The New York herald., 1879-10-08

York is fair sample of what has been attempted te
obtain personal political advantages. all through
the State The Governor to secure his hold for po
litical purposes over officers his appointees in thu
government and over their patronage and power
has required and received from each his resignation
| of his otice-date in blank-to be acted upon when
ever he should determine. By this proceeding thes'
officers have become mere tools in the Governor
| hands. They Know that whenever demand is mad,
! upon them by one speaking with authority. they
have either TO comply retire. How this system
operates has been witnessed in the dlssracetul trans
| actions revealed relating to the removal OF the
able and experienced ofhcers, the wardehs OF
the Auburn and Clinton Prisons, and the ap-
appointment in the place of each OF political instri-
ments pledged to the ailden interest. Subordinate
officers aud employes in other departments have had
! like experience. so that now every officer and en-
| ploye in the government over whom the Governor
has any control understands that political hdelity
to the Tilden power is the primary duty demanded
| of them, and that to trusted delegates to
democratic conventions is the service most certain
| tc be rewarded by continuance OF public favors.
Under this system there can be no independence or
acticn-no laudable aspiration to the honorable dis
charge of their duties by either officers or employees
All alike are given understand that their personal
interests best advanced i'll promoting political
and not the public interest.
INFLUENCE.
This is specially to the employees under the
| Commissioner of Public Works. The present Com
missioner is from Franklin county, and when ap-
pointed without experience and void of all
practical knowledge as to any matter or thing rcat
| ing to the working or management of the canals.
Tie prevailing recommendation he had was the
tihcate of Mr.. Smith NJ Weed. who became sponsor
for his fidelity to the Tilden policy and certainly.
the promotion of this policy the chief end OF the
canal management. the result has fully justified
the selection. The amendment to the constit ution
providing for the appointment of Commissioners of
Public Works was promoted and adopted i'll the cx
pectation that under its provisions the canal man
agcment would be removed from the sphere OF
politics. Governor Robinson has repeatedly pro-
claimed the necessity there existed for and the ad-
vantages OF securing such result. But while these
professions were being made the Governor was. and
still is receipt of letters from Mr. Tiden request
ing that the canal influence should be used for
specified political purposcs--to secure, promote or
defeat the nomination or election of delegates or
candidates as determined by their standing on the
Tilden platform And these requests have always
been complied with. success pursuant to the direc
tions given being considered the duty of
every connected with the management from
the Commissioner to the humblest subordinate.
Mover before in the history of the State has there
been such prostitution tor personal political pur-
poses of the Office of Governor. II the truth was
FULLY disclosed itwould appear that all, or nearly ALL
OF Governor Robinson's official action has been taken
on receiving some political consideration. Bills
have been signed or vetoed by him not so much on
the merits demerits of the measure rs by the
oLiectors. SO we'll did .his come to be understood
that the Tilden influence repeatedly invoked i'll
favor of or against any particular bill and when this
interest brought to bear overco Robinson never
hestaed to override his public declarations OF pri
ciples and what he believed to be the meaning and
effect of constitutional provisions. This is well
illustrated by his action what arc known as the
Claims bills. relating to the city OF New York On
March 49, 1877 the Governor vetoed the of these
bills that before him. assigning as his reason.
to quote from his messenger
Article section H. of tho constitution provides that
money or propery or loan its money or credits 70 or in
aid Of any Individual. association corporation. This
private individuals who claim
any legal tight II they had right they
course enforce it in the and would DO
before the Legislature asking compel tho city to make
constitutional provision above cited.
