Yankton daily press and Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1875, 1875-10-25
The Polite. OF cities. l;i /.
New.York Herald.

Tbeincreasing tendency Of our popu-
4ation to- e-eeRgtegate- cities, which
has received new illustration in the
recent state state census of New
York, besets the politics of the coun-
try with danger which grows con
stantly, more alarming. During the
first half century Of thetrcpubl,o our
population was chiefly agricultural,
with great approach to equality in
property, intelligence and morals
The scum aud dregs- which form 80
large q part Of all city populations
were almost unknown. But at pres.
ent the dangerous classes in cities Of.
ten hold the balance Of power, aud it
has become serious question whether
we can preserve our institutions with
out interposing new checks on the
| power of dcmagognes oyer the Grim:
NAL population. The art of politics
in great city like New York, for
example, has degencratcd into the
creation or maintenance of organiza--
tons for enabling crafty leaders to
consolidate large masses Of the lowest
class of voters III a compact phalanx,
to be moved at the beck Of one dicta-
tor or a few oligarchs. The Tammany
organization is case in point. It
, was easily controlled by Tweed; it is
controlled with equal ease BY Mr.
Kelly; both maintain their ascendan.
cy by the same disreputablc means Of
tayoring the wishes Of the " worst part
of the population. We happen to
have in our most important criminal
court . judge whoshas made himself
"a terror to evil doers, and has in.
CURED the enmity of the whole body
Of rowdies, thieves, burglars and cut.
throats. Mr.. Kelly finds it necessary,
as means Of preserving his power
to appease and satisfy the criminal
classes by making war upon this up
right and efficient magistrate. These
classes are formidable in our politics
only by combination under leaders
who use them as tools. If we could
break the combination we should es
{ cape the danger. The democracy o
the rural districts have long been sen
sible that such organizations as Tam
many are a great nuisance, and a~few
t years ago the late Mr.. Cassidy Offered
q resolution in the state convention
with view to shatter the influence
of Tammany. That resolution, (which
was adopted, made it standing ruiz
g that the party should recognize nc
t such organization, and that all dele
> gates to the state convention shoult
,, be chosen. in the cities, as they are ],
the country, BY the democrats of tbt
separate assembly districts, withou
any outside interference. This rule
though kept in force, has been evadc,
> in substance BY the Tammany organ
ization; but it is nevertheless valua
BILE democratic testimony. to the evi
i Of political organizations which dc
e stroy tho individual independence 9
voters and subvert the FIRST principle
of democracy It is for:-the, hof,ts
voters Of the city, without distinctio,
of party, to remedy the evil wit
II which the rural democracy made
!, vain attempt to cope. There ha
/. never been amore favorable time tha
= the present forss-successful assault o
9 an Qsganizati6ndwh which has been fo
9 twenty yearafhe plague Of democrat
s, state conventions, Whichscame nea
n running the party under Tweed m
o has now made bolder bid than h
. = ever ventured on for the support
! !, the criminal classes.
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