New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-11
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The State election in Pennsylvania next
Tuesday will have deep interest to good cit
izens of all parties outside the commonwealth
and. indeed to bad citizens, too-although
no questions of national Importance are direct
" involved in the contest. The one point at
issue is the fate Of the so-called Harrisburg
Ring of Republican politicians, who are uni
versally believed to have plundered the State
Treasury with a boldness that would have de-
lighted Tweed himself, and to be still pursuing
the same schemes of population which have 80
long disgraced their party in Pennsylvania
During the past year there have been many
indications of a revolt on the part OF
decent Republican citizens. The develop
ments of the Presidential campaign, and the
enormous election frauds all over the State,
have had their effect at last Besides, the
Pennsylvanians who have borne robbery and
fraud 80 long with the patience of Job, are
beginning to manifest curious sort of sensi-
tiveness to public opinion in view Of the APP
preaching Centennial. They don't mind bad
servants when they are alone at home, but
they put on style when they are going to have
company. The Republican Convention last
August though it was largely under the con-
troll of the Ring, made one step toward re-
form, hating and timid indeed, but still sig
nificant. State Treasurer Mackey, whose
connection with the Ring is matter of
as much notOriety as the transactions of Con-
molly in New-York, and whose scandalous
partnership with the convicted Yerkes is es-
tablished by the records of the criminal courts,
was renominated with hardly any opposition /;
- 10 tn md
of the Supreme Court at the dictation of the
Ring District Attorney of Philadelphia, the
country delegates rebeled insisted upon a re-
spectacle candidate, and after hard fighting
got one.
We have seen no evidence thus far of a very
strong Reform sentiment among the mass of
voters upon whom Mr.. Mackey relies for his
reelection, but if the latest Oifense of the Ring
does not create a Reform sentiment the case of
Pennsylvania may be regarded as almost des-
perate. A very clear provision of the law au-
thorizes any citizen to examine at pleasure the
monthly reports which the State Treasurer is
required to file in the Office of the Auditor
General. In accordance with this law three
citizens, acting at the request of the Chair
man of the Dauphin County Demo-
cratic Committee, made formal de-
mand for permission to inspect the re-
ports, and were refused on the suspicion
that they wanted the information for political
purposes Considering that the State Treasurer
is candidate for reelection, and that he has
been distinctly charged with making an i'm
proper use of the public money, we really do
not see the validity of this objection. On the
contrary they could not have had better
reason for their application than the one which
the officials in charge of the reports imputed
TO them as disqualification. From the
Audtor-Generals office they went to the
Supreme Court for a mandamus. The law
was so plain that the order could not be re-
fused; but Republican judge took away its
value by makingit returnable three days after
the election.
Mr.. Mackey, therefore, goes into the contest
with O virtual confession that there is some
thing in his accounts which be cannot afford
to make public, and the Republican party is
expected to vote for him while there is a dis
tinct stain upon his reputation. We shall all be
curious to see whether the Republican party
will do it with the customary docility. A bet
ter chance for the exercise of the sacred right
of boiling cannot easily arise, and the
chances of Reform in Pennsylvania will de-
pend very largely upon how that right is ex-
ercsed.