The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-09
NOW OUR PRIMdRIEs ARE RUN.
The Power that Determines who Shall FIJI
the Public Onlccs.

The Power that Determines who Shall Fill
the Public Onlccs.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-ST: You
report Brick " Pomeroy as ascriblnR the degra-
dalton OF our politics to the non-attendance OF
respectable men at the primaries. This Is a pre-
valent error, and is often put forth II truth.
But am surprised that "Brick," as editor and
man OF the world, does not better understand
what "primary" Is In this city. pass for
respectablo man, believe l am such, and reside
in respectable ward (Elghteenth), and having
tried TO do my duty In that respect, have some
knowledge OF primaries; but the place for hold
Ing primary, and the persons to receive the
votes, are designated by the general committee
or central power. The same power also deter
mines who Is to be returned elected or not. The
place Is always one which can be controlled
10y few roughs, and almost always where a
respectable man will not feel It safe TO 90.
Tue INSPECTORS, so called, are subject to no
supervision, but In private make re ur. pur-
suant to orders, irrespective Of the votes cast.
In making such returns for publication, IL IA
quite common to include the names OF few ex-
celent citizens, as a blind, while II is intended
they shall not serve, or even know OF the use
OF their names, unless learned accidentally.
E'ch delegation Is authorized To lll Us own
cancies, aud a meeting Is immediately called,
care being taken to notify sucn only as ARE all
right" The seats Of absenteSs mot notined) are
declared vacant, and filled with the worst class
whose names even the wlrepullcrs do not dare
10 present To- the puolc. WIN such machinery.
of what av II could the attendance or votes Of
tue respectable be
The time fixed and limited for taking the votes
OF an entire ward or assembly dis rict l. design
ed To prevent more than small fraction
voting. As have said, the polls are under con-
troll Of picked men, of the rough order, who
know how 10 hustle and to hit, too, when per-
sou too respectable approaches. No assump-
ttun Of humility will save nun, unless IL il
known that " he 4 all right" Even uriah IIeep
would catch IL " at a primary. Nv last anpenr-
ance was induced 10y assurances that all would
De orderly and fair found tue poll presided
over by a notorious swindler and furger, against
whom indictments have been plgeon-holed IN our
District Attorney onice for wears. lie thought it
pleasanter 10 serve political masters than to serve
a. "A lfla lEanA u
lowed me to get To WITHIN fifteen let Of the
poll, and then my only alternative was to escape
as sonn anu with AS few bruises and rents OF
clothing Us possible. This talk about not at
tending primaries to the mass of respectable
citizens Is delusion and politically a fraud
spnils politicians rejoice in u II diverts atten-
ton from them, and transfers the sponsibiitv
Tor the wrongs thev perpetrate to a class vino
its moral effect Is to keep out OF view "A sure
ana the only remedy existing for our political
degradation. lhls DEGRADATION has arisen
fr IN and could not exist without partisan
bigotry and blindness. The party bisOt shuts
his ewes and ears to all truth, ana by his acts
II not words, shows that he prefers the devil 60
saint, provided the former Is the nominee II
"our % rty." This enables wirepuliers 10 mn
forward bad men with impunity and the pnrti-
san press servllely urges the election Of such.
Nnen reputable men and editors cease thus to
prostitute their mnnhoOd, when Christi IN men
act M - their profession ana discrimin t. he
tween virtue and wee, right aud wrong. toy
there Will be a change for The better. Then
every per Will inform himself as to the merits
aHu hcHt'lAH VI tutll thlul late, MllNOui regard
10 which party dominates MIN, aud east MS vote
with n soie view to the good ~ the community
In other words. he VIII feel aud act under a
sense Of his proper responsibilities to the pun-
iic aud as man created ia the image " his
Maker.
lS this kind Of independonce and sense of
duty ~ former Years the J0aiIth ~ comm, nee
did much good, but OF late years something
more treuchaut was needed.
liappily for this country, HE sun burst upon
Us with 10 PENETRATING RAYS ,nd mas cast new
light upon Rings and Christian statesmen,
which Utlgllt not to be misunderstood or unau-
preciated by any. GOd-spccd II in its mission,
aud may many others thrOuehout our land rise
up in tue same great and good work. You well
know that this talk OF attending primaries Is
worse than a deusiun; II Is "A snare-a fraud.
the ballot box is tne place U strike the blow.
Always vote for an honest and capable man,
even II your vote Is returned sc ,tteIing." 1t
Will teach politicians that they must nominate
such, and nothing else Will. EXPERIENCE.