National Republican., 1881-12-10
REAL REFORM.
THE RECENT BRooKLYA ELECTION.
How the so-Cslied CItli.service Reform Salvation
Army We're Beaten--Whero Real Re.
form Stepped In aud Carried the
Day-An Instructive Lesson.

lofb Ntepptu ~ Auu NNITtth tut
Day-An Instructive Lesson.
The recent election fMr Seth Low to the mayor
atty Of Brooklyn, ~ v. and the very important
contribution TO that result by the Young Republi'
can Club OF that city, furnishes an admirable les
son Of the way TO reform corrupt political practices
by the duplication oflcgitimote means to worthy
ends. No eJ4ht scarcely could have been less cx-
pected, though none was more earnestly prayed
for, than the election of nm honest young Rcpubli
eau, gentleman, and wealthy property holder,
TO the head of great city, completely boss
ridden as Brooklyn. Especially was this desirable
In view Of the abuses openly denounced by
Republicans and reluctantly confessed by
Democrats Of the more honorable type.
ron YEARS THB CrvII.-sEnviCR nEFoRNTRs
have been forming a sort of political salvation
army. They have deuged the country with thco.
ries and tracts in almost equal proiusion. Their
associations were to move upon Congress in solid
columns from the East and West and extreme
North. bearing the superlatlvely perfect plan Of q
political all, demonstrated on the largest map
OF the country, and warranted adapted TO every
political change in the weather. We have had
years Of Talk from Messrs Curtis Schurz, Godkin,
volumes OF platitudes and no result, except some
experiences under late Secretary Of the Interior
which were rather contrary TO the theory Of civil
service ordinarily expounded by the rcformcr.
Meanwhile In Brooklyn, the Young Republican
Club, believing in the real efficacy ofRcpublican-
ism, and not wholly unread In reform" literature,
set themselves the task of doing something in pol
itics. They were led by able, clearheadcd young
lawyer Of some literary and scholarly rcpute-
| Horace T. Deming. The organization was formed
outside of all existing political associations, but
supplemental 10 the regular Republican associa-
| ton, differing from the regulars" only in the
fact that none of its members were permitted TO
hold office, that requirement being sine qua OF
/ mcmboTSntp, lhe club declared It's in
open meetings, invoked the assistance OF all good
and intelligence in q community containing moro
than the usual quota of character and brains, and
finally pedging Its members neither to be seekers
went to the polls in body and demonstrated their
faith by their works. The victory they have so
justly earned in the election of Mr.. Low merits
the encomiums Of all Republicans throughout the
country.
WE COMMEND THIS LESSON
In practical politics TO the entire concave of civil
service reforncrs, men from sociatc baskets in the
| upper air" OF politics. who drop dow lofty plad-
tudes on transcendental politics The doctrndres
| would reform political methods not by going into
the primaries, but by scratching" aud Interior
means. There is u lurking suspicion that these
reformcrs are not nvcrse 10 office, and some facts
in the career of few prominent ones would sug-
gest that in case OF necessity they do not hesitate
70 70 use the most approved "short.hair" methods;
| American honor appeared in the late Brooklyn
canvass, aud demonstrated at once the vcions
character of the Curtis Godkin-Schurz method
and the superior efficacy Of lighting for purity and
honesty within the party. on the nth OF Noyem-
Der the Young Republicans
| MET TO REJOICE
over their victory and 10 assure the public that
they would, as Republicans, carry out their
pledges to the people who had trusted them. Mr..
able EXPOSITION Of PsS reorn as RGlSSa Ser m
| freshing variation from the usual political plat
tude, showing keen political insight, wide read
ing, and an honest statement of manly principles.
! Mr.. Deming read from the pamphlet issued by the
club when IL only numbered nfty men
THE DECLARATION OF ITS PLANs
II does not hope TO reform the world or the Nation,
but II intends to do such service as II may toward
curing good govsrnment for our own CITY, It believes
interest can be reused and he widespread public
Ssnea o tbs re. o s1 ne
mediaiey or without earnest effort but n far less
difference OF many OF citizens entItle them to ex-
pect believes that Just as organization for selfish
our city government, SO organlzatIon for unseltsh
purposes may restore to them real and effective in
huence In city affairs This organization the club
proposes to supply
And he added, amid genuine applause, Gentle.
men, think we have supplied H." The club of
1880 was only Garfield and Arthur organizations
with no constitution, no platform, except en-
thusiasm for the candidates and II love of Rcpub-
licsm. II invited leading statesmen to address its
meetings. II had an active rallying committee at
each poll and its working members on election
day were selected from the best young meu of the
city, in social standing, character, business, and
professional eininence.
THEY PROVED ny THEIR WORK
in the presidential contest that they were no mere
novitiatcs, and their recent achievements proves
MS their president curtly said. " A gentleman can
be gcntlemanand yet do yeoman's work IN pol.
240O members distributed ballots ut the polls; ~
were canvassers; p were inspectors; u were poll
liant Watchers The blue badges OF the members
were seen, like King Henrys plume, wherever the
battle was hottest The result shows the efficiency
of their work. Ex-Mayor Howells own ward,
carried by him two years ago by the Democrats
with so majority, gives Mr Low majority OF 4s0.
The Garfield and Arthur majority In the twenty
second ward was $50; Mr.. Low carries 1t by $50
In like manner democratic majority Of 700 in
the seventeenth ward becomes 6O majority for Mr..
Low
THE MAYOR. ELECT HIMSELF.
! showed what an educated business man could do.
He canvasSed every ward, factory, and school.
, lie made speeches TO the workingmen aud opera
tves in English, French, and German. His own
! worth, his business standing, and the patriotic
record of his father during the war OF the rebellion
I all aided him. In short, with such II candidate
these young Republicans went into the contest 10
! win, They say that the registry was complete
, age of the entire registered yote-the whole, Re.
! publican strength-and prevented thousands Of
fraudulent votes from being either cast or counted
2 They were rich, but not extrnvagant with their
money Seven thousand dollars was the entire
2 sum received in dues from members and subscrip-
y THEY SPENT OF THIS AMOUNT
a only 5000 and came out of the most hotly-con-
tested fight for years with victory and $1,000 bal
. men were told they had much TO learn in politics
II will be granted, we imagine, now thai they have
l. taught many their senior III years valuable po-
litcal lesson, that corruption wins not more than
honesty" They have shown capacity and con.
scientious love for real Republican principles not
generally supposed 10 be the characteristics OF
q young men, Mayor elect Low, Mr.. Demng Mr.
Maxwell, Mr.. Tupper, and Mr.. Taylor show that
the Republican party has not lost It's hold OH the
Q young men Of the county. In spite Of offers and
allurements, In spite OF abuses in their own party
n they have preferred to cleanse their own house
the home ofther patriotic fathers, than rehablitat
u the crumblng tenement Of Democracy. The Re-
s publiRn party of the Nation sends greeting "a
President Deing and his 400 strong for their ull
I precedened triumph over Democracy and bossism
. . and welcomes them
= As DESIRABLE ALLIES
and conireres In the Republican army. While
= some members of this club are advocates of al
k honest civil service reform-and what Republican
2 Is not-the common sense and sound Republi'
canism of these young men Is shown by the fol
: lowing incident at the close Of the meeting re-
c lerred to-:
. "Mr S, b. Duryea moved that the executive com
. mittce be requested TO furnish the club with
a course Of lectures on civil.service reform.
4 "Mr. Maxwell said there was already civil ser
. vice reform league in the city whose work woulC
/ answer the purpose.
"Mr. Duryea's motion was not pressed and aite
II was offered the club adjourned"