New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-30
The Victory OF the People.

George William Curtis has the following
article In the current number of Hnpsr's
/ weekly, and it deserves careful perusal
The significance of tho political victory in
| New York can scarcely be exaggerated Both
the great parties were interested N the con-
/ test, but the popular system itself was more
! interested. The city Of New York had always
/ been considered to be, as it undoubtedly is. an
exceptional community. The popular system
might fail there, it was thought, and vet not
be vitality touched IL was a city. II was
alleged, largely composed Of doubtful foreign
/ population, Of character 10 be swayed bv
wholly personal and mercenary considerations.
aud not by great principles nor by reason.
The majority. 1t was often asserted. was q
rabble, ruled by denagogues at their pleasure.
There can be no hope for the city of New
York, twas said, except in a vigilance commit
tee, which is forcible revolution, or a radical
limitation of the suffrage. This was unques-
tionably the feeling Of very many grave and
sensible persons when the sun rose on the
morning of election day, day which has prob
ably greatly deepened their respect for human
nature, and their confidence in the appeal 10
the people.
First of all, the result Is the triumph of a
free and fearless press In surveying the field
let no one forget that its glory is largely due
TO tbs courage the fidelity, and the ability of
one great journal, the New York Times. The
battle was In fact, in the outset contest be-
tween that fundamental principle of popular
government, the freedom Of the press, and that
ancient and fatal foe of republics corruption.
The mean tyranny of TamInany hal bought
and frightened and silenced many organs of
public opinion, as they were called, and it was
sure that II 1t could only muzzle those that still
spoke Independently. its power was absolutely
secure Ii knew chat the tongue, the pen, and
the pencil are stronger aud more durable than
adamant or brass, aud that there is no tyranny,
however ruthless, and coarse, and inexOrable,
that those little wands cannot destroy. There
fore 1t wished to paralyze them all. 1t struck
at the free press in its Infamous code amend
ments, and IN dastardy blows at private bust
ness, but 1t struck In vain. A great journal.
unbought and unterrfed, led the assault, which
grew more and more terrible, until this vilesG
although formidable despotism of the Tam
many ring, the reckless tyranny of thieves and
blackguards, fell before the wrath of honest
citizens.
1t is not difficult to refine upon the result,
aud to perceive that all motives We're not pure
nor all hands clean. But the chief lesson is
this, that in system founded upon popular
consent great evils in a manner tend to cure
themselves by developing hostilites among
themselves. In other words, knavery canno5
always be united. 1t is distrustful aud blind,
and its dissatisfied element will combine with
honesty and intelligence TO work reform. If
it be said-and there is great force in the re-
mark-that victory for absolute honesty and
intelligence is not Won by such an alliance, the
reply Is. that iu political contests We may
wisely be content with something less than
victories Of absolute right, it only intronched
wrong is buried from power. The moral
stimulus that follows is Of incalculable benefit.
But the victory has been won only by the
most unprecedented activity and zeal and union
OF all honest men in the city. They have
learned their power, and let us hope that they
have also learned the conditions Of its efficiency.
Ii we would have free government we must
pay the price, and the price is care, aud thought,
and trouble, and labor and sacrifice. Tweed
and the Eammany ring ruled the city because
thousands of intelligent and refined persons
hated politics, and thought that no gentleman
could touch them without contamination, and
thought that the Tammaay ring was no worse
than those who would break It, But the Tam
many ring, and all similar political rings, make
politics disgusting AMI repulsi7e for this very
purpose. They wish to disgust and to repel
honest and decent men, for then they are sure
OF having their own unclean way And every
honest man who suffers himself 10 be repealed,
who refraius from az active share III politics,
who never goes TO the primaries nor to the con-
ventlons betrays honesty and his country, and
bends himself and others to such miserable
yoke as that which has just been spurned.
iLet those who have now for the irst time ac-
lively engaged in politics remember that this
victory is won for the year only, not for next
year nor for future years. 1t has merely shown
how victories may be Won. The same interest
and attention and zeal, the same willingness to
bear and forbear, the same rigorous resolution
that votes shall be honestly cast and honestly
| counted, will save the future it has saved the
present. Those who now for the first time have
done what every American citizen ought al
ways to do, have learned also for the first time
what they have always heard without compre-
hending-that eternal vigilance is the price of
! liberty. 1t will be the fault OF no class but
that OF honest and intelligent men if another
Tyranny as foul as that OF iammany ever again
ensiaves the city.