BY just such vetoes as this Governor Robinson
has appeared in tho guise OF a reformer-bidding
for popularity. But what he did with the one hand
he always undid with the other-no doubt
not not Know ns what his lett hand did Those who
are curious the subject examine chap
tiers 29s sa3 442 and 4Is; Laws of Of ls75 AZ 4i6
49s, 400 and 52s. Laws of ls79-ali passed after
the date of tho veto above quoted. and all ap-
proved by Governor Robinson; each requiring
the city OF New York to pay out of its funds ito
private individuals who have not and do not claim
to have any legal RIG ht thereto. Under these vari;
to be paid by the city Several or the private in
dividuals'' for whose benefit these statutes were
passed arc to-day the foremost in the city OF New
| York among the supporters of Governor Robinson
| Or course all such are opposed to Mr.. Ke!ly-the
official who in the interest of the city, objected ia
such legislation. And this is but sample-a fai'
! representation Of Governor Robnson's administra
tion all over the state Iislativetavors have beer
conferred in consideration OF political support Th,
stern reiormer appearing only when pronounced
opponents the Tildcn power had to be dealt with
| EQUAL TAXATION.
The Governors idea of reform is fairly shown by
his refusal to sign the bill appointing commits
sioner to prepare and report to the noxt Legislature
system to secure just aud equal taxation OF prop
erty throughout the State BY his action on this
! bill the Governor set at nausht the almost unani
| nous opinion in and out OF the Legislature, thai
! this was the only practical way by which equitable
taxation could be provided for, and he has continued
indefinitely the present system under which special
and wealthy interests escape and the burdens of tax
alton are levied unjustly upon farms and real es-
tate. especially upon mortgaged estate. The veto
nullifying legislation designed to effect fair can
the votes OF the people i'll cities other than
the city Of New York-thus allowing corrupt and
venal inspectors OF elections i'll the pay of his fa
vorites to fasify the election returns and set al
naught the sufraees OF democratic elections-was q
| gen nuine phase of the Tilden system.
| To uphold or extend this system no necessary act
has been found too extreme for the Tilden power to
perpctrate. For this purpose it can shroud itself
and appear in any political disguise-retorm or
fraud. Opposition is the thing it will not tole-
rate. Wherever throughout the State opposition to
this political creed presents Itself the effort made
to crush out such opposition whatever the consc-
| quenccs. In this manner individual democrats have
been prescribed and candidates for Office have been
stabbed i'll the dark. No public act-poltical. ex-
ccutive. lcgisati or Judicial which does not con-
form to the rildem systeni-is overlooked. No inter
! est reputation IL held sacred from its attacks.
Private individuals and public officers have both
alike become its victims. Even Supreme Judi
caturc-whose distinguished reputation and high
honor IL the pride or our citizcns-has by this sy 8
TEN been mzligred because ot decisions given in the
faithful discharge OF its duties and not in submis
sion TO interested dictaton.
And it was continue this system until every
centre OF opposition to the Tldon power in individ
uals organizations III every part of the State
| crushed out that Governor Robinson was presented
for rcnomipation To accept in such circumstances
of the Governor Us cur nominee woIld be to submit
4
! scented was simplc.:it admitted OF compromise
And it with this issue clearly before them thai
the democrats in the city OF New York declared il
advance of the Syracuse Convention, convened t.
meet at weiting Hail in that city. that Lucus Rob
inson they would not have rs their nominee fol
| Governor. The regular delegates from the city o.
! New York were admitted by the unanimous vote o
the Convention the representatives Of the acmoc
racy OF the city. They admitted aftci
explaining their position tairly. Receiving then
as delegates. inviting them such to par
ticipate in the proceedings of the Conven
ton, was, after their explanation. substan
tiaI pledge the part of the Convention
that the Governor would not be placed in nomina
ton. IL not such pledge it attempted tricl
to draw into the the New York delegates
in the expectation of committing them to u nomina
ton to which they wore unaltcrably opposed. In,
result secured 10 advantage to the authors OF the
intrigue. At the opening of the Convention tn,
majority of tho delegates elected were opposed tc
the nomination OF the Governor. Notwithstanding
the wholesale removal OF officers and employees to
secure delegates. No less than htty-two substi
tutos for elected delegates were admitted, most o
whom secured thcir paccs by purchnse, and Il was