Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-02-20

contrive to be adopted by at least two
organizations, and consequently he
must contribute to the expenses of
both, if not ALL We suppose no one
can run for any office for which he
has to be voted for throughout the
whole city, with q contribution Of less
than ten thousand dollars or fifteen
thousand dollars to each organization
and accordingly none but rich man
or one having rich friends who are
willing to put up literally for him,
can hope to be elected. A poor man,
though possessing the highest qualif-
cations and the greatest popularity, is
ruled out, unless he can beg or borrow
the vast sum which is required to meet
these accumulated assessments.
Another consequence of this situa-
ton is that on the approach of an
election, especially if it be State
election where all factions happen to
be sincerely anxious to carry the State
ticket, negotiations are entered into
between them for the selection of the
different local candidates. Each fac
ton appoints its convention, and these
conventions bargain about the persons
on whom the different lucrative and
potent offices are to be bestowed.
Thus q scene of general truck and
dicker is inaugurated, and the people
look on to see what kind of nominees
this trading and bargaining will final
ly offer for their suffrages.
But if one or more of the three fac
tons are not interested in the State
election, or if they fail to agree upon
local nominations, then some one of
them, or perhaps all, are tempted to
make arrangements with free-booting
politicians of the other party or par
ties for swapping of votes on election
day, all seeking some private advant-
age at the expense of public treach-
cry. The result in such cases is de-
moralization and corruption, that
work great mischief before their power
is spent.
Such a system is not only the source
of constant danger and weakness
within the party, but it offers immense
opportunities to the enemy, while it
naturally causes a profound disgust
among independent citizens who do
not attach themselves to either party,
but prefer TO hold aloof in order that
they may support that ticket which
happens to present the best list of
candidates. But this feeling is not
confined to the Independents. Many
Democrats share it, and thus under
the complicated and chaotic circum-
stances we have described, New York
is gradully tending to become Re
publican city, just as Brooklyn has
already become. Some day-how
soon it is impossible to foretell-the
great body of our New York electors,
including large proportion of free
minded Democrats, wearied and in
famed by the state of facts we have
described, may unite in general upris-
ing which will turn out all the Demo
cratic factions and put the Republi-
cans into power over the whole city |
government.
Is there any way of correcting the
evils we have depicted and Of obviat-
ing the danger we have pointed out ?
We do not know. The evils have ex-
listed indefinitely, and public attention
has often been called to them, but in
vain. The progress has been, not
from bad to better, rather from bad
to worse. The State authorities Of
the Democracy have not thought best
to apply any radical measure. How
could they, and what measure could |
they apply? Whenever State con-
vention meets, the anxiety for the
time being is to elect the ticket that
it dominates, and to deal as gently rs
possible with the recalcitrant elements
in New York city lest some one or
other of them should revolt and de-
feat the ticket, as on one memorable
occasion, when Tammany Hall rose
against Lucius Robinson and crushed |
the party, in order to feed fat the
grudges of its chief This deadly
blow the meek-hearted Democracy of
the State endured without striking
back, almost without resentment.
Fear prevailed over Indignation and
Tammany Hall, the head and back
bone of this whole system Of factions,
was taken back into the party with
increased prestige and undiminished
power Of dictation.
Once more, we point out the danger,
but who can tell how or when it is to
be removed?
Such is the condition of the New
York city Democracy. 1t is rotten to
the core, and the Democrats through
out the Union are beseeched to bow
down to these disreputable politicians,
and to throw aside principle and
needed reforms in order that the pol
itical leeches of the three organiza-
tons of New York city can grow fat
by plundering the taxpayers of their
city. A person must be possessed of
colossal cheek to ask the Democrats
of this country to use their influence
and contribute funds for such a pack |
of political Judases, who think more
of their thirty pieces of silver than
they do of the welfare, prosperity and
happiness of the people.
Before the Democracy of New
York State can claim the influence
that it is entitled to, it must reform.
The leaders of the three political
cliques should be discarded, and, in
place thereof, should be an harmoni-
Gus, united and patriotic party, that
can rise above the treasury of New