Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-09-29
New Yor's Politics


The great Empire State, whose redemp-
ton from democratic rule has been made
possible by the New York riots and the lam
many frauds, is, we greatly fear. to be Sc
cured to the democl acy by the quarrels OF
the republicans. The republican papers OF
New York city are filed with angry con-
troversics and bitter recrimirations between
the two rival republican city committees.
The main points Of the quarrel are 50 little
understood by many country readers, that a
brief statement Of them will he Of interest.
The Tammany rulers have by no means, as
most intelligent spectators Of the contest
are aware. confined their powers of govern
ment to their own party. They have had
absolute control Of the democratic orgauiza-
ton; but in order to achieve all their de-
signs it has been necessary for them often to
use tools outside Of their own party. Thus
the laws intended to secure purity of cleo
tons, make 1t necessary that the inspectors
of elections shall be appointed from both
parties The democratic party being in the
majority, one of the inspectors, in each vot-
ing district, must be republican. \ very
proper arrangement, one would say, at first
thought-the republican in the board will Of
course sec that the count of the votes Is
fair one. Bat Tammany avoids that safe
guard by a very simple maneuvre. 1t
has organized body of - Tamrnany republic
cans" This is composed Of men who are
republicans in name, but who are in the pay
of Tammany, and are as apt and a2jcct tools
Of the ring as any dem0crau. If 1ammany
needs a republican tool, it ia kes him from this
set. If a count of few the usand more votes
than arepolled, is needed in any district,
Tammany republican Is made inspector and he
counts democratic votes which never were
cast,as industri0usly as his democratic ascot
ates. So the Tammany ring. for Its own
purposes, has keptits tools among the Police
Commissioners, and in other important places,
not stopping short, if all accounts are true,
Of the Senate Of the United States. 1t had
its tools in the Republican City Committee
a large and active body, welding power
and control Of federal and other patronage,
to which, in a little State like Vermont,
there is no parallel. and of which conse-
quently we have little idea, up here. The
names Of a score or go of men were published
the other day by the New York Times, who
were members Of that committee, and at the
same time holding Offices of emolument I'M
der Tammany. The Tribune has, in days
gone by, denounced member of these COM
mittee men, as under Tammany influence.
In such State of things the Republican
State Convention deemed it their dnty to in
terfere. They said the republican organiza-
ton of New York City must be purged of all
completely with Tammany, and they proceed
ed, accordingly, to reorganize the committee,
or rather to procure the appointment of
new committee, free from all faint of Tam
many. The proceeding was perhaps rather
an afOitIaIy ohei pul uuueT Tue oONlous ne-
cessity of the case would probably have pass
ed without much question, but for two cir
cumstances. The old committee, foreseeing
trouble, recently elected Horace Greeley as
its chairman, and he accepted the place
This gave to that committee the active and
powerful support of the New York Tribune.
The new committee elected as its chairman,
Mr.. Thomas Murphy, who is the collector of
the port of New York and who is considerably
open to attack, from his past associations
and record.