The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-07
Political TrichInm.

of political trichnW? You cannot strike
the body at any part, thick or thin, lean or
fat, but you find the wrig0ling. knotted
masses in infinite profuslon, aud the in
vest igations past and present, show that
the deeper you cut the more you find.
Every body knows how the thieves have
got into possession along the whole line of
public service, not only in Federal offices
but III state, county, and municipal as
well. But among the examples, ii Is hard
to find anything worse than Pennsylvania
and Philadelphia. Some recent avowals
that we have seen In the Philadelphia pa
pcrs are very striking. At one of the
meetings of the Department of Highways.
or we should say the highway robbery de-
partment, "a short time ago, the thioving
m MIXERS fell to telling on one another,
and twitting one another of their rob
berries OF the city 10y fraudulent con-
tracts. II was simply row among
robbers III their cave. only In this
case they were exposed by the report
ers who watched their proceedings. II had
come to this, that thoy could not agree
about the division of the spells. and SO
like the negroes IN the South Carolina
b'EiNlhluiS, lHt9 lcll W llnpcdCHlnE ono
another.
But the taxpayers ana decent people
of Philadelphia submit quietly to the
spectacle. They do not pretend to make
al attempt ut honest government of the
city. The community divides itself into
two classes, the robbers aud the robbed;
the property holders and the highwaymeu
Through the operation and influence OF
party discipline. operating on an inteln-
geuce that can hardly be Acknowledged to
he above that of goi.llas or monkeys. If
judged byresuts. the city has been robbed
Within % few years of twenty-five per cent.,
and, according to some, of thirty pc~ cent,
OF the gross value of its taxable estatr.
and the thieves are kept in because they
are Republican thieves. To look upon the
matters Invested of all party preiudicc.
one fails to lind terms to characterize the
spectacle 10 say it Is amazing. is tame.
The inanity and imbecIlity of electing
thrcadhare brgands and seedy cut
Threats To rule aud tax aud rob the city OF
WILLIAM PrNN because they belong To II
certain party organization aud work its
machinery, seem truly wonderful. And
yet. 50 1t Is And the minority of taXpay-
ers AMI decent citizens make no sign. but
tamely submit, whore they do not help TO
elect and maintain the robbers. The reply
to suggestions of reform is. 1--WE intend
to keep this city in the hands of Repub-
hcans'
The taxes Of Philadelphia for many
years have been in the rci.hborhood of
two per cent. on high valuation. which.
amid al the shriuka-c aud depression OF
the times, has actually been Increased the
present year. But the taxation fails wholly
to represent the expenditures. These
have gone on, in large excess of the sum
raised, every year. So that from 1870 to
| the present year, the deficiency fOots up
tcCHtp-CiHt millions, according to the
newspaper, Of the city. winch ago just now
calling attention to the subject. This sum
we may assume 10 represent the st"alings
during that period. Thi- is what the city
has paid Tor the luxury Of Republican
party government for half n dozen years.
What sort of "A pr spect does this pre-
sent of the chance of reforming the Re
publican party from within? Each year
OF the elk has been worse than the last. and
the year ls,t by far the worst of all. At
! hglf % dozen years more before the thieves
will claim the lar,er part of the income
of the entire taxable property of the city.
But we have another example of the
hOpefuness of the party reforming itself.
In the lat" action of the Republicans Of
the city Of Boston. That respectable old
town has had for some years decent
city government, and has a Mayor now
| who makes tlrst-rgtc officer; but he re-
! fuses to lie. cheat, or steal, or let anybody
else do so, or be party 10 defrauding the
| city in any way. Nohody seems 10 be able
| ofud out from his official conduct whether
! he IS u .nOcrnt or Republican, Lib
eral or hybrid" The only thing GER
tain Is that he is an independent. But
this spectacle of real reform has, after Il
couple Of years Of experience, become tco
narrowing for the partisan Republican,
who thinks reform should come from
within, and be made by a Republican nom
inec. Accordingly, the party have just
got together in council, and by a close
vote have nominated a straight Repub-
lican for Mayor, 10 eggplant Mr., Com, the
present incumbent
Now we wish to ask. how does il happen
that the majority Of the nominating body
in Boston are not satisfied with the present
honest and reforming municipal admins
tnuon? How is II that they want TO rein
state partisan Republican rule, except
that they don't want reform or any kind
but only such rule as exists in Philadel
phia, whore the doctrine prevails of re-
forming from within? Is il not clear that
what is meant by that phrase is simply the
continuance of maladministration, and
public robbery? 1t is astonishing to see
Boston Repubicanism taking this ground
for of all places in the world for sell
reform, we might look to Massachusetts
She electrified the country year ago
by choosing IA Democratic Governor by
Republican votes; and the same independ
ent voters deliberately wrung the neck
Of the majority of the Republican can
didates for Congress. But even all thi'
disposition TO reform from within, doe
not prevent the regular Republican
organization of Boston from boldly de,
claring against reform when it is fairly
established. 1t prouomccs for the Pha