The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-05-20
Nep York and the Politicians.
There has been tremendous contes,

There has been tremendous contest
in the city Of New York, which is very
significant and interesting. As we
write the conflict is nj its ihickest and
-dirticst; for il il the citizens 10 cs-
cape thI dust. mud, and filth. breeding
discomiort and disease, which profess
sional politicians insist upon cherishing
Tor the benefit of their own pockets.
The massmcctings Of the citizens, even
upon this nnsavory subject, have been
iull of cloqucncc and enthusiasm.
They have recalled the great meeting g
to break up the Tweed Ring, and il is
easy To detect in them the old spirit Oi
the Revolutionary Sons of Liberty
Disease has been rife. Smallpox. scar
let fever, diphthcria, and typhus have
been almost epidemic. The dcath-ra;c
has increased, and the physician, have
! spread the alarm. MrHnwhilc the streets
have been piled and obslructcd Niih
| filth and rrcking wit! fOunc.s, until -
! general iE'tinC,ivc CONSCIOUSNESS that
the whole citYmachincry TO- cieamii "ss,
consisting ora gang "f The smallest
kind of politicians, was absolutely use
less, produced II protts; nnd up,iSing
which have been Refreshing; Ia ,hosr who
sometimes half-dis pair % tn smtvivat
Of any pubic spirit wnatcNcr.
There has been thr ';vci'rst t:uiii-tcIl-
ing Mt the meetings, ia winch p"ity iiEa 5
have been absolutely igno:cd, ard thc
city politician has b""n faithfully pOr
| trayed. The city politician is Il smart Z,
! M t,., u, s,.s,
and politics, WHO counts upon thc good
natured indifference OF the puhii', upon
party spirit, and OH his own cil',"nrrrv.
His purpose is to get us mich uf tie
public money us he can, ;iHd to use party
both that which is nominaiiy his own
and the opposition, 10 enable him to do
il. He has an absolute contempt for
mankind. and an amused incrcduIity Of
all generous motives and public spirit.
He is "on the make" himself, and ne
thinks everybody Il fool who il not. Tic
word "rctorm" he finds convenient foI
any peculiarly daring stroke Of unscrupu
lus knavcry. But if he meets Il man who
is apparently sincere, and earnest t.
throw light into darkness, to strengthen
crooked ways, and to abolish abuses
his contempt becomes rage, and lie can
only splutter what the boys call hitialu
tin rhetoric. This precious character
having received an office, uses it first tc
help himself, then to help his party, I'M.
less he can make more 10y selling il
out" The old Tweed era was ~ deal,
"a pool" between politicians of oppo
site parties. Twccds pals in the
other party ran straight party ticket,
when Tweed could he better helped in
that way; and there We're the mobiles,
appeals to stand by the grand old party.
and to maintain the time honored prin-
ciples, and to keep the proud flag of NJ
surrender tlying-under which, in TIA,
back room, the "swag' WAS pleasantly
divided.
| 1t is this kind of politician which has
imposed pestilential streets upon til,
city, which has struck hands with fifth
and malaria, and which s.rcrs 1T th'
honest citizen, in Twccd's old phrase
to know what they mean TO do about il
Cnless all spirit and honor and self
respect have departed from the citizen
they will do something very cilcctua
about it. The present ring masters arr
apalc and puny set compared will
Tweed's, but the citizrMs e New Yor!
tried conclusions with hi,h with som,
success, and if the desire If relief in III,
city is now batilcd, we expect to see IL,
issue made ut the polls next autumn =,
distinctly as it was with Tweed, and TN
trading politicians politically buried il
the mire in which they have kept tn,
city.-Harpor's Nagnzine far Jmnc.