The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-12-22
POLITICAL BOSSES.

The decapita!ion of john Kelly was
effected go easily and naturally that
the general pnb'ic was surprised both
by its suddenncss and completeness.
Neither he, nor his friends nor his enc
mics, appear to have aprrelerded
snch Il contamination and when Mayor
Cooper applied the knife and the Boss'
head rolled into tho dust, his followers
and hcnclrmep wore dazed and stnp-
fled. This revolt against the DONNA.
ton of political Bosses is good aug
ury of tile future. Above all others,
John Kelly was the fiitest one upon
whom retribution should first fall.
But for his treachery and selfishness,
General Hancock would at this mo-
ment he President elect. The extent
of the disaster inflicted by his contin-
nancy npon the Democratic party and
the country can only be estimated by
comparing what would be their c"ndi-
ton after oven one term Of Democra
tic National administration with what
it is likely to he under continued Re-
publican rule. But Kelly had little
concern for great national interests.
The patronage lie welded was greater
than the Federal patronage in New
York City, and it was used uuhesita-
t1ngly to build up a following Of his
own, and to subserve his own personal
interests. He seemed to think Ills
power was permanently established.
He thrust Grace down the throats of
the Democrats despite all remons'ran-
ccs, and found to his amazement that
there was not enough "saving grace
to help him.
Philadelphia and Brooklyn have ia
ken up in earnest the problem of rid
ding their communities of these pesti-
lent bosses. The Philadelphia boss is
Republican who has managed that
city pretty much as Kelly has New
York, and the revolt IL in his own par
ty, while in Brooklyn similar process
is in preparation for the dethronoment
Of Mclaughlin.
One of the most troublesome aud diff.
fcult questions for our statesmen in
the near future is the reconci(cncnt OF
universal suffrage in large cities with
purity of government. There is not
city of large population in our country
that is not ruled and ruined by cor
rupt and self-seeking man OF set OF
men, call it Boss or King, whose ra
pacity is unchecked and whose greed
is not satisfable. Year after year
passes and the farce If an election is
held ouly that q new lease of power
may DO given to the men who have
combined to plumber the public and
cheat the electors.
New Orleans has been trying this
Fall to show her heels to the Ring that
Ina used her 80 shan'elessly. Thu
public are not agreed whether she hat
succeeded in Riding herself Of al
Rings, or whether she has only swap
ped masters. We shall see. But it il
u great point gained t" be rid of thu
Ring that outraged public decency un
blushingly, and manipulated ballot
boxes and certified false returns to al
extent that put to shame the radica
performers of those tricks. The man
ner in which public opiuion has beef
outraged during the last ten years b!
the wire pullcrs and Ward hummer
of New Orleans under the management
of tho Ring, is almost beyond belief
1t ia something to know that she /
making an effort to shake off this bon
dage. Of one thing her citizens ma.
be sure. The Democrats Of the coun
try never again will sit in Convention
with wharf rats from the City, VIII
have been hired to act as delegate
from ono of her Wards, and who llav
been |oistcd upon them rs her chose
representatives. This was done not
great while ago, and the man who 81
III Convention at the head Of the raga
mullins and cast their votes, smile
gleefully as if he were not doing any
thing worthy of reproach.
-THE Christmas and Holiha
Goods of Ferguson Schnack WEI
hnnpht in Nav York and will b