The New York herald., 1871-09-08
Tle Tannany Frauds-TAo Rsrty aad In
Gepcndont Press.

in the indiscriminate attacks made on the city
authorities and Tammany. 1t Is apparent to
every sensible person or unprejudioed poll
tician that the assaults are made chiefly for
political effect, and with view to promote the
business OF these newspapers. This fact
stands ont 50 prominently that few in the ead
will be deceived by their pretended virtuous
indignation at the frauds charged to the oity
officials and Tammany chiefs. Then there
| appears to be well-founded suspicion that
personal spite and disappointment, as we'll as
party and business motives, have ledso OF the
managers of the republican press, at least, to
make and reiterate, in the most violent manner,
charges against the city authorities. We have
only to look at the fsring adveris ments In
large type and in the most conspicuous col
umns of the Times and other republican
papers, side by side with the large figures OF
| frauds. which represent that these papers arc
the best sort of political campaign documents,
to understand tho object in view. The fuss
they are making smells strongly Of the shop,
| at the same time that it is intended TO manu-
factnre political capital for the radical party.
We blame none Of our contemporaries for
exposing frauds wherever they exist or
for raising tho question when there is
reason for suspicion. We ara too well aware
Of the corruption of all parties when in
power, and of the necessity of vigilance on
the part of the press, to censure any news
paper for watching the public interests and
the conduct of public officials. Indeed, the
HERALD has always been foremost in probing
frauds and in condemning those guilty of them.
Even in the matter Of the extravagant expen-
| diture and frauds connected with the new
| Court House, as wei! as in some Of the depart-
ments of the city government. the Times
and other radical party papers are now
only following the HERALD in the exposures it
| made long ago and has continued to condemn
e.! along. This is well known to the people
Of New York and Of the county generally.
| This is ouT r6le 10 conducting an Independent
| Journal. We belong to no party, want moth
! ing from any, and are in position to attack
one as we'll as another whenever guilty of
doing wrong. Party papers only assail those
| opposed to them politically aud ccver up the
| frauds and misdoings Of their own pGrtisans.
Nor have any politicians or political cligres
any influence over the course Of tho
| HERALD, and tho inslnuations tdrowu out
by the Times that they have are simply ridicu-
| lous. We have not ceased to call for full
! investigation Of the alleged frauds in the city
government; but as that has been promised,
and is to be made by body Of our most re-
spectacle citizens, we are not disposed to
| damage tho city credit or to unjustly attack
individuals. When the facts are known we
shall not spare the guilty.
If we go back a few years we shall see that
| the different parties who have had successfully
the control OF the city government have sll
| been tarred with the same brush. All the
| chiefs, with rare exceptions, have used Office
to enrich themselves al the expense of the pub
lie LEM before Fernando Wood was Mayor
the city on ,ials used the onices and Treasury
| for Sat purpose; but when he got into
pew e he refused to divide tho spoils He
WAS the Great Mogul, and absorbed all the
honols and profits. Finally he lost his power,
because be would not divide the spoils with
others, through combination Of the republic
CtiIc Witu AuC ASPuohCou6, IcoiIyS
restored Tammany to power There was still
the same old story of corruption and increased
taxation. After that tie Citizens Association
began TO act, and by their action and certain
political combinations the city was placed un-
der the government of commissions. These
proved TO be the most expensive luxury OF all,
and the most inefficient means of governing
the city. Again the power Of Tammany was
restored, after The fight 1t had with the
Young Democracy, and the present city
charter was passed By the Legislature. All
through there have been tAe same complaints,
generally too well founded, Of extravaganza
and corruption, whether the democrats or
the republicans have been in power, or when
there has been sort Of political combination.
There is little difference between one party or
the other. Let US not, therefore, be carried
away by partisan clamor merely at the pres
ent time, nor unjustly accuse those who are
blameless; but let ms have the facts, so that
we may know whom to con denim.
The formidable array Of figures with regard
to the city expenditure has damaging look.
Our contemporaries, which have paraded them
80 much for partisan purposes, have only fol-
lowed ne, as was said before, in making such
exposures. If the public money has been
appropriated by any Of the Tammany mag
mates who control the city, 1t can hardly
have been done by those who are compare
lively poor and who have nothing to show for
IT, II William N. Tweed and Richard b.
Connolly have made enormous fortunes within
two or three years the same cannot be said Of
Mayor Hall. II Is generally understood, ws
believe, that Mayor Hall Is not rich man,
though he derives q handsome income from
hia leSitiuaatA hnainAaa Aa a laWYAr. Had h0