The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-26
Republican Flies Caught In Democratic
Webs.

WOOas
Some of our readers have probably heard Of
the rather doubtful story OF Fulton market
boy who taught Saddle rock oyster to follow
him up and down stairs and to bait bis hook
when he went fishing. A Munchausenism
like this might be swallowed, particularly the
oyster part, but to say seriously that some
prominent and supposed to be intelligent and
well-informed republicans in this city have
swallowed the bait Of the new Tax levy, sugar
coated as 1t is by Senator Tweed at Albany, is
stating matter of fact that none but the most
credulous would regard as other than a sham
and az imposture.
1t unfortunately happens that there are
republicans in this city who are ready to
accept tie invitation Of the democratic
managers to "walk into their parlor," as the
spider remarked to the fy-that ''pretty little
parlor" being the Tax levy-but once In, the
work of anatomizing begins, and the
silly republican insect, Invested of wings and
reduced to gossamer dimensions-if he be
not entirely devoured-is at the mercy of the
flegontes and jubilantes of the democracy.
We have endeavored to caution the taxpay-
ers of New York against the proposed new Tax
levy-that specious scheme to deprive
the people Of their right to levy
their own taxes and to entrust the
entire control of the Corporation financial
business to the hands of few gentlemen, who,
as we have before remarked, however person
ally worthy, may not be proof against the pro-
digious temptations that will environ them
under this bill. ''Lead Us not into temptation,
but deliver US from evil, should be engraved
in letters of living light upon the portal of
every department IN the city government
Enough temptation enters naturally into these
departments without taking extraordinary
measures to introduce 1t in an unexpected
and too alluring shape The republican
leaders should think of this and revive the
memories of those days when they expressed
the belief that mo good could come out Of
Nazareth" under democratic influences, and
warred tooth and nail against alleged demo-
cratic corruptions both in this city and in
Albany. We have no doubt Bismarck Sweeny
is sincere In his efforts to institute reforms in our
municipal governmental his design to reduce
the now enormous expenditures, especially in
regard to that surging gulf Of extravaganza,
the opening and widening of streets; and
we are inclined to think that even Boss Tweed
himself is disposed to be honest, like the rest
Of the proposed commission. But we protest
against the contemplated scheme to clothe
them with such extraordinary power, to usurp
the prerogatives Of the many and to place them
in the hands Of a favored few. The project is
not only unwarrantable, but we believe it to
be unconstitutional; and 1t is strange
that republicans, instead Of endorsing
the usurpation, should not denounce
and make political capital out Of it.
It may be asked, What has caused
this republican acquiescence In the lead
Of one of the Tammany Regency, whose
riches they have repeatedly avsrred were OBJ
tanned by sharp Corporation contracts and
through real estate speculations, under the
eye and sanction Of municipal authority,
which the taxpayers had eventually to pay
for9 Where is the boasted honesty Of the
Citizens Reform Association? Have the sands
of their reform lives run outp Where are the In
dignant Nominations against Tammany corHap-
tlon and foulness uttered by the dainty ''block-
heads" Of the Union League Cluba Have
they all passed into oblivion under the wave Of
the magic wand of the weird magician, Tweed ?
The republican organs-the Albany Eoening
Journal ana the Troy Whg-have done well
&c sound the alarm and to utter notes Of warn
ing in tsSis matter. No party can stand against
so fragrant en- attempt to rob the people Of
their right, through their proper representa-
tives. to levy their own taxes. It's the clear