New-York tribune., 1870-01-01
NHU- YORK IN 1870,
compounds,

NEU-YORK IN 1870.
For the first time since 1853, the Government
of our State is wholly in the hands OF the
Democratic party. That party has had the
Governor and Senate at one time, the Governor
and Assembly at another, and one branch oil
the Government repeatedly; but it has now,
for the first time i'll the last seventeen years,
Governor, Senate, Assembly, Canal Board,
and Court of Appeals, with the Municipalities
of New York, Brooklyn, Albany, Troy, Utica,
Elmra, and perhaps Buffalo. 1t is a clean
sweep
Hitherto, when we have arraigned the mis-
rulers of our City for their bOundless prodl-
gality and corruption, their attorneys in part
have parried the assault with the plea that
our City was partially ruled and its funds
disbursed by State Commissions, mainly Re-
publican in their origin and composition. That
plea will no longer answer Their party has
power to abolish or reconstruct every Commits
sion, and will certainly do so unless it can
make more by retaining them rs they are.
If they keep single Republican in office,
they will do so for no other reason than that
they can make more out of him than out of
any avowed Democrat. They will leave no
Republican, in office for any other reason than
that il pays.
There are many who anticipate harmless and
blameess Session. Gov. Hoffman, they argue, is to
run again next Fall he is in training forthe Pres
idency; the patty here either are or profess TO
be anxious for his nomination: hence, they
must act SO as not to dim his prestige nor di-
minish his chances.
But Gov. Hoffman is no more a candidate
now than he was last Winter, when his Pres-
dental prospects did not prevent his signing
the Erie Directors bill and several kindred
rascalites, aud even making ovations i'll praise
of the deed, Why should it render them more
cautious or circumspect nowY
Crowns got by blood must be by blood main
"tanedn The Democratic ascerdency in this
State is the fruit of immeasurable villainy.
Fraudulent and lawless NaturalizatiOns coun
terfet Naturalization certificates where no
Naturalization has been even attempted gigan-
tic repeating, and a boundless expenditure of
money stolen from part of the people to cor
rupt the sufrages of another part, have been
the main-springs of the two successive triumphs
which have laid the State at their feet. 1t is
not credible that those who have audacOusly
swindled their way into power will stop swind-
ling the moment their triumph is complete.
We know how they have ruled our City; we
see how they are still crowding up salaries
week after week. paying to half dozen
clerks, &c, of the Aldermen and Assistants,
higher salaries than are paid to the Governors
of our largest States, and appOrtioning to each
Of the dignitaries who preside over our one
horse Civil and Police Courts thousands Of dol
lars more than the compensation of the Chief
Justice of the United States. Does any one be-
lieve that Messrs. Tweed, Bradley, Norton,
Fields Hitchman & Co. are going up to Alba
ny for s. per dayl
Last Winter. these gentlemen fought and
bought through the Legislature a bill reOrgan-
zing our City Tax Commission, under the pre-
text of economy and reform. We noted and
stated at the time that not one of the abuses
alleged as reasons for this reorganization were
provided against in the bill. And now The Sun
having made careful scrutiny-states that
the annual cost of this Commission and its
subordnatcs, which was S117,JOO under the
Republican rule which this act superseded, is
now S172, ,jOO-a net loss by this reform" of
$4,000 per annum We expect to see this
matched in the Croton Water, Police Fire and
Health Departments IN virtue of the reforms
of 1870.
All this we could endure as transient and
of mainly pecuniary consequence; but the sys-
tematic corruption of our ballot boxes is a
graver evil. A Government of ballotbox-
suffers and their employers is no more Re-
public than China is a Christian State. 1t is
worse than an avowed despotism, because
more completely irresponsible. A despot may
fall by the dagger, the pistol, the bowl; but
how can dynasty of ballot box suffers be de-
thronedF You might as well talk Of bailing
out the ocean.
Happily, the frauds of 1868 and 1869 were so
gross that it is impossible to ignore them. Sham
Democracy has not attempted to do so, but has
been driven TO the expedent of charging them
on the Republicans! But the party which, by
means Of "repcaters" and illegal voters, has
carried the State, is now required to legislatc,
not against Republican or Democratic frauds
as such. but against fraud. Should it do so
efectualy, fraud must cease. Should it fail to
make the attempt its guilt will stand con-
fcsscd. We look forward, therefore, with joy
full hope to the developments of 1870.
|
The recent puzzling complication in the
journalistic economy of Brooklyn is resolved.
Henry e. Bowen of The Independent has pur-