The Benton weekly record., 1882-12-07
THE BROKEN ENG.


Observers in other States, and a great
many New Workers who live remote from
the city, can not understand how it is that
a despotism has been imposed upon the
Republican party SO mean and sordid and
contemplate, yet SO inexorable that moth
ing but determined revolution and defeat
of. the party could even begin to break it.
The mere fact that the lackeys Of the ring
have been always the most vociferous in
''reform within. the party''
should have shown that reform within the
party was impossible. Such reform pre-
sumes that the honest majority of the party
has the opportunity Of free expression
but the moment that becomes impossible
such reform is out Of the question. It has
been long impossible in New York for the
real voice Of the party to be heard within
the 'sregular'' organization. and it is for
tunate that that organization has now been
hopelessly shattered.
The situation has been this, and the
statement will enable Republicans else
where to comprehend the astounding event
Of the late election. The Republican vote
of the State is, in round numbers, half a
million. That of the city when Garfield
was elected was about 81 900. This latter
number is the basis Of the representation
in State Convention, and it gives to the
city some 70 delegates in 1876. But not a
voter Of the 81 900 can vote for delegates to
the State Convention who is not member
Of enc Of the two dozen Republican associ-
ations OF the city. These associations are
elese corporations whose requirements for
admission are intolerable to every self-re-
specting voter. Consequently they do not
contain more than 1000 or 5000 Of the 81, ;
coo Republican voters, and the 70 dele
gates FROM the city are elected by hand
ful of managers In the twenty-four assoc
eiationa. Thus more than seventh Of the
Republican votefB in the State are not per-
mitted to have voice in the party Com
vention, s:ld as ?o delegates usually hold
the balance of power in State Conven-
tion, the ring which appoints them con-
trolls the regular party nominations and
action. No exhortation to attend the pri-
aaries is any use, because if the other
Republicans should attend, they would
not be permitted to vote. The associations
have been generally differed and manned
from the Custona-house and Post-office,
until g changed system in those offices has
disturbed the relation, and patronage has
been the foundation Of tho whole orgariza-
tion. sE #4E
This rotten system has been recently de-
acribed by Mr.. George Bliss, who is an ac-
tive member OF one of2the associations, and
who Wrote letter TO his friend Mr.. Ar
thur, three years ago, exposing the OUT
,sge upon the party and the State. In his
recent interview Mr. Bliss says:
Nearly every district association is in
the hands and under the control of two or
three men, and it depends entirely upon
ghoir disinserestedneas or2sense Of fair deal
iE,g whether it shall be run in their own
Interest or IN that Of the Republican party.
In my opinion, in more than three-fourths
OF the organizations Of the city, no real re-
gard is now had to the interest of the
party, to fair dealing, or even in common
deoency. In many ofthem it is impossible
TO have 8 fair primary election, orfor q
Republican who is not willing to accede to
the wishes of those who set themselves up
TO control is TO secure even admission to
the association; and SO far MS the question
OF settling contested seats in the Central
Committee, or in the associations, or in the
goes, such matters are decided
with as little regard to the merits of the
case rs a Democratic Congress gives inth
case of Southern Republican member. I
Rillsay further that in many districts [
am satisfied that the money raised for the
legitimate purposes OF the election is not
applied to those purposes. So-called lead.
ers putt in their pockets. The local tick
eLs also, in a.large portion Of the city where
there Ia no chance Of Republican success,
are merely used as a means OF peculiarly or
personal benefit to those in control. / have
no hesitation IN saying generally that the
present organization of the party in the
city OF New York has not only lost the con-
tldence of the public, but II has deserVedly
lost it, and ought not to have it.
No possible after ndaaee upon the pri-
1naries cealtl DO Dc any avail under such a
eystefn as this, and il is by means Of it
that the machine had 50 long ruled the
Republican party Of New York despite it
aelf. Republicans have hesitated to resort
70 the heroic remedy of voting for Demo
cratic candidates. But when even the
forms Of larisy and deceney we're dis
eardsa, and reg tlarity = was based upon
fra.Id end forgery, the result has been
popular pfltli ican uprising against the
ssssaIsalayss, ssealIs Concord and
le1tng TON.