New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-10
OUR SCANDALOUS POLITICS.
LECTURE BY JAMES PARTON.

CAIIONAL SUFFRAGE AND HIGHER SALARIES FOR
PUBLIC OFFICERS ADVOCATED.
James Parton, the president of the Liberal
Club lecturcd in Plmpton Hall last evening "Our
ocandalous Politics." There very large audience,
ana the humorous points Of the lecture were loudly
plauded He began with reference to the approaching
centennial in 1876 and the curious schemes for properly
ceieoratinR It which had been advanced. He recon-
mended an exhibition In New-York, during the Centen-
NAL In Philadelphia, as follows:
Imagine vast and dismal Enclosure, near Harlem.
containing among other objects the following: tene
menthouse seven stories high and 40 feet wide contain
ing CA families, some of them taking few boarders.
Next to 1t Fifthaye stable. fitted with rosewood and
oiackwanut, and hung with silver-mounted harness.
model horse car built for 10 passengers and contain
Ing 49, sweltering mass OF humanity, drawn by two
painting steeds; the driver hurting proane defiance at
henry Bergh and the conductor packing bis load and
thrusting furtve currency into his private and
personal pocket. The South Carolina Legislature
IN session; New.York ditto Model Of
Courthouse with few of the wooden chairs that cost
the city &1 apiece. An historical painting represent
ing Cakes Amess triumphant return to his
panorama OF Wast as 1t appeared during the panic ;
interior view OF city portrait Of Morrissey In
his seat In the House Of Representatives and TO 1t
an interior view Of his gambng-house, time a. m;
photographs OF the intelligent jury who do not read
newspapers and have formed no opinion
Such an exhibition, said Mr. Parton woud not nater
our pride, 1t is true Yet It might be sautary The
question would up: IL there anything to cele
brateP Whatever may think ourselves, 1t is by no
means clear to the rest Of mankind that the institutions
Of America have borne the test Of a single
tury's wear and tear presume that the bankers OF
Europe would to-day lend hundred millions 10 any Of
the great nations better terms than TO
| the United States. 1t really seems sometimes
as II the politicians and the criminals OF this country
were one and the Same body, only divided into two
PARASITIC ms and the outsthose In prison and those
out Of prison. Laughter. Nor IL there wanting be-
tween them kind Of mystic telegraph by which they
can communicate with another. Tweed was ap
preached by interviewer" day and asked to
furnish points for sketch of the Ring chief Tweeds
reply some thing like this: "Pointsi 1 the
make You put that down, sure. keep my eyes wide
open for whatever comes lalong; stick my arm down
as far 1t will CO. and pull 1t out full as it will hold
I stick to my friends. That's mel" There you have
Tweed sefpainted to the life
Jay Goulds portrait, drawn by himself, in his
testimony was also presented by Mr.. Parton to his
audience, and incidents in the scandalous politics Of
New. York recited Let us never forget he added
that after Tweed had been proved to be a plum
derer, 80 that no man could longer doubt it, he
was reelected Senator of NewYork by ma
jority Of several thousands Genet had the same ex
perience. bis fireworks from my bedroom window
badness Of his character him 100 votes IN district
of thousands II Tweed to-day released he could
Of his elected Mayor of NewYork by considerable
jority The grOg shop interest alone would give him
$4,000 votes He knowsjust where they are and how to
need not enlarge upon this theme II is known to all
men into high places Men who bride and men who are
brbed talk about the matter without blush But now
name the basis Of our political system universal suffrage
| That is. admit to the polls nearly all men-the
e %Ss' sn'fan'' ssssssn' So%sS.
Ia IN dmif IN YER
can Vote and exclude those who cannot. venture 10
suggest this simple rule ADMIT all 81 me
| understandiney. Exclude gross and unteachable
tie class whose votes a scoundrel can get
by lying and buying, and an r,i honest man M,
Sas Places sse Os school, reach family
has night to demand certain degree OF knowledge In
wanting Al the countries OF tae t %erG nave ave
Governing Cove class Sarbarous and corrupt and the
masses Of the people ignSrant ana saIau
| have been governed by the criminal and grog-shop
class. Behold the same result The rulers debauehed
even enough cubic feet Of space admit the possibility
OF virtuous and decent living. To govern country
s sGS a s so p ass
We complain bitterly OF the public service but rst OF
That is thing upon which we have the next
election. But eminent and faithful servants OF the pun
money. There were times during the late war when II
the United States could have hired competent general
at the rate OF 81 900 an hour we should nave saVeu me-
saved human anguish. and even saved money, saved
millions upon millions Of money for nothing costs
like lost battle But the mar was not 10 De nau All
that money do in this matter not to compensate
Sumner Marshall. Jefferson, but to make
possible for a competent man to devote hmseil 10 the
| public service. lAppause The salaries OF public
men are matters OF peculiar Difficulty IN tne hepuDlc,
because q large salary will always seem prodlg0us
and monsrous to voter unless he has commonly Oh
brains about him and more on the 1d IN
poor men usually possess King can grt anyoOoy 70
serve because he can pay any price. In Europe tne
whole struggle OF life is to get so you neea not @oA In
America, q rule the richer man gets the harder ne
works, and this must continue 70 Dc Tue case a. ons as
Castle Garden receives a thousand new people every
day Castle Garden Is the spur III tue side Vi INC
| American horse. II, 4.
republic to into the market ana pay Tue pIice
for the man it wants Look around you aud see what
editor OF one your daily papers gets equvaen OF
tl4OCO year. have been told Here Mi: Parton ht1
must be careful what in the presence OF these
gentlemen Of the press They have been attending to
NEAR "I THAT door of the Capitol at Washington
where the Judges Of the Supreme Court enter as wei
are the ministers of justice-your servants and mine
for justice is the common ana q, 5 ceni
but lawyer who IS drawn up to that door IN MS
rDdre Pipe n o1 oo Why this
client pays his from $500 70 5000 for his morn
"s TSs sea we fa Sa hs great
bar and the te lawyer on the bench ADOPT the simple
barre Of .U ALT nr the OF an Attorney
Genera-and all of these anomalies disappear at once
Ask two questions: l. What grade OF man or mcrcnan-
disc do you wanti ii. What do private business men
have TO pay for that grade OF man or merchanaisei
But that alone will not suffice while people can ne
| turned out OF office without cause or notice. Inc
| speaker alluded to Gen. Jackson as having Degun tno
1872 he order to wreak his revenge upon Henry
| Clay, turned out 1900 competent ana exemplary
| otiice-holders. The rule OF the scaliawag pc
| gan then, aud has continued ever since.
The popular system Of appointments and removais
condemned by all intelligent persons except low
politicians who know bad Is for every else
II 10 good for them. II Gen. Grant shouia succeed ia
putting an end to II he will do feat as dmcuit as the
| capture OF ycksburg, or the defeat OF inna.on
| In the meantime, why need the government
carry our letters and appoint ettercarrersf Why
cannot the express companies carry PSv,"s