New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-03
POLITICAL TOPICS.
INDICATING Mr.. BELDEN
HIS FORMER DEFEAT-REAsOSs FOR SUPPORTING
HIM AS CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.


HIS FORMER DEFEAT-REAsOSs FOR SUPPORTING
HIM AS A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR
TO ths razor Of The Tribune.
SIR:.Tn your issue Of this morning you take
the Republicans Of this city TO task for nominating for
our Mayor James J. Belden and designate him As tho
head and front OF the old Canal Ring" On one or two
points allow enemy Of all frauds and rings to set yoa
right You say Mr. Beldon beaten before "by the
revolt Of the decent citizens although the Cana King
exposures had not been made The reyot you speak f
was made by the Republicans, because Mr. Belden sup
ported and voted for the distinguished founder OF your
paper and from any doubt of the gentemans hon.
esty or his capabty. Another thing. Mr. Beden docs
deny privately and publicly that he has deirauded the
State OF dollar and proposes 70 prove hs Innocence
before the conIts IL il rather surprising that Journal
which has done 40 much to snow up inc o. TIE
pretended reforms OF the Democratic candidate for the
upon the word of who, his efforts 10 gain the
White House. has shown himself to be the last man 10
mayors being large taxpayer honest and capable and
we propose, If possible, to elect hin next Tuesday
LIFELONG READER
Syracuse, ~ T., Feb H. 1877.
fThe writer of the above is entitled TO his version
OF Mr. Belden's former defeat but some Of his con.
illusions should not pass without notice. Mr. Belden
comes under class Of public offenders whom the
law thus far has failed to chastse as they deserve;
the only protection for the community is in the
retribution of public opinion. No one thinks any
better Of Mr. Tweed because he has 80 far succeeded
in Keeping out of State Prison. and no one will think
any better of Mr. Beden If the suit against him falls
as such suits have failed before. No one would
think better Of Mr. Tweed, If he should regain his
freedom and succeed in electing himself Mayor Of
New-York, and 10 will think any better of Mr.
Bclden because he has made himself Mayor u
Syracuse. The Republicans Of Syracuse have
merely detracted from their regulations without
4. Ill.
him as they judged him before.-The writer Of
this seems to imagine that a victory for Mr. Belden
in this suit would not only clear him from charges of
fraud, but would clearly establish his eminent fit
ness for public Office. 1t would undoubtedly be
a technical triumph for him. He is striving
for technical acquitta, and will be more than
glad to escape with it. But there IL bar Of
public opinion which does not acquit on tcchni.
caties IL the devices of the contract system which
THE TRIBUNE exposed were not fraudulent,
then there is no such thing as fraud. Mr.
Belden's defense, as understand it, is, in
substance, that oil this fraud was legazed
by acts of the Legislature, acts Of State OFF,
GERS acts of engineers. The public know, though
the courts cannot know, that 1t was Mr.. Bolden or
his allies who induced the Legislature TO pass the
acts, the State officers TO make the awards, and the
engineers the measurements on which he fattened.
Ought his fellOw-ctizens to conclude that because
he may be able to dodge decision that would stamp
him as rObber he is therefore to be singled out for
political honors' These. are considerations with
which the courts have nothing to do but which,
when Mr. Belden forces himself forward a candi-
date for Office, become pertinent in the highest de-
gree-Our correspondents reflections upon Gov. Til
den's canal reform are post facto. Whatever may
have been the motives with which that work was
undertaken it well done. and the State of New
York is indebted to him for having put Mr. Belden
and his dynasty ont of in the State it is to be
Opcd-foreyer.-Ed.l