New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-26
Voh. XXXV..~.No 1888.
THE STATE AFTER ELECTION
CANAL RING DEFENsES.


AScgs OF THE REPUBLIC ANs-oUTLOOK FOR THE
WINTER.
IrsoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT oP THE rEIBuNBl
ALBANY. Nov. 25.-The whole defense of the Canal
Ringhas smmered down TO the one word-precedent.
This has come 10 be the nainstay of State officers
and contractors alike. that it is unfair TO ask
men to do what they have never been asked
70 do before and wicked to punish them
for what they have been punished Tor
before They admit that the canal work is not
none in accordance with specifications, but insist
that the Specifications have never been complied
with They admit that engineers have no legal
right TO accept as good work, work which is not
hat il assumes to be- but terate and reiterate that
- has been the custom 10 do just what they have
peen doing that it is the common law of the canal
The same rule holds good for the allowances made
nv engineers for items which are never furnished
This is not stealing-t is a proper regard on the
mart of engineers for the imperfections of human
nature in general and canal contractors in particu-
ar no,
20 those people who understand that Gov. 11lden
nnened fire on the Canal Ring because he dld not
nelieye in perpetual motion IN frauds, ana ma not
think that certain things should go on forever
nocanse they had been going on, all this seems
udicrous enough. But this was the very ground
tken hv at least one of the principal speakers i'll the
.,anol Roard meeting that reinstaed the engineers
aud uncovered the Canal Ring IN the State Govern
mani And am well informed that this will proba-
blv be the ground on which the canal thieves VIII
defend their suits IL is all the logic left TO the
ranal Ring This was the distinct issue IN the
trial Of the suspended engineers. MI FalrcMld, the
DENNY Attorney General, confined himself SIMPLY 10
charges of neglect of duty giving his reason that
many of the questions which would otherwise arse
gonld be similar to those likely To come mp on the
trial of the contractors, and discussion Oh
chem would arm the defense in advance. The neg
lect of duty charged was nothing more nor less tah
the neglect of duty of the predecessors of these men
and of their predecessors Treasurer Ranes asserted
that these presidents made the law, bad law as II
was. and the Canal Board, 10y vote OF seven 10 two
adopted his view. The speech Of Treasurer kalnes
excited the utmost Indignation among the supporters
ofthe Commission and the Governor The one deelara-
tionmade hy him whicbsaccepted assumming up the
attitude of the present majority in the Canal Board
isrcported as follows: " He did not believe III the
principle that says a man shOuld be condemned re-
gardless OF precedents and that there is no palia
ton for wrong in the long line of pIecedents."
This. then is the keynote of the Canal Ring Al
ready the private and public utterances of Its leaders
and organs have been pitched by it, There IS gem
eral whine TO the injustice, the harshness OF com
polling contractors to do more tor the same money
than theN nave done utlOlt, Oh
ors thieves who stole Just as others stole IN former
years Of furnishing them for doing what before GOV.
Tlden came in il was profitable and safe to do. 1t is
scarcely necessary to analyze such logic as this.
Having made theft their business, the members of the
Canal Ring know as we'll as anybody, that if the ex-
ceptional thief who is caught were not punished,
thieves would become the rule and honest men the
exception.
brief run into two OF three of the northern
counties cOnvinces NE of the truth of all that has
been said TO show how in the late campaign the Re
publican party. once the priestess of liberty lent
herself to the embraces Of the vest elements Of the
State. Into every hamlet and crossroads village
reached by the remotest threads Of the Canal Ring,
its influence was put forward to help tic Republican
candidates In mot cases there seems to Lave been
special effort TO elect the Legislative nominees, and
with excellent success In the ease of one candi-
date whom the Canal Ring was especially anxious
20 defeat, Emerson l.. Davis, it is said that money
and workers in plenty were sent into the district,
and all the canal contractors Of the region except
two who being HIS friends, insisted on hurting him
bv their help did their best 10 defeat him. These
efforts were effectual in producing considerable
detection from the Democracy, through a number of
local leaders who had relations with the Ring. In
single town in his district the two principal Demo
Gratis openly worked against him. There was
a
and the result was that Mr.. Davis woke
up very badly beaten. There were other alliances
than this and other appeals to the lower classes in
politics On the counter of little country grocery
In Warren County l found a copy of " special
edition" Of lie GrOocrs' Price Current filed with
imitation articles by Peter Cooper and Plny Free
man. and Gen. Spinncrs initiation letter, the whole
taperng of with o laudat0ry sketch with portrait
of the honest old General himself. The paper was
an undisguised appeal 90 the dishonest element that
exists in every community and Is said to have been
showered all over the northern part OF the State, If
not throughout the whole State Ii is said by pIoni-
Bent Democrats, though they can give no denniTe
proof Of the charge, that, while openly making as
many votes as possible on the school ISSUE the
record OF the elder Seward In regard to sectaTlan
schools was quietly used TO help the youngor-of
oOusc without his knowledge or participation. The
plan Of the campaign seems to have been TO
strengthen nearly every candidate in some snch
underhand way, in the hope that these combined
efforts would result in victory.
Talks with various respectable people in the rural
counties were enough TO show that it il almost a
misfortune for politician TO have too great repu-
taOn for shrewdness Ii is this current estimate OF
Gov. Tilden that induces many who mean 10 do
right and willing 10 help reform TO accept with
out question the filings Of the Republican pres at
his sincerity, and their conclusions that he IS there
fore unfit TO be intrusted with the conduct OF the
movement which be began alone and has been push
ing since against bitter opposition. very worthy
citizen of the interior only the other day stIgnazed
Gov Tilden as "fraud" Knowing az did, the
peculiar campaign food which he had devOured, /
was not surprised TO lind him joining the chorus and
catching the pitch of the canal thieves and rogues
OF both sides In Albany here, one can
~ of 4oIly -, Iotl