The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-18
CORRESPONDENTS.
HOW People Talk when they ara
-The Effect Of New York
City Politics on the Nation.

Especial Correspondence POmsroy's Democrat /
NJ N. Romeroy:
DEAR SIR-I have Just received long
letter from distinguished western demo
crat, now in Rome, from which | make the
following extract:
81 have been surprised at the number OF Ne
Publicans have met abroad who are dissAhsnea
with their party. They are not exactly prepared
To go with us. They seem to desire new party |
TO be made up from the best materlai IN tne no" |
existing parties. Yet, think, II no mistakes
shall be made by those who manage matters in |
relation TO platform and candidates, in con- !
vention, they will go with us--but not for objec-
tion able men or obsolete measures.
''The government of New York City has been
one of the heaviest loads we have had to carry
and an glad to learn from you that a determln-
ed effort is being made to improve it, Hhen
have asked dissatisfied Republican, VINO NAn.e1
new party formed, why they did not unite Win
the democrats, they have geneFaliy pointed 10
New ork city, where the democrats nave mao
undisputed sway, as PROOF tha' Vne uenlooLatssre
corrupt as the Republicans themselves. Wepro-
Tess To bs for economy, retrenohment, reform and
IN honest governments, aud we must show this TO
bs true. when we have the power, If we would
draw to our ranks the good men from other or
CARNATIONS. ..--....
'When men are abroad they speak ont their
real sentiments much more freely than they do
at home, and, from what have heard, L am
satisfied that, II the democrats Of New York city
can 80 reform their government az to secure the
confidence OF the people before the next election,
IL will secure the triumph of the democracy
beyond question:
Now, Mr.. Editor, send you the forego
ing extracts to show, first, how very impor
tSut il is that the democratic party in this
city should be above suspicion of wrong, for
its influence upon the party throughous the
Union is very great and would be much
greater if possessed of the full confidence oil
the country, as doubt not 1t soon will be-
And, second, to show my correspondent in
Rome, as we'll as the public generally, that
we now have in this city the best, and
cheapest and the most honest government
of any large CITY in the United States.
For sixteen years, and up to the year
1870, the republicans held sway in this
state, and, during that time, they trans
ferred the most important parts of the city
government to commissioners of their own
creation and com posed of their own parti-
sans The result of thus placing the city
government beyond the influence and power
of the people governed, was the most enor.
nous, shocking and constantly increasing
corruption. For this the republican party
was wholly Responsibilities the republican
lJhhtOAoubI 0AA WIS hunGt pCSouSc tuc CfNf gave
democratic ma critics, cunningly managed to
create the impression throughout the ooun-
try, that the democrats were responsible
for the oorruptions and bad government
existing here. The fact is that the demo
Gratis, although they could vote, were pow
erless TO reform the government, for they
had not control of a single important de-
pertinent where reformers were so much
needed. The republicans transferred ell the
important party Of our government to stheir
Legislature ct Albany, aud under the com
missions they created, we're guilty of all sorts
Of oorruptions. Who does not remember
their odious and Infamous partisan Police
Commission, Excise Com mission, Tax Com.
mission, Tax Levy, &C., &c.?
But all this has been changed. In 1870,
for the first time in sixteen years, the demo
Gratis had both branches of the Legislature
and the Governor. They at once wiped out
the Republican Commissions, passed a
new City Charter, returning the power OF
the local government to the people of the
city, aud dividing the business of the city
into eleven departments, placing RESPONSE
bility where it belongs. What is the result
Why the Citizens Association, OF
which Peter Cooper republican, is
President, and which is composed
mainly Of republicans, assures the public
and nobody has appeared to contradic,
it-that in nine OF the most important de-
psrtmentS of the city honesty, economy
and efficiency HOto pTeUGH The Citizens
ASSOCIATION does not claim that all cor.
ruption has been extirpated from the city
government for that, they say, there has
not been time-but that nine out of the
eleven departments have been placed upon
en- honest, efficient and economical footing
and that the balance will be, as fast az
the new departments come into full and
complete control. These facts are set forth
in detail, over the signatures of the best
republicans OF New York, and have been
published in most of our papers.
At the present session of our Legislature
Senator Tweed introduced and will secure
the passage of bill fixing the rate of tax
alton for the next two years at only tWO pei
cent, and providing that the present UaLua
ton shall not be changed during the time. Oh
this measure, Peter Cooper, speaking for the
Citizens Association, in communication
to the public, published January 20, says
mo measure of retrenchment and reform
so sslutary and sweeping has been for years
presented to the Legislature" Mr.. Cooper
reviews the bill at length, and after com
mendIng 1t IN every detail, says: The AS
sociAtion calls upon every citizen to give
the measure such support as will ensure It'll
becoming q law"
The fact is, that under the management
of Messrs. Hail, Connolly. Tweed, Sweeney
and their associates (since democratic
Legislature has wiped out the infamou
republican Commissions), New York hal
the cheapest, safest and best government o
any large city in the United States. ON
taxes are less than any other large city
and we spend more money for public i'm
provements; more money for schools NOR,
money for charities; more money for church
es-And We have more efficient govern
ment, better attended churches, and bette
attended schools than any other city. Anc
the public officials of the city, and the peo-
pie who stand by them are determined OF
still further progress in the work of goot
government. d.
New York, April IA, 1871.
-