New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-03

defence became necessary. 1t seemed likely
when the soldiers began to shoot that the
terryboat would soon overtake the Granite
stare and q hand-to- hand combat ensue. 90
Tho soldiers shot with fatal effect. No guns
were aimed at the shore, where many people
seem to have gathered, in order to see tue iu,''
or the trouble, as the case might be. irouoio
unfortunately it was Ii ia painful indeeu Una.
such n conflict between law and disorder shouiu
have arisen, and most lamentable that lhnoceLV
nersous shculd have lost their lives; but tic
law mnst I've enforced even at the expense oil
mobs This is a law.abiding country except
perhaps, in Missouri.
The mastery inactivity of the Administration
men on the Republican State Committee Is
advanced as an argument to sustain the asser-
tions of some personal friends of Judge Folger
that Smyth, French & Co. do not desire his
election. Their statements are given III
another column of this issue. 1t must he ad-
mitted that the Commuters cOnIse since the
Saratoga Convention is readily explained on
this theory. All precedents have been
sighted. The Administration men have made
10 effort to rouse enthusiasm tor their canol-
date. Few meetings have been held. Ihere
has been little effort to cooperate with the
county committees throughout the State ana
the money raised To pay the legitimate eN-
uenses of the canvass has been sent to the per-
sonal followers of Mr.. Conkling and the Presi-
dent to he spent as they saw fit. While these
circumstances make the hypothesis of Judge
Folger's friends seem reasonable enough 1t is
csrtail ;ilat the widespread dissatisfaction IN
ti, rarty cannot be explained in this way.
The trouble lies further back. The voters are
dIsgusted at the interference of the Admins
tration in New York politics, at the prescription
If the friends of the late President, and at the
trio kerry and forgery at Saratoga This dis
gust has been further increased by the manifest
incompetency of the State Committee.
This is not an easy year for candidates.
Letters of acceptance are not enough. lnqlls-
tive voters have the assurance to pm each
man who asks their support down to positive
statements-Or at least to thy to do So ms
time it is the candidates for tie Governorshlp
who are under examination by the Civil Ser
vice Reform Association. The drift of the
questions is indicated by the replies. Judge
Folger's letter, however, is direct and to the
point. Mr. Cleveland's is somewhat evasiye.
He seems to have had 1t in mind that letter
writing is dangerous business. The Republic
can candidate says that. as Governor be
would use all legitimate influence to further
legislation to improve the public Civil Service.
He declares that he has already practised what
he breaches; that he has told his subOrdnates
that they need not feel forced to give for party
PURPOSES, and lie has refused to sanction visits
of solicitation. Judge Folger then points to
his acts in connection with the Willard Asy-
lun, at Ovid to show the methods he approves
in the management of public institutions. He
believes in boards of trustees equally divided
between both great parties, so that iavorltlsm
would be excluded. Full and free primary
elections alone have his sanction. Mr.. Cleve-
land must have shuddered when he received
the questions but he proceeds to get around
the m as best he may. Touching Civil Service
reform he SAWS be likes the PendletOn BILL lie
believes that the People with "A large - de-
mand reform in National and State Admins
trations; and he thinks the public should be
well served by honest and competent SER
wants. The money these servants earn
" sbould not be exacted from them by way of
nolitica assessment" Four-fifths of the Dem
ociatic candidates letter is given up to
stating what we have put substantially In
few lines. Seven lines of his letter, as he sent
it out, contain the replies to all the other ques
lions. He does not know in detail, he admits
the evils and obstacles surrounding mlsnan-
agement in schools. asylums and public instl-
tutions, nor the difficulties III the way Of new
aaueduct; but he believes that all may be
overcome by due regard to the dictates of
humanity and decency. The trouble is, Mr..
Cleveland, peoples views as TO these dictates
vary.