The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-03
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.

If there was any proof needed of the
hollowness of Democratic pretentions
to reform and desire of helping the
people, the defeat of Judge Kelley's
bill for the relief of the burden of
taxation furnishes it. The bill may
not have been the best possible one
that might have been drafted, but II
would have saved something like
forty-one millions year. The Dem
ocrats voted solidly against it, and
thereby showed that they have fully
resolved that the country must bear
the weight under which it now strug-
giles and that a helping hand will not
be extended.
Right here in the city they have
given US another exhibition of their
rottenness. A few weeks ago, it will
be remembered, Commissioner of
Jurors Caulfield, started in to reform
his department and turned out and
had arrested several clerks who had
been receiving brides for years from
men who were unwilling to serve
as jurors. People were very much
amused to see Caulfield who among
a certain class of politicians is known
as Doodle George" from the fact
that when any ideal" was made
Garfield always carried the "boodle."
set up as reformer, and they asked
themselves what does he want. His
enemies assert that he wanted all the
cream of the Office to himself. How
ever this was, he received orders from
his political boss to stop the nonsense
or he would go himself. The result
was that the examination against the
clerks (who of course political mag
mates in their own way,) was con-
Quoted in such manner that the
fellows were discharged. Caulfield
however is now a marked man. He,
Police Justice White and Henry
Purroy have brought the hatred of
the so-called Democrats down on
themselves, for their utilization with
the citizens movement, and they will
not be forgotten.
A Democratic Senator tells me that
among the earliest measures to be
voted on at Albany, is motion to
legislate the existing Dock Commits
sion and the present Board of Police
Justices out of Office and their places
are in future to be filled by election.
There are to be three more Police
Justices than there are now who are
to sit at the Court of Special Sessions.
The salary of a Police Justice which
at present is $4,000. is to be reduced
to $4,000 or perhaps $4,000, and the
term of Office which at present is ten
years, is to be cut down to five. This
is how Tammany means to "get
square, on its enemies and at the
same time gain reform laurels.
Yesterday was Washington's Birth
day, but had it not been for the semi.
suspension of business and the few
receptions of military organizations.
people would scarcely have been
aware of it. I am sure that if a
foreigner had asked any ordinary
man he had run across what day was
being celebrated, he could not have
told. 1t is to be presumed of course
that every American is as fondly
proud of the memory of this man as
the character and deeds of the Father
of his Country warrant. But it is
strange indeed how precious little en-
thusiasm there is on the anniversary
of his birth. 1t was not always so.
1t is not years ago when Washing.
toms Birthday was an occasion Sec
ond only to the Fourth of July. There
were parades of military and civic
organizations throughout the city in
the day, and fireworks and speeches
in the evening. The boys built bon.
fires and although the policeman was
in duty bound to look unkindly at
them, yet he would sooner steal away
than serve as spoil-sport. Now all
this is changed, and the day might
as we'll be the anniversary of the
birthday of Kamehamaha the first
king of the Sandwich Islands as OF
Washington. dined at the house OF
a well known clergyman the other
day and conversation turned to this
NIL adnairari feeling which is growing
in strength in this country. cit is
all on account of that Ingersolic spirit
which permeates the very air that we
BREATHE" said he. This man who
uses his splendid oratoric gifts to
vilify, ridicule and distort sacred
feelings simply to make money, as a
kings jester formerly did for a living,
is doing an incalculable amount Of
harm. 1 have too good an opinion