New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-03
A SEVERE CURE.

AmnutatiOn is sometimes the very best thing
that n man can have done for himself. SO the
complcte surrender of this city TO the conlroi
of n partisan Democratic government may be
the hest means in the end Of breaking up the
mower of that party i'll this city and Stlte. III
il a long time slnce the people of New-York
have had oppoltunity to see what unrestricted
Democratic government in a city Ike this
really means. 1t might not lie bad thing IN
the end to have the character and tendencies OF
the Democratic party thus illustrated IN prdc-
teal operation, and on stage where all the
world must witness ihe performance.
The cisy would suffer for Il time, no doubt.
No one can contempt ate without grave appie-
bension the transfer of the Poicc ana FIRE
aitments, tne parks, public works, char-
tI-s ard other branches of TIE government OF
this ely, to n set of ravenous Democratic
po,iticians Almost the only t0leraplc feature
of the government of this most mis- ,OYerncd
cIty has been that the control OF certain oil these
depaitnents, upon which the property, hcalth,
prosperity, personal rights and even tn" very
life of the citizen dcpcnd, has been kept from
DO clans of Their party. But That ms cna-
lied the Dcmocra ic party TO escape lul tcoi
of its Incapacity for gOvcrIiin : - Il maniiesta-
tiop of that inherent and dangerous denla-
coyism which disrcgards all rights and all
reason i'm a crazy scramble for the spnils.
Very good citizens, inc udiny many substantial
nroperty-owneIs, continue active Democrats
because they find it hard to believe that any
marty in great city like this would care not
inc for the general welfare, be blind to lis
own interest, and bring ruin upon the COM
= Ill these M
have suffered for a while from DemOcra'ic
rule they will 60 about begging men OF other
paIties to help them in cassnG OIL the acclrsed
| yoke.
These citizens have been captured 10y a
| phrase 1t seems TO them thai local SELL
| government is as good thing for great
| city as for any Other political DO ". TO douDt
| that the majority Of the persons who may III
any time happen 10 vote in this city are capable
81 ruling it well. ii sens to them, Is to
| dovbt the capacity OF the people for sell
Government. They do not consider that such
city as tins is at all times largely inhabited
| lY Der ons who are in no sense permanent
residents, wl,o have nothing to bind them
| 70 III. sol or to make them care IN any dc'.-
mite way whether ihc government OF the CITY
| is Good or bad. They work here ths month,
and may work in PAiladelphl or New-1aven
next month they board here to-dag, and may
board ~ brooklyn, w stchc ter or New-Jer'ey
tomorrow IL requires high grade OF INTEL
| li,cnce 10 COMPREHEND the effect Of bad MUM
cpal government upon tie prosperity OF every
workman within the city, and those who pos
| scss ,l,at degree OF intelligence are not very
many. A government which these transient
| dive ers can make and unmake n pleasure Is
~ little a test of the itDess of =" tho people
| for self. Oyerlnnent as if every person who
had been a guest at hotel III the city during
tlc wear should he invited to cast his vote IL
| the election of It's rulers. AS well leave
railroad company to he managed 10y all the
passengers on its cars.
Besides these transient or unsettled voers,
who have 10 permanent interest III the wei
| fare of a city, there is also In New-f0ik q
great army of enemies OF society and OF all
| social order. The dangerous classes grayltate
IN sucL centre of population rs water runs
down hill. TO these must be added IN New
! York n much larger army OF ignorant PERSONS
| who have no property interests anywhere nor
| the hope OF any, and who are ed by the most
INSCRIPTIONS demagogue simply because he Is
the most unsclupui0us Now, 1T Is the IN
herent vice or the Democratic party that IL ap-
,eals everywhere to these classes Oh voters
| who have the least interest iii good govern