Litchfield enquirer., 1871-11-16
AMERICAN DEMocRAcv TRIED
 AND ACQUITTED. .sv


 The verdict against corruption in New York, last week, is also averdict in favor of democracy. If sustained by future popular action it removes the last serious objection to the republican form of gov ernment. Before the war European ob- jectOrs were in the habit of saying that American democracy was well enough the Oretically, but that it lacked strength--in fact stood only till some slight shock top pied it down. The war set that objection at rest forever. It appeared that g gov ernment in which the whole people were interested could not only raise more men and more money, but bear up under se- verer reverses and sustain heavier burdens than any existing European government. More wonderful still to European eyes was the quiet disbandment of million veteran soldiers, without even the sugges- tiOn of an attempt to establish & military despOtism. There remained, however, the conviction in the European mind,I enter tained even by SO liberal statesman. as the late Lord Macanley, that property nev- CT could be safe with universal suffrage, where the property holders were in a mi nority. The stock argument in favor of this objection has been the shameful cor ruption of the city of New York, tainting as 1t did State and even national politics. Democracy, certainly never labored under greater disadvantages than in New York; citizens of foreign descent, and little ii any property. polled large majority oi the votes; men of wealth and character generally neglected their electoral duties one political party was so largely in. the majority as to run no risk, of defeat by the political minority. If American, de mOcracy could reform itself under sucl adverse circumstances, there could be nc doubt of its natural purity as we'll as of its natural strength. At the election, las week. it took the first, tlse laafaest ant the longeststep in that direction Thers is every reason to believe that the ,-goso5sS work will be pushed throug gh to it's natur ai conclusion, and that the capacity of tn, peOpieeven of such city as New York fo self government will be tfinmphantly win dicated. How such result would strengthen the hands of the republicans in France. in Spain, in England, indeed in every European country. it is hardly necessarily to argue. American, example is their best argument already; when, ,Aflieri can cities prove able to govern themselves well. the argument will be ,inaiswsesrsable, iys nal
 HosoR TO WHOM HoNoRs IS Dus; .-. fnplle feeling has long been ripening in New York tosuch n result as that of last week 3 election. There was needed some positive proof of shch corruption pas as real, rea
 ly threateped the property sfthsceity with practical eondseatien to oainite all parties In's erhud reform movefnent.sI This prbof sAs Notwithstanding iif the cihSy chS aaccso5,nts aacs5, pS,b. S ilshs.s ii sYE py the New, York iimes,, To the ksess heEefere, lbelenes tha credit s6f ss.n& RHea1pitasfed thizl reyolutiof. Next f.aH .e isfssss s,sszi due to snch t1 s1f Hsl slsssissA w he lden. HaSan,nS ,,s, S,,e,
 2syhpnFs and to tic tsernsan ra,,ls a,,.' nle uAdeF the lead of Ottenflnrseir - ssi, ealaa We trasst .ths New fork hisQiaiatbTS bTS. Sfll make fhe reform ii,osenelt s lT psym,ss' s,s' l1snt sqesess by giving tlls city n pesscAar a V r ter and q real popHet soEeri1msht; and b, ths enabtmeht 0f sdell lleaa 4egistfy laws |. will prevent those shofhossIy iraads wfici we're prominent feat 2 afes. sd of the 1ammans nnna ''s x5ks nrsyo9 70 aaeyaoxool