The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-30
The Canal Controversy and Party
Politics.

Politics..
If the republicans of the Legislature wish
to prevent the democratic party, and Governor
Tilden as an aspiring Presidential candidate
of that party, from reaping any political adj
vantage from his assault on the Canal Ring,
the tactics they ought TO adopt are exceed
ingly plain and simple We do not merely
mean that they must zealously support the
Governor in this reform movement. That is
SO obvious that they cannot miss it. The
problem for theil to solve is how to support
the Governor in the public interest without
assisting to make political capital for him and
his party. To this end they must discrimi-
nate between what sound morals and the in
teresfs of the State require and what the sup
posed ambition Of Governor Tilden requires
If the republicans are shrewd they will give
their strenuous support to the cause of REFORM
without lending themselves to subserve the
personal aspirations of democratic chief. 1t
is the interest of Governor Tilden to
keep this controversy open; but it is
the interest Of the republican party to
close it as speedily as possible by the adop-
ton Of efficient remedies. None but political
simpletons or political charlatans or political
gamesters will pretend that the Legislature is
not already in possession of sufficient infor-
nation both as to the magnitude and the
methods of canal frauds to enable it to pass
proper laws for their suppression. The pub
lie interest and the interest of the republican
party require that remedies be applied at once
without unnecessary delay. But the interest
of Governor Tilden lies in n different direction.
A great protracted struggle against the Canal
Ring, running through the year and extend
ing into the next Legislature, would keep him
conspicuously before the country as o cham
pion of reform, and the longer the contest
lasts the more political capital he will make
out of it. II the Legislature should end the
controversy within the ensuing two weeks by
passing sound, stringent law for the pre-
vcntion of canal frauds, it would be at once
apparent that ''Othello's occupation IS gone, y
and general public attention would be no
more directed to Mr.. Tilden than to any other
Governor Of a State.
This line Of remark bears particularly on
the proposed numbering Investigations. An
investigation by the Governor or Attorney
General for the purpose of bringing individ-
ual thieves to justice would be Ineligible and
proper but tor the guidance Of the Legisa-
ture no protmcted investigation is needed.
There is not an intelligent citizen OF the State
who does no. perfectly understand the nature
of the evils which ought to be eradicated.
This Legislature is as well qualified to act on
the subject at once as the next Legislature
Will be after commissions and committees
have spent nine or ten months in searching
for new proofs of facts which are notorious.
If the republicans of the Legislature are not
dupes or confederates of the Canal Ring they
should insist on shutting down the gates on
canal frauds at once by the passage of wise
laws. If they do not wish democratic Gov
ernor to make party and personal capital by
keeping open a controversy which makes
him SO conspicuous they should cut
it short by insisting on prompt
legislative remedies for evils whose nature is
as perfectly understood now as it will ever
be. If they want to give Governor Tilden
great political boost they will favor a useless
consumption of time in ostentatious investi-
cations, which will keep him in the public
eye as a hero Of reform. Their surest way to
prevent him from becoming formidable is to
give him at once the reforms he desires and
let him sink out of sight. The longer he can
keep this controversy open the more he will
gain by it, and it is not strange that he tavors
the Investigations which he cannot but know
are needless for any rational purpose of legis-
lation.
The course of Frederick W. Seward deserves
great commentator. Without any ostenta-
ton or smart tricks to gain notoriety he
offered in the Assembly, on the first day of
the session, IN amendment to the State
constitution whose adoption would put an
end to the kind of canal frauds
exposed in Governor Tildens Message. II is
the same amendment which was presented by
the Constitutional Convention Of 1867 and the
Constitutional Convention of 1872, and which
has been twice defeated in the State by demo-
cratic opposition. The republican Senate
would do we'll to pass that amendment and
give Mr.. Seward an opportunity to press it
again in the Assembly under more favorable
auspices. AS Mr.. Seward said in his speech
on the Governors Message the other day,
'sThe amendment could be adopted at this
session of the Legislature, ratified ut the
next and submitted to the people for approval,
all within a twelvemonth And the fact that
it is the work of neither political party but
of both combined, will still further commend
it to popular favor Meanwhile, Mr.. Seward
would have such laws Immediately passed as
the Governor asks to arrest the further prog
ress Of the frauds.
The Hyde Park Meeting.