New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-08
MOVING NORTH WARD.


The hearts of all genuine reformers OF the
Cleveland variety will glow with JOY as they
read the evidence of great reform victory III
Cincinnati. Whether successful elsewhere or
not, this latest, purest and brightest KIND OF re-
form certainly shines conspicuous in the oiAth
Ward, where 1900 votes were poiled against
11S9 a year ago. 1t is mere incident that
one man voted fifteen times. These things are
done in the same way in Baltimore. where
patriots of the Higgins type have succeeded to
the blood-tubs of earlier days, and reform OF
the Gorham pattern fourishes greatly under
their auspices. New-York City used to enjoy a
GREAT deal of reform of the same sort In the days
of Tweed, who died too soon for his own reputa-
ton. Had he lived to this day, he would have
been n more stanch defender of Cleveland ana
reform than Hubert o. Thompson himself, ana
Mr.. George William Curtis and Henry Ward
Beechcr might have found in him precisely the
sort of man, politically and morally, to be
chosen as Governor of the State.
1t is this sort of reform which has been cult
waited so successfully in Cincinnati. just as rebels
who succeed are always patriots, so repeaters
and ballot-box suffers who have the protection
of the police Immediately become bright and
shining lights of reform. 1t all depends npon
the police. In Cincinnati the police had been
placed under the orders of Board OF PUBIC
Works for which had been selected some OF the
most INSCRIPTIONS tools Of the ing. lhese
were the leading agents in reform. BehInd
them were the rotten members OF the LegIslat-
ure who had taken brides in the Senatorial
election, and therefore did moi dare tn refuse to
sneeze when Allen o. Myers took snuff, ana
could not even vote to censure him when he in
suited them. This gang has possession oil the
machinery of elections in Cincinnai, and used IL
after the fashion graphically described In DIS
patches The result, of course, is great reform.
No doubt there are some people so far behind
the age that they will criticise this performance
but upon inspection it will be seen that their
objection is one of latitude They dislike to
have elections of that sort occur so far north
The notorious fact that States have been carried
i, the same way again and again at the South,
with vastly more bloodshed. and vastly more
crime of all sorts, does not annoy them AT all
But it makes them feel little uncomfortable TO
have reform of this peculiar variety exhibited
to the naked eye in Northern city, where 1t IL
not convenient to assassinate all the witnesses,
or possible to bulldoze all the reporters. 1t Is
melancholy, but this variety Of reform looks
badly in print. 1t accomplishes its object, how
ever. and elevates to high station great re-
formers like Cleveland and Lamar and Car
land. and why should it not be brought to
Northern cities, and employed there to control,
in the interests of purity and reform, the
electoral votes of Northern States 7
1t will not do to be squeamsh about this.
The sooner the fact is recognized that the DEM
ocratic party has no other basis and no other
chance of success than this particular variety OF
reform, the sooner those people who want Dem
ocratic reform will set themselves to get II IN
telligently and by the shortest road. 1t is
piece of folly TO buy up voters III Northern
villages, or to cOnspire with bar-keepers III
Northern towns. The only thing necessary is
TO get the police in one considerable city in each
State, and under It's protection to organize the
necessary gangs OF repeaters, and To place III
charge Of the ballot boxes reformers like MIR.
Higgins, whom President Cleveland has APP
pointed as a recognition of his celebrity ana siill
in "rectfying poll-lists" Then it will make
no difference how large an adverse majority
may be cast by an ignorant, preJudiced ana
unreforned people in the rural districts. Pro-
tected by the police, the gang in the cities can
manufacture just az large majorlties as NAV be
necessary, and so Cincinnati can be developed
to reform the electoral vote of Ohio, and In
dianapols to reform the vote of Indiana, and
jersey City to reform the electoral vote OF New
Jersey, as it has done already. After these
things have taken place, and the people of
Northern States have discovered that their
right of self-governmcnt has been stolen from
them, they may perhaps regard reform with
more critical eye than they do now.