The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-10-19
Our New York Letter.
The Ohio Election and its Lessou-ButIer
and Finance-Municipal Polities-The
Revolt against Tammany.
NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 1875.

the Repu0licanS and not cause of deep sOr-
row among the Democrats. If Allen had been
elected we should have had considerable dis.
turbance in monetary circles. His success was
not expected. In fact it is rather a surprise in
non-political circles that he came so near win
ming as he did. People who are prudent and
conservative cannot comprehend how any large
body of voters can be cajoled into voting for
measures that are sure to entail loss and suffer-
ing. If Ohio had declared for imitation feel
ing of distrust and alarm would inevitably have
supervened which would have proved very det.
rimental to the masses. That the contest was
so close furnishes ground for apprehension, and
will necessarily impede the progress to recovery
OF which abundant crops and general spirit
of economy gave hopeful promise 1t seems
clear that the country needs thorough enbght-
eminent on the subject of finance. Nothing
short Of the grave debate incident to Presi-
Dental campaign will effectually impress npon
the people the fact that an irredeemable CUT
rency is the worst possible hindrance to nation
al prosperity.
The most auspicious sign of the times ap-
pears to be that while the Democracy are
remedilessly divided in respect to the questions
sHssue, the Republican party is substantially
unit in its abiding conviction that coin redemp-
ton is an imperative necessity. In this view
Of the situation it is perhaps just as we'll that
the vote in Ohio vas so close. While on the one
hand the result is full of encouragement to
the friends of honest money it is not so de-
cisve as to warrant any relaxation in the effort
to ipstil into the public mind the doctrines of
political economy of which the wisdom of ages
has established the soundness and practicable
ity All the advocacy there will be of depre-
ciated paper next year will come from Demo
cratic sources The Republicans will be forced
by the double motive of principle and expedi-
ency to stand by the veto of April %, 1874, and
the currency act of January ii, 1875. Matters
are shaping themselves so clearly in one direc-
ton as to render 1t certain that the battle of
November 1876 will be waged on the single
point of specie payments. Three months of
earnest discussion ought to settle that question
so decisvely in favor of gold and silver as to
leave no chance for its ever being re-opened.
The supporters of this just and equitable
cause are not the only ones who are doing it
signal service. The rhetorical absurdities of
theorists like Phillips, Butler and Kelley ought
to convince thoughtful men that all con.
whimsically ridiculous as the device to extract
sunshine from cucumbers. The more they un.
dertake to argue the proposition the more clear
ly they will show that it is quite outside the
limits of sober ratiocination. They entangle
themselves In such labyrinth of sophistrias
that they are in danger of being absolutely
lost in the maze.
Gen. Butler gave us a taste OF his quality
the other night. 1t happened unlucky for
him that the news of the victory for hard mon
ey in Ohio was ringing in the ears of his audi
ence. while he was trying to turn their minds
the other way. His plight was almost as bad
as the one he was in at the time he made an
elaborate speech to prove that the capture of
Fort Fisherwas military impossibility-he had
tried it and faied-but the wicked newsboys
announced that the fort was taken before he
had fairly concluded his peroration As a
prophet the general is proverbially unfortunate.
as financial guide he is conspicuous failure.
The conflict between the Mayor and the two
police commissioners whose scalps he appears
to be bent on displaying in his belt, has
assumed formidable proportions. The accusa-
tions and the defeuse are before the commu-
nifty. The prevailing opinion is that the re-
moval of the obnoxious offca isl foreordained.
1t is hardly possible that Mayor Wickham
would have instituted proceedings without
assurances that the Governor would sustain
him. Defeat would be mortifying The out
side public do not appear to take much interest
in the controversy. The administration of the
department has not been so bad as to provoke
extreme csnsure, nor so good as to elicit any
large measure of appreciation. Matsell is the
objective point of attack. Disbecker suffers by
the companonship rather than because of any
larng faults of his own. Considering the
circumstances uader which he was placed in
the position he has acquitted himself rather
creditably. He is young, aud has shown a
good deal of force and energy. He was wholly
unknown at the start aud his appointment
was one of those surprises in which Mayor
Havemeyer especially delighted. The old gen.
tleman soon tired of his protege and curtly
asked for his resignation few months after
his accession to the post. Disbecker treated
this suggestion with contemptuous iudiffer-
euce, but subsequently consented to assist in
promoting Matsell to the Presidency of the
Board. This concession, whether inspired by
gratitude or fear, proved impolitic, for it is
now urged as cause for his removal. The un-
popularity of Matsell is dead weight upon his
less Objectionable colleague, and if one goes
the other must. Gen. Smith apd Mr.. Voor-
hees promptly placed their resignation in the
hands of the Executive. but they have not been,
and will not be, accepted.
The two county tickets have been completed.
The Republicans have formed coalition with
the dsaffected Democrats to battle against
Tammauy Hall. The main strength of the
combination is in Phelps and Hackett. The
former has distinguished himself by his con-
duct of the District Attorneys Office during
one term of three years, and the latter has
served acceptably as Recorder for ten years.
Judge Hackett is son of the late James II.
Hackett, the popular comedian He resided
in California in his earlier dsys. He is great
favorte in social life and has an immense
number of personal friends. He is one of the
best shots in the country. If Broderick had
possessed his accuracy of aim he never would
have received the challenge which resulted in
this nntimely death.
Hacketts old political associates charge
him with having kept on good terms with the
Ring during its ascendency much to the benefit
of his purse. Unfortunately the same criti-
cratic candidates OF both wings that it is not
likely to prove a serious element of weakness
in the canvass.
The Tammauy forces are marshaIled under
single leader. whose orders are obeyed With un-
questioning alacrity John Kelly has great
force of character and great strength of will
He has no pecunary interests at stake. He
holds no office and derives no emoluments from
his position. His enemies allege that he is ar
bitrary and despotic, but it is very seldom that
any imputation is cast upon his integrity. On
the contrary he has borne himself reputably
through a somewhat extended public career
embracing service of two terms in Congress
and six years as sheriff. He acquired a compe-
tency in the latter position, but it is by com
mon consent, the most lucrative office IN tn
city, if not in the whole United States
In personnel, the revolving faction is immeas-
urably inferior to the regular Tammany organi-
zation. The names of Tom Creamer and Ben
Wood sound oddly enough in connection with
orv rooveuant for the amelioration of the suf-