The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-24
Two Disttnguished Veterans on tho
Canal Question.

| Sanal question.
We publish this morning the present views
of two men who have been more intimately
and infuentially connected with the canal
policy of the State than any other two men
now living. 1t so happens that this is to be
the great field day in both houses of the Legis-
lature on Governor Tilden's exciting canal
message, and as this number of the HERALD
will reach Albany before the debate begins
we venture to suggest that the members may
learn more from our columns than they are
likely to gather from the discussion. We
direct attention to an interesting interview
with Thurlow Weed on this subject, which he
is qualified to unite familiar as his garter"
and to an abridgement of report on the
canal question just made to the Chamber of
Commerce by an old citizen and most
able man, Samuel B. Ruggles, who is
the greatest master of canal statistics we
have ever had in the State, and whose glowing
and expansive mind has always clothed
these dry bones with flesh and diffused over
them a beauty which is almost poetic. One
seventy-eight years of age, and the other, Mr..
Ruggles, is seventy-fve;. and it may be said
of each as was said of the great Hebrew law
giver at still ripper age, that ''his eye is not
dim nor his natural force abated." Each of
them has, probably, written more on our
State canals than on any other subject-Mr.
Weed as an editor at Albany, and Mr.. Rug
giles in reports, pamphlets and other docu-
ments, in which be has expended we might
almost say squandered the resources of a
great intellect, fitted for the higher walks of
craftsmanship, but, unfortunately for the
country, kept out of his proper sphere by the
caprices of our politics 1t IS truly remarkable
and wonderful illustration of the old saying
that politics makes strange bedfellows" that
these old whig veterans and colaborers for
SO many years are found supporting Governor
| Tilden, whose views and theirs on the canal
question were, for thirty years, ''wide as the
poles asunder." Mr.. Tilden, like Silas Wright,
Azariah Flagg, Samuel Young and other lead
ers of the so-called 'barnburners," formed
the extreme wing on one side of the canal con-
troversy, and Mr.. Seward, Mr.. Weed and Mr..
Ruggles the extreme wing on the other side.
Between them was o large section Of the dem
ocratic party styled, in the political slang of
the day, ''old hunkers," and led by Dick
inson, Bouck and Seymour, Seymour being
then young and rising politician. 1t is
truly remarkable that these extremes meet
| the support of ''barnburner" Governor on
the canal question by the surviving wing
leaders. This fact cannot fail to make great
impression both at Albany and throughout
the State. 1t is the strongest moral support
Governor Tilden could receive in his bold as
sault on the Canal Ring.
The canal question was the great bone of
party contention in this State during nearly
the whole period of Mr.. Weeds active career
as party editor and political adviser. There
is no other question on which he has bestowed
so much vigilance as the chief manager of one
of our great parties in this State After the
Canal Ring grew up, and he incurred its hos
tility his influence began to decline, and his
friends attribute the loss of his old ascendancy
more to this cause than any other. None of
our public men has had so close knowledge
OF the ways of the Canal Ring-none so fully
understands its power and it's corruption, or is
so fully qualified to appreciate the boldness
| and courage of Governor Tilden, which he
warmly applauds.
Mr.. Ruggles, quite as able a man in
different way, is altogether lacking in Mr..
Weeds practical shrewdness and consummate
tact; but he for long period furnished the
canal wings with their best and brightest
ideas on the larger aspects of the canal ques-
| ton. His celebrated canal report in 1888
was treated as a sort of canonical scripture on
this subject SO long as the enlargement con-
troversy lasted. 1t was impossible to listen
to canal dispute in the remotest hamlet of
the State without hearing perpetual reference
to ''Ruggles' Report" one side extoling it to
the skies and the other decrying it with equal
| vigor. In more recent years he has been
the ''guide, philosopher and friend of
our Chamber of Commerce on all ques-
tons connected with transportation. The
report of which we publish an eptome this
morning was made to that body at its re-
quest, and is full of valuable information
bearing on the present state Of the canal oues-
ton. We advise members of the Legislature
| to send to the Chamber of Commerce for
copies of the unabridged report, as they will
learn infinitely more from it than they Will
ever gather by their unassisted researches
It. however, indorses and fortifes the canal
policy recommended by Governor Tilden in
his annual Message, rather than his more
recent war on the Canal Ring which was not
declared until this report had been nearly
completed. Governor Tilden is to be con-
graduated on the support of these distin-
guished veterans and former opponents
John Mitchell.
The Irish societies of this and the neighbor-
ing cities have resolved to mark their appreci-