Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-07-25
A MANIFESTO
ISSUED BY THE DEMOCRATS OF THE
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE
Upon the Late Senatorial Struggle, Show
ing the Rottenness That Existed With
in the Ranks of the Dominant
Party,and Asking the People
toUphoId Their Course.
COMMON SENSE VIEW OF THE MATTER
DEMOCRATIC ADDRESS

10 the Citizens of the State of New York
Upon the Result OF the Albany Con-
test
ALBANY, July 23.-The Democratic
members of the Legislature, through
their Joint caucus committee, have
issued an address to the Democratic
citizens of the State OF New York and to
the citizens of the State, without distinc-
ton OF party. The address says:
Discords and quarrels in the Republi-
can majority have separated us from our
homes and business for nearly two
hundred days. The chief cause OF this
uncalled for detention was a quarrel
with the President OF the United States
on one side and the Vice President and
two Senators from. the State on the
other side. The source OF this discord
was the question OF
Official Patronage or spoils of Office.
The collector of the port Of New York
was forced to resign in the midst OF his
term from the place where he was serv-
ing with general acceptance to the public
and appointed to place abroad, un.
called for bv his friends or by the public,
in which he has no experience. This
change, against which the merchants OF
New York protest in large numbers, Was
made in total disregard OF every an
nounced principal OF civil service reform
and was not called for by any principle
of political duty, nor in the interest OF
the public service. The purpose OF the
act seemed to be to
Reward Those who had Been Personally
successful
in securing the Presidential nomina-
tion, and to punish those who had re-
sisted the leading member and the MEM
bers OF the National Republican Conven-
ton claiming the right OF third term OF
executive service for previous presi.
dency. The unseemly quarrel at Chica-
cago in the summer OF 1880 was trans
lerrad to Washington after the Presi.
dental election at the close OF the same
wear. The same strife has been contln-
ued with more bitterness at Albany
through the whole OF the present ses.
sion OF the Legislature. 1t commenced
with great vehemence at the Senatorial
election in January, where
Third-Class Candidate Was Nominated
and elected over first CLASS competitors
for the first Office in the gilt OF the Leg
islature, and hardly second to any OIL
tice in the gift OF the people OF the State.
The Office then filled after great strife,
was vacated by a voluntary resignation,
and when it had only been held for less
than onc-fourtn of the first year of the
full six years Constitutional term OF
office. The man who inspired this res
lgnatOn was the senior Senator ot the
State, who had been for three terms
elected to the United States Senate by
one party OF the State, whose longer
service will be now refused, and simply
owing to the fact OF the nomination to
the Senate of one OF the chief offenders
who had
Opposed His Ambition and Wishes at
Chicago
and elsewhere. The useless resignation
of these Two men has cost the State not
only Il large amount Of money, but,
what is more valuable, its honor, digni-
lv and self-rrspect. The two factions
known by the vulgar, but expressive
names of "Stalwarts" and ''liali-
Breeds" have governed the Senate and
Assembly OF the Republican party and
State through the whole session, The
Democratic members have many times
asked and demanded an appeal to the
people, but by force OF numbers,
D,,l, nntn
and in denial OF the opportunity OF Il
Timely public judgment upon the fact OF
leaving The State without its Constitu-
tlona representatives in the higher
branch of Congress, the Republican ma
iority refused to leave the choice Of
succession to the people OF the State.
These demands by the Democratic Uni.
nority that an appeal should be made to
the people, were met by the insulting
declaration that the possible choice OF
Democratic Senators in Congress would
be public calamity to the State, and
this after lust eecting Thos. &. Platt as
the successor OF Francis Herman, and
after following this succession with the
choice of man named Warner Miller,
a member of the present and previous
House OF Representatives, where he was
onlv conspicuous and notorious as the
direct and personal beneficiary of
One of the Worst Monopolies in the
Country,
and where lie has supported that
monopolv by his voice and intllence,
and with the threat that other public
interests should suffer ii his special in
terests in wood pulp and the manufac'
ture OF paper were not 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 with
ability, have had to give place to the two
men elected to Congress, and their
nomination made an excuse for passing
a law to fill the vacancies made by their
election and for no other reason.
These special electionsthus provoked
Ni u Il, ii ul;im"ly as they are unn"ces'
saw and expensive. The whole Senate.
rial discussion resolves itself into
Three Most DIscreditable Conclusions.
First-A mistrust Of the people OF the
State on the part OF the Republican ina
jority in the Legislature.
Serond-A quarrel and spoils of office
in two or three Republican factions,
wl,h practica! contempt for every prin.
ciple belonging to what is known and
encouraged as evil service reform.
Third--The abuse Of power from
its long use and misuse until
t@u oi the least capable persons have
been drawn from the popular branch OF
Compress to I'LL the highest places "l the
Stale in The Congress OF the United
States.
Another and most lisaGTceablc tran.
sactiun belonging 10 this Republican
Legislature is the
Evidence of Bribery and Corruption
established upon the evidence of mem
bcrs of the dominant party. leading
Republican Senator ut one faction IL
charged by members oi the Assembly OF
the same party and the same District of
the other faction with Offering and pay
ing him 5000 for his vote, and
the money WAS placed in pos
ession OF a special commitie
a1d is now in the hands OF the
State Comptroller. Beyond this fact is
the circulat on OF large sums of money