Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-07-07
NEW YORK LETTER

The Summer EXodus--New York the
Most Attractive City in the World
Local Self-GOvernment at Last
Who shall be Next United States
Senator-Perhaps John Kelly.
NEW York July 8, 1871.
DEAR FREE Press Every body that can is
packing up aud getting of to Europe, or to
the sea shore or mountains. New York is a
caravanscrie People as q rule don't have the
home feeling here. But why this should be So
is not easy Of explanation. Sea breezes and
sea bathing, elevated lLui, a mlr6et OF une-
qualed excellence, fabrics, wares, merchandise,
luXures, art IN It's pride Of supremacy, libra
ries in all the walks OF learning music, paint
ius, the drama, the frettel roofs Of hundreds
Of temples, aud. last but not least a rolling
park lt unsurpassed beauty both natural and
artificial, all unite 20 make our modern Gotham
the most attractive City in the World. Hun
drejs of millions Of dollars made here and be-
longing here annually are carried away TO
Jersey aud Connecticut to enrich those lucky
States The want Of rapid terminal facilities
Of travel IN the city is the primary cause Of
this subtraction Of the substance Of the Metro
polls from lis wealth and population. Serious
attempts (which this time viii be successfully
are 40 last being made to have Rapid Transit
from one end Of the Island 70 the other. Cyrus
FELL. Of Atlantic Cable fame, is now the lead
er for Rapid Transit aud the people are clam
orirg for 10. The railroad corporations have
hitherto purchased for SO much head one
Legislature after another, unti monopoly has
squeezed the life out Of city real estate, aud
driven thousands Of weil-to-do people to SUI
burban homes The reaction has set in and
the issue Of the election .his fall will be Rapid
Transit or n0-Rpid Transit.
The city for tie first time in twenty years
is now enjoying the practical benefits of local
self government Governor Robinson has put
bis foot down fiat against Republican dicta
ton no Albany, aud vetoed almost every bill
which the Republican Legislature Of 1871
pissed iu relation % this city You are doubt
less aware New York has been ruled by Clm-
missi.ucrs not ee-ted 10y the people, but crca-
tel by charters made at Albany. Hence the
Republican minority has for twenty years had
a powerful voice in city affairs 70 which its
numbers never entitled it, on account Of the
rural Republican majority usurping the pow
cr of governing us by charter. The people OF
an tie States aIe interested more than they
may suppose iu this matter Tuis city Is the
great focus Uf the Democracy. Here II Is Su-
preme Here 10 has the people with 1t. From
here. through the press through the merchants,
aui through the brarcau Influence Of New
Yurk iu every way on the country at large,
goes forth the motors ot public opinion or
VIVA. may Doe called the factors Of natiJua. SELL
umeut With our natural strength here,
sloru uf none Of is dimensions 10y Republican
Interference at Albany, eNertjuG itself mirly on
the country. signal aud almost paramount
advantage o. tie National Democratic party Is
secured New York has almost rs much TO do
with the affairs of the L. ). As Congress itself
To stands % reason that New York, the great
stronghold Of the Democracy, Is powerful for
good Jr evil IN proportion 70 It's enl'ymeut OF
It's own municipal rights without dlctatIon
from the outside. The peIhiy OF the hepuh-
licaa legislature of 1876 aud Of that OF 1877
Is shown ju their refusal % apportioa the State
ou the basis ot the Census Of 1873, as impera-
lively required by The Constitution. The on
. ly reason Is that New York City and Brooklyn
have increased beyond the other sections SO
much as o. eutjtls these places to several adj
JItlall senators and twelve or fifteen addition
a, members u Assembly. liza fair apPortion-
mcut.v was made the next legislature would be
Democratic iu both branches au! Democrat
. wgu undoubtedly be elected % succeed RlS-
c1c C5ok'iu, in the United States Senate
Hence no apportioumeut Hence, Il Repub-
/ iclu succcels ClukHus Ia the Senate, he will
he there through a swlude This system Of
uscluty on the part Of the rural Republicans
has been carried SD far against thc City of New
York that would not be surprised some OF
these .ue days if the City should rise up aud
Jemlui separation from her rural robbers
let that issue be raised aud a vote un scpara-
zion tc submitted O. the people and 1t would
succeed New York would knock az the doors
ID Congress for admission an independent
State 1f the Union aud rural New York would
sink into her puritan iusigujdcauce. 1t may
come Co tits yet.
Tire City factions are beginning % form CO.
altioas aud make bargains tor the tall cleo
ti5Hs. bat Nmmauy Hail. the best aud only
true exponent of Democracy IN this City, with
the u.a-hcarteI John Kelly although formal
ly retired from the leadership sill cn>hriuel
5u tle popular hear, as the wisest, the purcst
auj .,s, leader ,he city Democracy has ever
known. and still 10 the rank, as an active
worker. promises O. achieve ana entire victory
40 t.e mex, election and, iu So far as the city
can effect 10. 90 seui Roscoe C1uk'ms 20 the
rear sul an his place with a Dcmocrat-
Wlata victory tor che Democracy Of the En-
ri.e State if Mr.. Kelly himself should become
our ueNt United STATES S,nator-anI this is
not improbable. Yours.
Vr~pFv