New-York tribune., 1873-08-01
QUE STATE LEGISLATURE.

We are told that gentlemen at Saratoga pro-
pose a Convention of Liberal Republicans,
and an effort, like that in Ohio, for joint
ticket with the Democracy. 1t is too soon to
be entirely sure of the wisdom of this course
and it is a time when conscientious citizens
are likely to hold themselves pretty free from
any party complications, ready to oppose dis
honest men, whatever they may be labeled,
and to sustain those they think they can trust
for honest government, by whatsoever party
nominated That this is the great thing
to strive for in the approaching cam
paign, no thoughtful man can doubt.
The voters of the State of New-YOrk have
long been cheated and deluded by the poll
ticians who control the State and local organi-
cations. Year after year they have apparently
been content TO be represented in Congress
and the Legislature, and to suffer places OF
trust and executive power to be filled by a
motley crowd of charlatans and thieves. In
this impeachment we make no exception of the
Republican party under its recent management.
Look. for instance at its dealings with the
Reform movement of this city. The so-called
Reform Legislatures of 1872 and 1873 were
carried into power by revolt in the Demo-
cratic party, headed by such undoubted Dem
ocrats as Charles O'COnor and Samuel j. Til
den. Last Fall the Republican organization OF
this city again availed itself of the strength
of the Reform organizations, and the better to
do this, supported Gen. Dix, lifelong Dem
ocrat, for Governor, and William +. Havemeyer,
another lifelong Democrat, for Mayor The
votes had hardly been counted when an In
trigue was entered into with Mayor Hall, the
result of which was the appointment of E..
Delafeld Smith as Corporation Counsel for
q term of several years. When the Legis-
lature met charter was presented to it
from the office holders ring of this city,
which was expressly designed to secure for
that ring all the patronage of the City and
County Governments. This charter was
promptly passed in the moro numerous
branch of the Legislature, receiving the unani-
nous vote of the Republicans. The Senate,
after a long struggle, refused to grant all
that the rapacious and dishonorable politicians
of the city demanded, but so far yielded to
their solicitations as to deprive the Mayor and
Common Council of the power of appointing
the heads of three most important depart
ments, viz: the Police, the Public Works. and
that of the Corporation Counsel. A desperate
attempt was made by the same organization
to get rid of Controller Green, but this was
fortunately defeated.
Faithless, too, have those in power been to
their pledges to reform the State Govern
ment. Not q single robber of the canal
revenues have they exposed, much less brought
to justice. The State is taxed and robbed,
and robbed and taxed, year after year, for tho
Canal Ring to the tune of millions In 1872,
on the motion of Senator Lowery, the Canal
Committee of the Senate was charged with
the duty Of investigating canal management
during the Summer and Fall, Mr.. Lowery
having made certain specific charges;
yet that Committee, of which Senator Lewis
of Buffalo was the Chairman, never paid the
slightest attention to the matter, and never
made report But this Lewis, after sitting
two years in the Senate with Tweed and two
years longer with the RefOrmers, and having
accomplished nothing in the four years 10 en-
tide him 20 The respect Of yhe friends Of good