The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-21
break the One-Man Power.

Are the people Of New York willing that
one man shall rule them with irrespon-
siblc, despotic powerf
john KELLY IL the master of Tammany
Hall. There is no one to gainsay him IN
that organization. His will is law.
Through Tammauy Hall john KELLY is
the master OF New York city. He creates
officials Of every sort and size. He made
BILLY wIcKHAM Mayor; and members Of
the Legislature, the Common Council
the Board of Education, and all the rest,
owe their life to his fiat.
There is only one branch OF public au-
thority here that JOHN KELLY does not
own. We mean the courts. These are rs
yet mainly independent of him. But give
him possession of the courts, and there will
be nothing to thwart or resist him.
john KELLY tried some time ago to get
the courts under his thumb. One Of his
men wrote TO Recorder HACKETT demand
ing that certain Tnmmany people should
be appointed TO places in his court; and to
this demand the Recorder sent the follow
ing manly aud admirable response:
"ClrY or NEW YonK, RrcoRDER's OFFICE,
Iii broadway,
NEW YORK, Dec. -, 1873
my DEAR SIR have been Recorder nearly
eight years. and have never before received any
such intimation, even by Implication What
ever may have been the political SINS of former
leaders IN Tammanv Han, they never increased
them by even suggestvely interfering with the
Independence OF the Court In which have the
honor to be a Judge. | cannot believe that your
proposition meets with the approval Of present
leaders like Messrs. KELLY, CHANLER, and
otHers. If there exists an office which more
than any other one should be utterly divorced
from political considerations, II Is that of clerk
or deputy clerk OF a criminal court
" Even II disposed to throw Open it, books and
records to a politician. could not do Il. because
the deputy clerk is not appointed by the Judges
OF the Court Of General sessions. The officers
who escort and guard prisoners to and from the
City Prison, and who guard them In court, and
VINO to some extent control process. ought not
To be mere politicians, but such reliable men rs
the Judges select. OF course. In making the Sc
lection they are more or less guided 10y recon-
mcndutiOns which applicants bring. Tue Legis-
ldtuic has, therefore, wisely placed the selection
OF officers % the Court Of General Sessions IN
the exclusive discretion u the Judges Of that
court. Every day Of experience contributes to
n court officers usefulness. The Court mas I'M
der II many officers Of ten ycurs' experience :
| they are reliable, unbrbable. ana discreet. II
| the notions you fOrc>nadow should be acqui-
csced In 10y the criminal judges. inasmucn Is
toe composition of political committees often
changes. So ight the composition of court ofh-
| Gers. aud thereby confusion at least be Occa-
| siol ed. cannot sanction your proposition.
Possibly may hereafter invite political ami
mostly nv THIS determination; yet. while pri-
| yatey my sytnpatnles are most Hruent In their
! Democratic tendencios. should be recroant to
INV Judicial Independence and sense Of duty # /
| answered Otherwise than have now done.
very respectfully. your ubedlent servant.
| "JOnS X. HACKErT."
The anticipation with which the Re
| corder closed this letter is now realized.
| lie is rejected ut Tammany Hall because
he would not yield to such dctation. Had
he assented then, he would have been re-
nominated now; but an Independent
Judge is a hindrauce in the way of JOHN
KELLY. and HAcKETr Is marked for pun
| ishmeut.
Shall this be tolerated? Is the judiciary
of New York TO be nothing but an agency
| to register the orders of JOHN KELLY
We are threatened with despotism more
intolerable and more dangerous than that
of TWEED; and the way 20 explode the
menace and preserve the puolc safety is
10 defeat JoHN KELLY in the coming cleo
ton To do this, vote for JonS X HACK.
EFT,
| The Commissioners Amounted by the In.