Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-09-15
gellolrs falls Jimes,
BELLOWS FALLS, SEPT. is, 1871.
A Democratic Speech on Tammany
Frauds.

FRAUDS.
I'VE give below the speech of Hon.
Robert B. Roosevelt, democratic men,
Der eff Congress from New York, at the
great meeting at Cooper Institute, on
Monday evening of last week, to take
measures against the enormous frauds
of Tammany Hall, as follows ::
SPEECH OF HON. ROBERT b. ROOSEVELT.
| do not know whether it is exactly
possible for a man to be born a democrat,
but | claim to come as near it as any one
can. The earliest recollection that
have of public questions, when my arms
had attained little more than seven years
pith, was my upholding stanchly and un-
swervingly the great doctrines of democ-
racy. Since that | have been a demo-
crat; for democracy is like vaccination,
when once it takes well it lasts life
time. But as | did not believe disloyal-
W to mean democracy during the war,
do not believe dishonesty to mean de-
mocracy now. Tie very cornerstone of
our faith is pure, economical admins
tration of government, and without that
no code of principles can receive the
hearty support of our party. Our party
is the party of the people, and the people
are always on the side of what is right
and true. There may be, and there
doubtless are, among both parties good,
honorable men. Looking around me, |
cannot doubt that both sides can lay
equal claim to credit in this particular.
But those who love democracy, those
who have put their abiding faith in it
and built up the hopes of the glory of
their country on it, naturally look upon
it as the representation Of whatever is
noblest and best.
AN HONEST DEMOCRAT HoRRIFIED.
To us democrats, therefore, comes the
charge of corruption against our rulers
with a two-fold force, an especial horror.
To hear that the chief officers of dem
ocratic city, who have been elected by
an overwhelming majority of democratic
votes, some Of whom have been chosen
over and over again to various positions
of trust, are venal and corrupt, is indeed
almost incredible. And yet what is the
evidence? The changes are direct, plain,
and explicit; misappropriation of vast
sums are alleged, time, place, and circum-
stance are all stated through the daily
press with the utmost exactness. Pre-
tended purchases, which are in their very
nature impossible, are proved to have
been paid for. The building and fur
nishing of our new court house are made
the pretext for the payment of bills
which are not merely monstrons-they
manifestly fabulous. 1t is pretended
that acres of plastering have been done
and miles of carpeting furnished. The
entire City Hall Park could have been
plastered and carpeted at less expense,
and no sane man can put faith in the
pretense, if it were made that the work
charged for was really done. However,
must do our rulers the credit of saying
they make no such pretense. They have
never denied the payments, they have
not even asserted that the money was
earned, while they have in every one of
their lame defenses implicitly admitted
that the bills we're extravagant, if not
fraudulent. They have presumed to de-
fy the public; they have tried to lag half