American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-08-13
An Interesting Address to the New York
Democracy.

| The Democratic members of the New
York Legislature, through their joint
Caucus Committee, have issued the fol
lowing address to the Democratic citi-
zens of the State of New York and to
the citizens of the State without distinc-
ton of party:
| ma ority have separated from our homes
nnd business for nearly two hundred Gays.
The chief cause of this uncallcd-fOr detention
was quarrel with the resident of the Unit cd
States on one side and the ViccPresident and
the Two senators from this state on the other.
The source of this discOrd was the question OF
official patr mage or the spois of Office. The
Collector of the Port of New York was forced
to resign in the midst of his tie IN from place
where he was serving with general acceptance,
TO the public; and was appointed to a place
abroad uncalled for by his friends by the
public, in VIII. oh he has no experience. This
change against which the merchants of New
York protested in large numbers, was made
in total disrcga d of every announced prin-
ciplc of CiviLservice Reform and was not
called Tor by any principle of political duty
nor the interest OF the public service. The
purpose of the act seemed to he to reward
those who had been personally succe sful in
punish those who had resisted the leading
member and members of the National Repub-
l1can convention claiming the right of a third
President.
The unseemy quarrel mt Chicago in the
summer of 1881. was transferred to Washing
ton after he Presidential election at the close
of the same year. The same strife has been
continued with more bitterness at Albany
through the whole of the present session of
the Legislature. 1t commenced with great
NehcmcDce at the Senatorial election iP.Ianu-
airy, when a thiI class candidate was nomi-
mated and elected over II tirst-ciaSs comperi-
tor for the first Office in the gift of the Lcgs-
laturc, and hardly second to any office in the
gift of the people of the State. The Office then
filled alter great strife WAS vacated by vol
untary resignation, and when it had only been
held for less than one-fourth of the first year
of the full six years Constitutional term of
service.
The man who inspired this resignation was
the senior senator of the state. who had been
ate by one party of the state, whose longer
service he now refused, and simply owing to
the fact of the nomination to the senate of one
chief offender who had opposed his ambition
and wishes at Chicago and elsewhere. The u.s.
State not only a large amount of money.
but, what is more valuable, its honor. dignity
and sclf-respect. Two factions, known by
the vulgar but expressive names of stall
warts and "Half-Brceds,' have governed the
Senate and Assembly of the Republic
sion. The Democratic mcmbers have
many times asked and demanded an appeal to
the people. but, by force of numbers, in def
ance OF public opinion and in denial OF the OPP
portunity OF timely public Judgment upon
the fact of leaving the state without its Con
oil congress, the Republican majority refused
TO leave the choice of the succession to the
Democratic minority, that an appeal be made
to the people, were met by the insulting decla-
Senators in Congress would he a public caiam-
ity to the State, and this after Just eecting
THOMAS Z. Platt rs the successor of Francis
herman and after following this succession
with the choice of a man named Warner Mil
Ter, member of the present and previous
House of Representatives, where he was onty
conspicuous and notorious IA direct and per-
sona,i beneficiary of one of the worst nonopo-
that monopoly by his voice and influence, and
with throat tAat other public interests
should suffer IL his special interests III wood
tstfsf nf
protected.
Most distinguished and capable men of the
dominant party not IN public place, apart
from Conkling. but including men like FISH,
Wheeler. Curtis, Rogers and others. who have
served the state wit h ability, have had to give
place to the two men elected to Congress, and
their nomination WIS made an excuse for
passing n law to MI the vacancies made by
their election, and for no other reason. These
spec al elections thus provoked will he I'M
timely, as they are unnecessary and expcu-
sive. The whole Senatorial question at Al
bany re=olvcd itself into three most discredit-
able conclusions:
]. mistrust of the people of the State on
the part of the Republican minority in the
Legislature.
?. The quarrel over the spoils of Office in two
or three Republican factions. with practical
contempt Tor every principle belonging to
what is known and recognized as CiviI-service
Reform.
3. Abuse of power from its long use and
misuse, until two of the least capable pc sons
have been drawn from the popular branch of
Congress to NIL the highest plsc Is of tao State
in the Congress of the United states.
Another and most disgraceful transaction
belonging to this Republican Legislature, is
the evidence of bribery and corruption cstab-
lished upon the evidence OF meube, of the
tor of one faction is charged by member off
the Assembly of the same party and the same
district of the other faction, with offering and
paying him $2.0UO for Senatorial vote, and
the money was placed in possession of Spe-
cial ,oIpmittee. and is now in the hands Of the
state controller. Beyond this fact is the cir
culation of large sums of money by prominent
Republicans pending the Senatorial election,
the result of the election The state of New
York with its 5.OO0.0JJ of people has been deep
y wronged and disgraced both by the Repub
he action of the Republican party in power at
Albany: In the first place, the Chief Magis-
practice the principles of Executive right or
authority in the choice of public Office. near
lost his life.
through the personal madness of single man,
but from that personal fanaticism which was
Df false and dangerous political education.
Now; If ever, is the time 10 teach all men that
that places of official trust can only be right |
FULLY distributed to men Of noble purposes. of
pure lives, OF wise experience. and of unquai-
The Democratic party of tse State desire to |
ncucate and enforce the asctrine with which |
when jefferson declares chat the only aualiti- |
cations for office rested upon the wise, safe !
md patriotic platform.sH personal capablity, |
personal honesty and personal fidelity to the |
AS members of the, Democratic party serving |
n the Legislature, " here in branch there |
we're but seven Democratic Senators of thirty |
wO members, ane. in the Assembly but forty
even of the ON, hundred and twenty-eght |
Members, we also feel called upon to protest |
gainsG speciab, personal and partisan legisla-
ion a. Eainst the public interests. The majority |
D the Assembly, by the combined vote with |
he exception of a single member, refused |
D even permit the reference for discus
ion alone of three bills carefully prepared
nd sent ID the Judic' AIRY Committee, and pro-
idipU fOa- absolute reforms in primary meet,
lRs Df cities. towns and villages of the State
ne re candidates are named and made for
ve' " officer elected by the people. In the
IN re malignant spirit, where there were and
re democratic city and local Governments
leg wishes of the people were defeated by the
D hbiDcd forces of partisan Legislators I'M
oEtant cases awaiting the decision of State
Surts were set aside TO await the camors of |
artisans at home and in the Legislature, and
pis under ruling upon points of order and
Jules of parliamentary right of practice wholly
in the history of the State or
Duntry. The chief source of the present dam
er is the Federal patronage and the impure
of the body of Federal officers,
hose numbers are now in excess of loo, 900
ersonS, and every year increasing in num-
err. Against this enormous aggressive and
ersonal power there must be eternal vigil
ince for the right of free education of the
hidlren of the people, and the diffusion of
hat knowledge. and integrity. and patriotism
lroughout the State and country which |
tone can maintain union among the States |
nd secure peace and prosperity all over the
md.