The New York herald., 1879-02-12
Ia M MANY TALK.
Comptroller Kelly Explains the Cause Of
the Democratic Defeat.
COMBINATIONS LEAD TO RUIN
The Necessity for Supporting
Party Newspapers.


ward assembled In large numbers last evening at
Clinton Garden and listened to speeches bv Comm.
troller Kelly, ex-senator Creamer and several local
leaders, Mr.. II. r. Burr presided and in calling the
assemblage to order stated that the democratic n.rtv
of New York would hold meetings in variouc c,tv
districts throughout the year. so as to be reaav
for the battle when the next campaign once
more called them to their political duties Tho
chairman then introduced ex-senator Thomss
J. Creamer. who dcplored the picture presented
to-day by this first city of the Western World After
experience of 100 years of selfgovcrnment this
city of million of inhabitants was not permitted
to control it's own affairs and its Legislative power
circumscribed by Albany-tinkered charter.
The city of New York, indeed. had not had a gov
ernment worthy of the during the past twenty
three years. when the Metropolitan Police law was
first enacted The simple question Of how the streets
should be cleaned the brows the soons
in Albany. Washington aso with its supervisors and
it's Davcnports had crack at New York occasionally
and SO also had New England. Their lawyers came
here and after establishing Bar Association pre-
ferred charges against municipal officers because
their places were wanted by New England men. The
voice of the metropolis which ought be powerful
all over the land was not heard anywhere, simply
because New York was powerless And yet two,
thirds of the countrys revenues were paid ut
| this port and one-hslf of the State taxes
paid here The speaker attributed tho pres
ent distress to the eight years of Grantism when
panics created because soldiers and carpetbag-
gers and not statesmen. were at the head OF affairs.
| The times had indeed degenerated when men were
compelled strike because their wages were reduced
to 81 25 per day, and this caused simply because
| the country at large had been badly managed.
| When it was further understood that matters We're
| so rapidly changing that the number OF property
owners on Manhattan Island is to-day but one-halt
! o. what it fifteen years ago. people would
after politics generally and to hold meet
| ings like these. The ex-senator concluded by
] observing that the great thing neediul was to
have elections for city officers separate from State
| and national elections. and that nothing ever
gained politically by making combinations between
ance Mr. Michael sigerson addressed the meeting.
! He prophesied that the democratic party in 1880
would have leader who is to have "a sufficient
MR. JOHN KELLY's SPEECH.
The moment Mr.. John Kelly appeared on the plat
| form he greeted with enthusiastic cheers, and
after being introduced by the chairman, he said:-
| When last 1 addressed you before the election we
| were all convinced that success was awaiting us.
The result of the election has, however been other
wise. have not come here to discuss with you
| the question why we were defeated. It is of no
| consequence now. We may well let the dead past
bury its dead. We must endeavor to arrange
/ vent the defeat of the democratic party
in the city. 1t cannot be said however. that the
people have derived any advantage from defeat.
My notion that subject is that this defeat will
retard the nitatory stops OF reform naugurated by
fortunate that this is So What Influenced
| the people at the ballot box in opposing ths
think they did not reason WELL II they had taken
| into consideration their interests they would
have have acted otherwise .,, certainly cannot see why
| Judgment that ought to have influenced them am
not going to tell you that we have made great re-
| forms, but we have reduced our debt and we havo
| reformed many abuses. You certainly never can
preserve entire strength Of the democratic party
| by forming combinations. (Applause)
CONVERSATIONS END BADLY.
| have never known party elected on reform
ttckes that ended WE'LL Tor the simple reason that
they responsible to amy organization Their
only object is to- get Office. The reform party Of
democratic party. they thcn hnd great opportu.
nifty and people then really had reason fer
change THEY saw nsss their property dss
tcians and the city government in tho
hands Of few individuals and these few were con-
brought into power municipal government
and supposed il was better than the previous one.
longer. that they would initiate something better.
Now / ask you, was there any Improvement?
and the not ndSed We
power two years later because the people saw that
the democratic party was after all to be trusted and
put them ont. maintain that great deal has been
done since that time. I know great deal is not
done right now. but we have lessened abuses and
penses: the peoples taxes have been reduced in
very short period. and your debt is being reduced
reduced s6aooocc. You have reason I' to % stand
by the party that formed at the early formation
onward tnronr prosperity up TO the time that ths
war broke out Labor then was plenty everywhere
but the came on. not brought on by the demo.
cratic but by the republican party, and during pc
rod Of four years immense debt has been created
Previous to that war the government did not owe
national Treasury that it could not be
used. Those who then, stood at its head
they offered enormous premiums to bondholders SO
as to redeem the bonds However this ques-
accumulation Of great debt and the loss OF hun
drcds Of thousands of your people. The republican
party ought ut least to have made some effort to
duce this immense debt but all the time while e-
deavoring to make IL clear that It is less. they have
actually made IT. greater. We were not responsible
tor this. had not control of the national government
and should not be held responsible
THE PARTY OF ECONOMY.
Immediately after people took possession they
initiated steps to reduce expenditures. The lower
branch OF Congress has been In democratic hands
now since 1874. and they have reduced expenditures
from $25. 900 900 TO s3oOO0OOO annually but for the
fact hat the Senate democratic still greater
reductions would have been made. and yet all goes
just well. There has been demoralzation OF
the Judiciary owing 10 want Of funds, none
among the army or navy or other depart
cannot afford to support republican for Office.
Us you know he will always act with his party. II
then go ahead. for the country stands at all times
above party. Great applase) This In not now
democratic state, but II has been In the past Why
were you beaten? Because some OF you did not 70
to the polls. and others again entertained views
about the currency different from your own. This
question has been settled by tho resumption
Of specie payments. and for years to como
at least II will not come up again. Another
disturbing element arises from the want OF
employment. but this ir not confined TO New York
alone, for you must have heard the lamentations Of
the aboring classes in Europe II has In part origin
atcd from overspeculation ON the part OF men who
have but little means. and by 40 doing spread ruin
all around These deprcssions will perodi-
calIy but their true extent well their direct
cause cannot be exactly comprehcndcd by man. To
the minds Of the people at large these matters remain
undeveopcd. and IL is Of no use to blame politicians
for IL ALL
THE COMPTROLLER ON NEwsPAPERs.
In concluding my remarks, and after consultation
with your representatives. desire to call your atten-
ton TO the necessity or supporting democratic news
papcrs The Times and Tribune, there can be no
doubt supported by the ndhcrcnts of the rcpub-
licau party These papers readable and edited by
mon OF great intelligence. There also ndepen-
dent papers. belonging TO no party. We have no
right to expect help from them. We need democratic
pnpers to help us. Our misfortune in New York
has been that we have never been able to reach
the people through the newspapers. You have vote
OF 900 In this city when united. There s no place