New-York tribune., 1873-04-17
DEMOCRACY TESTED.

utrusted with power I'm Missouri consequence OF the
Liberal movement OF and 1872, has met the test thus
applied Here the Liberal policy had its BIRTH Here it
was sustained by more powerful body Of Liberal Re
publcans than In any other State Here, II IN any STATE
gratitude honor and an enlarged ard llberalzed view
public duty may naturally have restrained vndictVe
PASSIONS curbed reactionary tendencies sofened pJh
dces and secured government truly liberal ana pro
gessve The results OF this test will be Interesting and
instructive people OF the whole country ana VIII
cast much needed light upon the pathway OF duty III
the future For Missouri of all the States the pest
field trial OF political policy with view TO judge
Of its effect upon the country at large. In mssOur
Northern and Southern civilizations have met ana iuSeu
10 degree witnessed nowhere else Nearly onehaf OF
the present population Of the State has been added since
| the close OF the war.
MISSOURI NEUTRAL GROUND.
Here the old STAKEHOLDER and the Yankee Immigrant
work farms side by side. Here who the blue
and who wore the gray now partners in busi-
ness. Here powerful German element outspoken ior
freedom as early 1885, has since taken the lead I'D
every progressive movement and yet here also may DC
found the leaders OF those bands which ned by arned
INVASION force Slavery upon Kansas. An excellent
and weendowed system Of free schools established at
the close Of the war and sustained especially by the
Germans and the Northern immigrants, by It's manifest
benefits has the support OF large proportion OF
the earlier residents OF the State, and done much TO
modify that tendency toward popular ignorance which
the system OF Slavery produced and fostcred Inc sol
diers from Missouri conspicuous, In both armies
for their vaor devotion and the liberal spirit OF the
Union soldiers, eliminating in the enfranchisement OF
1870 gave TO their former antagonists the best possible
opportunity for the manifestation Of spirit equally
generous and manly In short, In no other state coud
the results OF liberal policy afford farer test OF its
effect upon the whole nation II is true those results IN
this State have all been reached yet. The poht
ca elements have not, yet crystazed into perma-
| ncnt forms The Democracy having secured complete
power only by the election OF 1872 has not yet had time
fully to display its spirit tendencies But results
have already been reached which yield the most yalu
able instruction, and these shall endeayor TO set Orh
| with cxactHcss and imparality.
THE DEMOCRATS COMPLETE CONTROL.
On the lst OF January, Legislature assembled in
which the Democrats had majority Of about wothirds
in each house. New State officers presently in
auguraed. The present Governor, Treasurer, Auditor
Attorney-G Genera and Supreme Court Except one men,
ber out ye) Democratic, and the LentenantGoy-
ernor Secretary of State, and Register Of Lands are
Liberal Republicans elected on the same ticket with the
Governor while the Superintendent Of Schools holding
! over is q Republican. Shortly after a Senator was
elected I'LL the place OF Frank Blair The Legislature
until 2ih Of March, and adjourned until next
Winter. Meanwhile municipal elections have been held
in ST. Louis and other cities The conduct Of the Exec
uve Department the election Of Senator, the proceed
ng5 OF the legislature and the tendencies manifested
in municipal elections all afford valuable Information
and faithfully portrayed will go far TO show what the
Democracy OF Missouri actually Is, what II means, how
far the Liberal movement has modified Its earlier spirit
and to what extent it be trusted to wise
! pure, and progressive government
tis proper before considering events in detail 70 con-
cede that the occasion has been wholly favorable
one for decisive OF the party recently restored TO
power the first blush OF restoration, after years OF
civil war and dsfranchement, some harshncss OF feel
| ing vas inevitable The Legislature was necessarily
| composed mainly OF inexperienced and mtried men.
The dominant party unayuidably be7iegcd by clam
orous and hungry partIsaus The hostility 20 Radical
disranchisers naturally extended to wise things
| which those same Radicals had done. The Governor
himself nominated compromise between hotly or
posing elements OF the party, did not well represent the
sober choice OF either the cities except in St. Louis
where Democracy gained mastery in 1870 somewhat the
same tendency 10 riot in newly acquired power was
natural But in spite Of these concessions, the test Is
| nevertheless valuable and instructive. Democrats in
Missouri were not more viudctive hungry, nor
more mo experienced, than Democrats elsewhere. Tho
tendencies which Influenced them here upon their
longdesired power would likewise have in
hucnccd them had they even power throughout the
country. far, then their in Missouri ms
manifested generous patriotic, and progressive spirit
and gwen promise OF pure and peaceful government so
may fairly that like results might have fol-
lowed national victory OF the same party So far as
their has been vindctive, reaction
ary and prompted by the Ignorance and prejudice Of the
past go far may that the country would have
been cursed by any restoration Of Democracy 10 power
TIE CITY ELECTION rs ST. LOUIS.
The recent city election in ST. Louis was notable first
because o the remarkable disregard OF party ties which
dispaycd second, because it showed that methods OF
force and fraud which Democratic ring in NewNork
had devised had 10 extent become naturazcd and
| adopted here. Joseph Brown, moderate Democrat.
distinguished Tor partisan activity was first
elected Mayor In 1871 had gathered around him. during
two years OF service, powerful ring Of officials ana
contractors; had adr0iily appealed TO popular feeling
against some cncroachments msmanagement OF rail
roads, ana secured denomination in March by vote OF
! 80 to 80 IN Democratic Convention considerable
number influential Democrats declared their
| purpose to support hun. They alleged that his
nomination had been won by shameless use OF
! money, both at the primaries and in Convention
They alleged that favored contractors had made large
sums and that law firm particular had bcen paid
many thousands OF dollars, under ms administration
They urged that the city had been badly misgoverned
| that the streets IN horrible condition. and that
meddng had retarded enterprises Of public
| importance. Mayor Browns friends, however, claimed
| that lie had been good Mayor tie whole, and with
the experience he had gained would make better. The
| Republicans nominated George Bain enterprising
young merchant who though he had been in business
here for many years, had only been nauralzed three
years ago. But he had already elected to the City
Council and had there shown energy aud capacity his
integrity not questioned; and, though a Liberal in
ls70 he had supported Grant 1874 But he of
the prominent friends Of The Democrat and the
tween the two Republican newspapers has become so
bitter that the friends of The GiObe resolved to defeat
him. Thus each party there opposition TO its
candidate the Republican side. stealthy masked
and stabbng the dark the Democratic side, open
and active
TMMANY TACTICS IN wTsT.
Unfortunately FOR Mr. Bain his opponent had complete
coutrol az Cv aud ueed vrttbort