Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-23
METROPOLITAN DEMOCRACY.

The strongholds of the Democratic marty
are the large cities. This fact Las been en-.
forced again and again by successive cleo.
tons, and with an increasing degree of en-
phasis. 1t can not be denied, and. So far Ms
we see, 1t can not be helped. It's tho incyi.
table result OF popular tcndency--,he tend
ency OF the corrupt and ,iisane.t,u
masses IN "oIGenlrate at great centres of
population. Our large cities, besides be.
Ing the commercial foc of the country
are Its great refuse centres. Here Converge
all inc dralls OF vice and degradation. and To
these fostering pools Of humanity tend all
the viler currents OF oar national life. Tina,
the Democratic party relies for its chief
suenRln Vi on this element of Cur population
IS easily seen by the Class which represents
the party in power, and by its campaign
metho1s. Look at the government of
new YORK city, the great Democratic
centre OF the country. Since 1868 i,
mas been Infamous for its corrup,iop
And no. only have its "rings" ruled and
con'rolle their own municipality, but have
e4erted most baeful influence upon the
politics OF the entire nation. They have
dictated in large measure the policy of the
state, and the large elect oral vote of ,bc
State has given its immense ADVANTAGE in
national elections. And the most effective
feature OF This system Of poll ical man
agemcn', Is Its willy management.
While practically under the control
OF the Democrats, the ling is by
no means made up altogether of Democrats
A number Of the confcderates are Republ.
cans. or rather Republican rcncgadcs, who.
Tor The sake of political power consent TO
run the Republican machine in the interest
OF the Tammany system. Thus its novor
becomes supreme in municipal government.
That the tendency Of Democratic mower
10 concan rate in large cities is a DANGEROUS
one Is easily seen. "In both ancient and
modern tlmcs," says current writer. .'the
concentration Of political power at the cen.
tres OF population, has proved the destruc.
tion OF government and of liberty Until
within The past few centuries, the world wos
uniiormallY subjected to the sway of few
great centres of population. Even in Greece.
the cradle OF liberty the supremacy of
Athcns, and afterwards of Snarta
paved the way for the downfall of
Inc coniedeiacy Of free States, and even
OF freedom itself. The city of Rome was
virtually the empire, and involved the ruin
OF the empire in its corruption and fall. In
more recent days Rome has to1 freoucn,lv
been Italy, and Paris has been too pear,v
synonymous with France, to ensure either n
staDle government or the steady growth of
popular institutions" The conclusion na,ur-
any is, mat corruption in municipal politics,
or Democratic control of our LARGO
cltles, will result in national disaster.
Were it not Tor the superior char
acter and incorruptibc integrity of
the great non-metropoi,an body of voters
An oifseiting element which Greece and
ilaiy dld not possess-there might be occa-
sion Tor this extreme view. But the Renub.
|llcan party must still continue to be the ru,.
ing party in all sections of the country where
pn'elligence and morality preponderate over
ignorance and vice. Until the population of
put large cities becomes numerically equal
70 that OF the rest Of the country, there will he
pc danger go serious as that of national cor
upton and ruin. Only in so far as the cities
Indirectly influence the country at large, will
be result Of municipal corruption be folt.