New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-12
LILLE GOYERNOR,S SPEECH.

That was model address which Gov. Illden
made IN Tuesday TO the merchants of Buffalo
It was short, it was tcrse, 1t was selisibe,.t
was adroit, it was devoted to a subject III
which his listeners had vital interest, and
all its points were put In the most effcctNe
possible way 1t WAS speech which every
man who heard it is sure to remember,
and every man throughout the State who
concerns himself about the politics, the COM
mcrce and the general affairs OF New 0rk
will be sure to read. Anything more unlike
the customary campaign addresses OF poll
tician il would be difficult to imagine, for 1t
contained 40 rhetoric (using that word IN It's
lower scnse), and its chief art was in the
plain statement of unquestiOnable facts when
have no bearing upon any party issues. Re
publicans, Democrats, and Independents could
applaud it with equal satisfaction.
The Governor, indeed, wns careful to re-
mind his listeners that the reform which has
recently occupied SD much of bis time, and
which some foolish Administration newspapers
are inst now family pretending to flout rs il po-
i,ical movement, was only matter OF COM
mon honesty about which there could be no
difference of opinion among honest men, and
facts are very simple. On the one
hand commerce has been hampcrcd by
high tolls on the canals on the other the peo-
ple have been severely taxed to make up an
annual deficiency of S2,OOO,OOO i'll the canal
revenues. The Governor proposed when he
came into Office to reduce both the tolls and
the taxes by the simple process Of putting a
stop to the steaings of the Canal Ring
lie has succeeded in both. The grain
dealers have obtained the reduction OF tolls
which they asked for and the taxes have been
put down from r.. mills to 6, and next year,
SAYS the Governor if the people will send
honest representatives to the Legislature, the
taxes can be put down to 4i2 or even 4.
This has been accomplished rs part
of a simple but comprehensive system
of reform which can Ge described IN
one very short. plain mottc.-Whercyer
Won see a thief, hit him. Don't ask about his
politics do Mt consider his friends; do Mt treat
with him in private while you are denouncing
dishonesty in the abstract do ut imagine that
the way to political prosperity is "to combine
" sef-interest, to pile Canal Ring upon Tweed
Ring, and so rule the people OF this free
State" There il such Il thing rs
public conscience, though party hacks
and party journalists seem to forget it, and in
these times it is unusually lively. We have
lifted tho standard of public and official
morality in tho country. says the Governor;
the old age has gone out the new age has
come in. TO 10 sure the work is not all
done. The reform is incomplete; but it will
soon be tinished-if only the people will send
honest representatives to the Legislature.
If only they will. That brings lis to the rrac-
teal part of the speech. Mr.. Tildcns advice
is the same which TIE TRIBUNE has urged in
every campaign for n whole generation, the
same which Horace Greeley made one OF his
favorite phrases it is, Bolt! If your party
dominates a thief or u friend Of thieves
to mlsrcprcsent you at Albany ana
10 court the favor and do the bidding of IA
Ring, why OH earth should you vote for him
l. it any satisfaction to you that your party
livery should be stolen to serve the devil in
The wise and patriotic Republican,, like the
wise and patriotic Democrat, must rejoice
in tho defeat of his own ticket when
ever it is loaded with unworthy names
II is characteristic of the new age in poll
ties that the ties of partisan allegiance are
greatly loOsened, and the honest citizen has
come to understand that u blind, undiscrimin-
ating obedience to the dictation Of the "regu
"lar convention" is nothing but II slavish
submission to little obscure gathering of
rum-hoIc politicians who make living
by bargaining with corrupt Rings and shout
ing at caucuscs. Gov. Tilden's speech. like all
his recent political action, his pursuit of
Tweed his special message his canal investi
CATION, is Il demand for free inquiry and llb
crty of conscience. He has made ii at a good
time, and we believe he will be met by an
enthusiastic response from every corner of tie
State.
4 deadly personal fcud in Texas has just been