New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-10
THE MORAL or 1T.

The CHICAGO T7meS-a bitter but rather indie
pendent Democratic Organ-haying pioneered
the New Departure from stupidity to common
sense long before Vallandigham ever thought
of it--now leads off in a fresh Democratic
crusade against oiiice-hOding thieves. 1t
insists that they shall not be protected from
their just deserts Ivy party opinion or party
influence, and, with regard to the late deyel-
opments in this City, says:
"The people OF NewYOrk ought to he Convinced by
this time that packages are apt TO be bad lot
and that though labeled Democrats or Republicans,
the contents may turn out to be thieves, and that con-
siderng all the facts AMI unsatisfactory experiences
resulting from the election of thieves 10 publ "ier i
high time to take a new departure"
This has long been TIE TRIBUNE's conyic-
ton, in Difference to which we lave repeatedly
advocated the election of Independent Demo
Gratis to Municipal Offices, even against honest
ana worthy Republicans who could not. if
elected have acted in freedom from party
trammels. They must have appointed subordi-
mates on, partisan grounds, who would not
have justified their confidence. AND we last
! year urged every one to vote the City anu
| County ticket of The Independent Democracy,
not because we trusted them implicitly, but
because they were, at all events, hostile to tie
! corrupt despOtism whose focus is Tammany
| Hail.
| We repeat the ayOwal Of our iongset;led
conviction that no National party, as such,
! can ever give our City the upright and frugal
rule which she deplorably needs. That can be
secured by a combination, irrespective CT poll
ties of all who prominently desire it, and not
otherwise Let us nominate and support Presi-
dents, Governors, Members of Congress, as
Republicans or Democrats; but let us support
for Mayor, Controller, Aldermen, &c, the best
men who can be induced to serve, 10 matter
of what party. This in our Judgment, will
give US upright and vigorous municipal rule;
and nothing else will.
We concede that the obstacles to lts success
are most formidable. We have not less than
ten thousand habitual voters in our City who
live mainly by crime; and they do not want
good government. On the contrary, they
want to earn immunity from punishment by
repeating and all manner of fraudulent voting
and miscounting. Then we have still larger
class who live and often thrive by pandering
to vicious appettes ard facilitating the passage
of those who travel the downward road.
These do not want uprightncss and energy in
municipal rule but favoritism and laxity. Not
one in O hundred of them can be coaxcd to
vote purely Reform ticket.
In this great city, there are thousands of ac
tive, efficient politicians who live and thrive
on Municipal abuses. They receive lucrative
contracts from their friends in authority; they
draw salaries which they never earn; they
hold market-stands and other gainful permits,
by the tenure of fidelity and usefulness TO
,,1-
them believe that their Unfit would be in
creased by honest, impartial rule; they know
better
But suppose a majority of our people could
be induced to vote for Reform Municipality,
what good would it Go2 We believe our
present Mayor is the author Of the maxim that,
In sharply contested elections, good counting is
I" the main point If anything is notorious
among our Ward politicians, the fact is that
the returns of our elections are no Trustworthy
indication of the vote actually cast That
Siclies was once returned to Congress over
Walbndge, Hoffman made Mayor over Mar
shall o. Roberts, Richard b. Connolly first
chosen Controller over Michael Connolly, by
fraudulent returns, are among the fixed beliefs
Of our knowing ones of both parties. Ask one
of them in earnest if he really believes that
Seymour beat Grant Sixty Thousand and lloil-
man outran Griswold by more than Seventy
Thousand majority in Jour City's vote in 1863,
AID be will burst into n hOrse-laugh at the
jolly greenness evinced in putting such Ques-
ton.
And yet we believe it possible to elect
worthy, upright men to fill our Municipal
Offices on the naked issue of honest, frugal
rule against rapacty and theft At all events,