Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-07-10
THr r0tRrH IN TAMMANY HALL.

fHE FOCkfh IN iAAmANA
Among. the details of Fourth OF
July celebrations none are more in
structive than those that come from
Tammany Hall. In the main the an
niversary of freedom and democracy
has degenerated into an occasion for
temperance lectures and for lay and
clerical dissertations and for all sorts
of Improbable comparisons of the
past, present and future; but at
Tammany Hall the Hon. S. S. Cox
applied an axe to the root of existing
social and political evil.
After explaining to young America
how their fathers spent their Fourth
and telling what was comnemorated
and illustrated in their observances
of it, the orator Of the day went on
to say: "The acquisition Of wealth
by sinister methods is one Of the
many recent developments leading to
the prevailing craze of speculation
and insanity Of gambling. 1t has
taken hold of the people; it moves
them to the front; it engenders de-
sire for luxury and prodigality and
too often benumbs moral sensibility.
1t has invaded all departments Of So
cial life and become the common in
centive to almost every financial fraud
and crime. 1t has shown as especial
ly in this city how business interests
can be transformed in q way never
before defended in the forum OF con-
science. The great mass of society
too everywhere is being permeated by
this most undesirable leayen. Yea,
even in the selection of candidates
for the highest trust known to clvili-
zation, mems eyes are being blinded
by the dazzle of wealth. People fail
to see that there are methods Of gain
that are incompatible with true justice
and the dignity and brotherhood OF
desirable nationalism. In other
words the indulgencies Of social life
have become so paramount as to al
lure people toward the exaltation o1
Inerltriclous splender over modestJ
and solid worth. The self-style6
s'party of moral ideas" which boasts
of culture, OF higher thought, ot
finer feeling, of nobler ambition anf
greater exaltation has long since sue
cumbed before the insolent pluto
cratic assurance which undertakes h
record, in advance of the ballot, tn,
peoples verdict at the polls. II Their
be one way more than other in whicl
popular sovereignty may be speedil.
overthrown, it is that by which tn
public servant is made the retainer o
wealth. intent only on private az
grandizement. History shows that
is not impossible for man to be ab
sorbed in an ignoble pursuit. 1t
hard to resist temptations such as wer
offered to allure divinity itself. Blu
every knee has not as yet bowed t
Baal. feel that I am among me
who are not altogether engrossed i
the pursuits of avariee; but who es
TEEN integrity and honesty mere al
tractive than the chink of silver G
the rustic of greenbacks. / than
God we are not as yet nation alte
gether bankrupt IN patriotism an
given over to the selfishness of pr
vate greed. 1t is an old rule Of den
ocratic faith that the money of til
people should not be deposited j
banks designated by officers to b
trafficked in at pleasure and to temE
to speeulatlons that end in bankrup
ey. The sub-treasury system Of Il
United States grew out Of such jea
ousy for the safe keeping Of the pul
l,c funds; but not long since a Ne
York City bank had in its vaults
permission of the Secretary of Il
Treasury over fifteen millions
money and securities to speculate
without bonded liability to goverl
ment. Il is only matter of goe
luck perhaps that in the case referrt
To speculation did not rr-. SO high
to have absorbed or sunk the milliol
deposited. There is sadness for mai
a stakeholder in the shrinkage of t,
millions that occurred the other d,
in one Of our railroads for viii
there is no compensation in t
shrinkage of millionaire's assets
twenty-three millions, and which n
only affected by its reaction other /
vestments at home: but in the pre-
ent condition of freightage proved
terrible blow against the prosperl
sof railways and begat in foreigne
sudden and disastrous distrust
American securities. 1t is not wor
while to speak in detail of all t
enormous swindles heaped Iii
pelion on Ossa by which hundreds
millions Of ill-gotten gains have be
: accumulated in the hands of financi
conspirators. The spirit Of gre
for gain is manifested in o variety
ways. Army officers duplicate tn,
pay until the son of Lincoln loos
patience and court marshals conve
TOO late. Unrecorded vouchers
wade the naval bureau of medici
aud surgery. Armory contracts d
play frauds. We have fixed retur
of rotten railroads that owe COVER
ment moneys not eomputable. T
land Office shivers under 60O, o.
pending claims for 200, 900 acres
public lands, mostly claimed by la
thieves. 1t is not alone the star
route nor vast largesses in electio
and mercenary conventions. It
not alone that government seeks
hide its schemes Of aggrandizemel
1t is not alone the acquisition of q
100000 acres of our soil by foreig
ers. 1t is not alone the system
absentee landlordism that exists
Dakota and other territories. 1t
not alone the railroad wrecker 81
repudiator. These and the thousal
other frauds wiring from Republics
such as George William Curtis, t
following confession: Honest a,
economical administration, peacei
and honorable foreign relations, t
progressive pnrifcation Of the pub
service at home, wise reduction
revenue and that sense Of pub
security which springs from the mt
al elevation of the administration q
not to be expected frem Republic
II y