Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-23

IN the aSCenudnt, tAS eiAiSfSS VIM
make the plumber of municipalities the
work and study of their lives are certain
to be found concealed behind its distinct
i've colors. For the Tweed ring the tax
payers OF New York substituted a mixed
mob of rascals who were willing TO call
themselves Republicans or Democrats or
anything else for the sake of retaining
their opportunities for plumber, and do
what they may they are unable to rid
themselves of these Protean knayes.
To-day they are threatened with pes
thence through the atrocious conduct OF
the scoundrels who rule them, and this
fact is of itself conclusive proof that every
thing in the form OF self-government has
been eliminated from the situation. 1t
is the merest nonsense TO talk of the g free
dom" of the inhabitants of city Ike New
York. They are not free. They are, in
fact, enslaved. There is no autocratic
power IN Europe al This time under which
such state of things could exist as ex-
4 lSIS at New I OK. 1nCIG Is lO dD5LAuL-SU
ruler in Europe who would dare to treat
his subjects as the Assembly at Albany
are now treating the great and rich and
intelligent population of New York. The
late Empefor of Russia never dreamed Of
perpetrating such tyranny and brutality.
1t would be necessary to 90 back to the
time of Philip the Second of Spain, or still
farther back, to the worst of the Caesars,
to find parallels for what is going on there
at this hour. In plain English, the lives
of twelve hundred thousand mer, women
and children are exposed to destruction by
a gang of as despicablo thieves as ever were
logged at a carts tail, and this is done IN
der democratic institutions, and in the very
heart of republic which makes-b5 Heve to
be the freest country upon earth.
It is necessary that we should silence
our Dragging talk about freedom, or that
we should make our boasts good. All that
the people OF New York have derived from
democratic institutions thus far is patience
in the endurance of abuses such as no Eu-
ropean community would have tolerated
half the length of time. The theory Of
elderly, equality and fraternity has
made them passive victims in the hands of
their plunderers. And victims to such
ignoble tyrants Where has misgovern-
ment ever before been perpetrated by such
low and brutal creatures as those who
donineer over their fellows at New York
Nowhere on the continent is there larger
aggregation of education, refinement, cul-
ture, enlightenment, taste, advanced civil
ization, than in that city. Nowhere is
there greater accumulation of material
wealth. Brains and Capital, Education
and Virtue, are assembled there. But 20
what end ? Those elements ale ruled out
of the government entirely, and it is given
over to Ignorance, Knavery, Brutality.
Coarseness and immortality. a vulgar and
bestial crowd, mainly composed Of foreign
ers, ignorant alike of American principles
and of civilized and moral ways gener-
ally, have through the operation Of demo-
cratic institutions shouldered every capable
and fit element out of the govern
ment. To this universal suffrage, the
primary election, the ward organization,
the regular political machinery of the
time, have brought New York. 1t is
worse than useless to deny the truth. l!
any remedy is to be found the actual sit
uation must first be faithfully recorded.
Is there any remedy, is of course the
most important question. Thus far none
has appeared. What was at first thought
to be one has turned out to be delusion,
mere change Of evils. Experience has
proved that what are called popular up.
risings" only result in putting pre-
viously unknown gang of scoundrels into
power, butthet these movements are utterly
incapable of giving cities like New Yorl,
honest or efficient government, and that in
effect they only serve to beguile the peo-
pie, and TO distract their attention from
the evils under which they are suffering.
Municipal government in New York is I'M
questionably a dismal failure. But it is
more than municipal government that is
failure The pestilence now threatened is
being forced on the city by the action Of
the State Legislature. The knaves who
govern the State have combined with the
knaves who govern the city, to rob and
murder the people. What possible relief
can there be from this oppression 1
The American colonists who revolted
against King George never had 1.-THE of
the cause OF complaint that the people of
New York now have against their rulers
Yet in the case of New York the theory
is that these rulers are appointed directly
by the people, and that the latter are con.
tinually enjoying the inestimable bless
Jugs Of self-government. This is q ridicu-
lous fiction. New York has no self gov
eminent. The government is a govern
ment OF plunder, untempered by anything.
Under less liberal institutions assas-
sination, or revolution, sometimes checks
tyranny for time; but in New York what
looks like revolution is only sham re.
form movement the ultimate end of which
is to exchange one set of thieves for
another, and the general outcome is the
same no matter what protest is made.
In that city, also, we see how impotent
free press can be TO obtain honest and
official government. 1t is practically the
same as though there was no press there at
all. Every day in the year scores of ably.
conducted journals thunder at the
thieves, and every day in the year the
thieves continue to steal with placid and