New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-27

though mistaken, convictions, Is the WoriuS'
and will be remembered when the cause he
fought for is forgotten.
THE "BOSSr AND HIS " THREE HUNDRED"
Doubtless Mr. Hugh Mclaughlin, who is re-
puted to be the most influential Democrat III
Brooklyn, and who by virtue of such repute is
called "the BCssn az was Tweed of fragrant
memory, represents fairly and properly the
average public sentiment OF the community in
which he lives. Else he would not be so in
fucntal A great many decent citizens may
be mortified and shocked at the assertion
that this man is the product of the influences
which constitute public opinion, and that so
far from being an accident of politics he
has grown out of them as naturally
and logically as fat weed springs
from rank soil. But the fact re-
mains. Mclaughlin is "BOss" because there
has been no health or purity or wholesome
ness in the public opinion, no standards OF
morals in the politics, no sense OF pride and
self-respect in the masses no high regard Tor
common honesty and the common veal III the
community he dominates. Does any one doubt
it7 There he is; the proof. You may dispute
it till the day of doom: You may point to all
the evidences of responsibility and culture and
patriotism and philanthropy that veneer the
town and say, Here is public opinion, and it's
"clear and honest,'-we give it fiat denial.
Your better public sentiment, which IS
intelligent, honest, and pure, has no
grip, no earnestnesS, no energy. 1t IL
either fiabby from lack Of exercise, Oh Ia borne
down by parisanship, or has been discouraged
by defeat 1t is a mandy pamby emotional
force without fiber aud without pluck. 80 it
is q cipher; and 80 the real public sentiment
is made up of ignorance, narrowness, selfish
ness, corruption, and greed; and OF all these
Boss Mclaughlin is the consummatc flower.
Do the citizens of Brooklyn realize what 1t
means TO have Mr.. Hugh Mclaughlin in n
position of such responsibility and power! Do
they know the full significance OF the title
which has been given him We beg them to
attend for moment, not to what
others say about him, but what he
says himself. This man addressed a
political meeting in Brooklyn on Monday
evening. He was listened to by large
audience of Democrats. His speech has been
reported in Democratic organs as that OF a
representative man and leader. 1t consisted
largely, indeed almost entirely, OF denuncia-
ton of opponents, and il described in one of
the headings thus " Hugh Mclaughlin pays
"bis RESPECTS to Schroeder and Slocum.' We
ask the citizens of Brooklyn Of all parties to
consider calmly one of the charges which this
influential partisan leader brought against
Gen. Slocum. Mr.. Mclaughlin said, among
other things, that when Gen. Slocum
was running for Congress against l..
ID. Webster, Gen. Slocum came to him and
said he should be defeated unless certain
Republican meeting should be broken up; that
he (McLaughlin) thereupon had 800 men sent
TO break up the meeting at Il cost of $500 and
that-nOw comes the ground of complaint
against Slocum--can any decent citizen OF
Brooklyn guess what it is f-why this, simply
that Slocum never had paid him for it. This
without blush; with an apparent uncon-
seriousness of the infamy of his own conduct,
in public meeting, from a political leader
whose voice is potent in party which con-
trolls city of half million souls. Set up
this transaction citizens of Brooklyn, and go
round it, Look at it on all sides. Consider
what manner of man this must be who has the
effrontery to look his fellOw-citizens in the
face and coolly tell them that he employed 800
men at an expense of $500 to violate law and
disturb the peace for the purpose of breaking
I'D a lawful and orderly assembly of citizens
What do You think of this man for leader
a "Boss! y How do you like having your
city under the rule OF such man, he taking
charge of your political affairs, selecting the
men to make your laws, the men to admins
ter and the men to execute them, and telling
You to your faces that he had hired 800 men
and paid them 5000 to violate law and tram
pie upon free speech and the right of citizens
to assemble for political discussion1
Suppose y0u-any OF you who read these
words-were in attendance upon a political
meeting or any meeting which Mr.. Hugh Nc
Laughlin disapprovcd of aud had sent 300
men to break up and suppose You should be
one of those whom the 300 were instructed to
break in upon, knock down, and drag out.
lOu might not like it. But where is your
plotcction Where can yOu find redress 7
From the police They have a 81 Boss
From the courts. The Boss makes Judges.
From the laws The Boss makes the men
who make the laws. From the Boss him
self in the Last resort! Bless your innocence,
he hired the ruiiian who broke your head, and
in addition TO the ~ in hand paid for it..
promised him immunity from the law Isn't
il a nice thing to have "Bos-T What
do YOU think of him : What do you
think OF man who, holding the position
of a dictator in his party, and offering in a
public meeting his reasons for being continued
in the place, looks his fellow in the face
and tells them without blush that hc has