The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-31
The Canal Controversy and
It's Lessons.
GOVERNOR TIIIDEN SINCERE.
Need Of Reform Universally Admitted
by All Parties.
REMARKABLE INSTANCES OF IGNORANCE.
Endorsement OF the Governor by
New York Merchants.
ALBANY. March 80. 1875.

ALBANY March 80. 1875.
The whole canal movement Is q deusion ana o
snare, except on the part OF Governor Tilden.
1t Is not matter diGlcult to be under.
stood, and, indeed. II the truth must be told. all
the facts contained In the Governors exposure
were notorious for years. In spite OF figures. and
arguments. and explanations, and even justinca.
tons, the fact remains that most OF the work done
on the canals In the last quarter OF a century has
been done IN fraud, and this was so well known
that 1t required no committee or commission OF
investigation to make 1t PLAIN. The Governors
Message and the exhibits ACCOMMODATING 1t were
proof enough even tor the most sceptical states
man in the Legislature had the purpose been hon
est remedial legislation. AS matters stand to-day
1t is equally certain that 1t was investigation and
punishment were the primary purpose OF the
Governor. Mr.. Tilden moved for some political
advantage at the same time that he was subscribing
the public good, and oil the factions, both demo-
cratic and republican, were inspired by like
motives
WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAW.
But Governor Tiden saw chance even be.
yond tho mere rghring OF wrongs and the
punishment OF wrongdoers, and he resolved to
profit by the opportunity. II was out OF this de.
sire on his part-the wish to become democratic
candidate for President-that occurred the first
pretence in his grand movement against the Canal
Ring. Governor Tilden knew that the practical
question with which he ought to have dealt was 10
prevent and II possible, to punish public robbery,
and he was aware also that bringing the fraudulent
canal contractors to trial in the OF theStae
would be more effective method OF exposing the
frauds than by his own plan OF an unnecessary
commission OF uvestgaton.
THE TRUTH OF THE MESSAGE.
Every word that he uttered in his Messare was
true, and because 1t was true the proposed investt
CATION was work Of supererogation. Knowing this,
and knowing beside that his policy was full OF
peril for the public good, he pursued 1t for his
own advantage and made investigation his
primary purpose, while remedial legislation was
left as an after consideration. This course gave
the political factions the opportunity they de.
sired; and the leaders OF both parties busted
themselves In killing all useful legislation while
pretending to be jealous for the good Of the
State and the people. so that to-day the demo-
cratic Assembly and the republican Senate are
at loggerheads, and nobody can see way out
of tue troubles which beset both the friends and
the enemies OF honesty. 1t Is possible
that the Governor. in his anxiety 20 man.
age this business in his own way,
and his beltefin hts own po wer to make the Leg
islature do his bidding may not have expected the
opposition he has encountered, but he might
have known something Of the strength OF the Canal
Ring in his own party and of the nsinceriy OF the
republican leaders. Avord. Hustled, Woodln and
all the rest are IN favor OF investigation and rem
edy, so they say, but not one OF them has evnced
an honest purpose to that end. They are par
tisans and. what is more, most OF them are the
secret friends OF the Canal Ring. 1t was not to
have been expected that thew would give the
Governor an honest support, and they have not
done So Besides the Governor knew, or should
have known, there was another danger in the
imbecillty OF the Assembly, which, IN a moment OF
passion and excitement, might overturn all his
plans II these conceived in singleness of pur.
pose and honesty of intention. And this Is what
actually happened.
THE BALD.HEADED EAGLE.
Hustled saw his opportunity in the wild anger
and inexperience or the House, and artfnly used
1t to make that body stutiiy itself by indorsing
the Canal Ring and the Governor at the same
time. 1t was INSCRIPTIONS and can only be justi.
fed on the grounds OF partisansnip, but 1t was
the action any PARTISAN would have adopted when
dealing with feeble and ignorant legislative
body. General Hustled could In no way have
better served his party and the Canal Ring even
than by assuming the leadership OF the demo-
cratic majority as he did and committing them to
fatal bIunder by trick He completely out
wltted his democratic opponents and at one blow
plaCeu DOCn tne Governor ana the Assembly at
the mercy Of a republican Senate. The latter
body was not slow to take advantage OF their OPP
portunity and Immediately proceeded TO insult
the Governor and snub the Assembly. The
action OF last Friday night in refusing to consider
either OF the resolutions which came from the
Assembly, and passing one OF their own, by
which Governor Tilden's choice OF Commissioners
was limited to senatorial approval, could have
had no other purpose. The democrats have been
slow TO perceive that they have been outwitted
and beaten, and yet this IS plain to every one be-
sides. They have no plans and, lar as can
see, no hopes; but they still go on talking as
sagey ana wildly as If they had 1t III their
power to dictate to their republican masters.
They are even canvassng the composition OF the
proposed JOINT Committee Of Investigation, when
such committee is thing they will never be
able to eXtort from the Senate, except as the re.
suit OF corrupt bargain.
FRAUDULENT CONTRACTS.
There is no movement as yet to set aside
fraudulent contracts, and, although some new
measures have been introduced into the Assem-
bly, looking 10 purer administration OF the Canal
Department, there Is eagerness to act upon
them, and 1t may be doubted If there will be any
useful legislation on this subject during the
present session. Indeed, most OF the members or
Assembly are so Ill informed that few OF them
know the actual condition OF legislation, even on
"a nal matters Some n ne most n eiyent omnnp