
complicated law case, as to call for our
wealthy and professional men to at
tempt to manage the ward politics
They would come to grief in week.
1t is useless to expect it OF to call for it.
The only remedy that we can see for the
increasing tyranny Oh Iue lBuOranJ ana poor
majority in this city over the wealthy or COM
Portable minority, is to strengthen by some
Legislative reform the power of minorities in
this State. 1t is to this we desire to call the
thoughtful attention of reformers and all
citizens who hope at some distant day to
secure good government in New York. A
reform SO radical as the one we are proposing
needs q long preparation; but with q COM
munity as intelligent as the great body of our
voters, discussion will eventually bring out
the best and wisest plan, and cause it to be
adopted. Such an idea only demands con-
| slant consideration and argument in the press
and on the platform to at length convince the
most Indifferent. The principle of protect
ing minorities has already become recog-
| nized in English municipal and national
law, and is destined to hold a secure
place in British legislation. And yet the
English few years ago seemed much fur
ther from carrying it into practice than we do.
Ideas work faster here than they do in Great
Britain. When the anti-slavery discussion
began, how far distant appeared the victory
Five years ago it seemed almost incredible
| that the West would ever regard it as obliga
tory to pay our bonds in hard money, and
great political party staked its success on the
expectation of reputation. Now no one o.
either party is found SO poor as to do rever
ence to even the shadow of national dis
| honesty.
The protection of minorities, if it be onl,
discussed will eventually embody itself il
legislation, and be our great safeguard il
New York.