New-York tribune., 1885-10-19
THE GENERAL RECORD.


TIE GENERAL RECORD.
David 3. Hill has been shown to be unworthy
of the public confidence. The proof establish
ing his Aagrant inldeity to the peoples inter
ests, as it has been presented in the columns OF
THE TRIBUNE, possesses the force OF demon
stration. He was the tool OF Tweed in Tweed's
most pr0nigate days He arraycd himself as Il
legislator Oh the side of public pundcrers. He
was the industrious champion OF spawned canal
claims. As Lieutenant-Governoi he dlstin-
guished himself by lending his casting vote to
kill an important bill which had tcen prepared
for the benefit of the canals. As Governor ne
has "run " the great Office as he would run n
Chemung caucus-for the promotion of his own
selfish schemes while by his course on the CELL
sus. the appropriation for the State Board OF
Health and the Brooklyn reform bills he has
clearly established his selfish disregard OF The
common veal. Mr.. Davenport, on the other
hand, confidently appeals 10 his record. lis
course as Senator and Controller heartily COM
mends him to honest and clcar-hcaded men AS
a legislator he was the promoter OF wholesome
measures, and only of wholesome measures.
No lob ever got his vote or his influence.
Every conspicuouSy bad measure passed by
the Legislature Of 1871 received Asscmbyman
Hills vote; but Mr.. DayenpOrts term as
Senator will be searched in vain for proof con
meeting him with vicious bills. promoted from
the Senate to the State COntrollcrship, Mr. Day-
enport continued to be a good and faithful
public servant. He enforced the wholesome
policy of keeping the trust funds invested and
each fund standing on its own basis; he insisted
that it was the part of wisdom for the Legis-
4 Il ll.,ri nH Gn
that taxpayers could know precisely where
they stood he cautioned the State against boz
rowing money to pay its living expenses; he
declined TO pay eXtOrtiOnate bills Tor the eX-
penses or rowing legislative committees he
took pains TO see that the Corporation Tax law
was faithfully executed, promptly bringing suit
through the Attorney General In short, Con-
troller Davenport transacted the public busl-
ness with an eye single to the good of the tax
PAYERS. He had no axe of his own to grind aDd
none was ever ground. His administration was
characterized at all points by efficiency and in
tegrity.
But suppose for the sake of argument that
the public record of the two candidates were
equally good. Suppose that Hill instead OF
being an arrant demagogue, was higl-toned
man, whose public reputation, like Mr.. Daven-
ports, was unassailable, what then ? Why then,
losing sight of candidates and having regard
simply to political parties, the advantage in the
canvass is overwhelmingly with the Repnbl-
cans. For, as has been repeatedly pointed out
in these columns, Republican administration in
this State has only to be fairly compared with
Democratic administration to establish It's
superiority beyond peradventure. Taxes
have been highest and the tone of public ser
vice lowest when the Democrats had full con-
troll at Albany both of the executive and legis-
latiye departments of government. 1t was
while the Democrats had full swing that one OF
the great funds of the State was robbed to
meet the extravagant ordinary expenses OF
government. In four years of Democratic
supremacy-as appears by the Controllers re-
port--the appropriations exceeded the revenues
by over eight and a quarter million dollars.
Under Democratic management of the finances
only So, SAC, "a / OF the great bounty debt was
discharged in four years. while under Republl-
can management Sl9,5l4,773 of the debt was
paid of in tho same length of time. And just
so the superiority of Republican administration
is seen in the history of the policy OF the State
in regard to its canals and prisons. Governor
Tilden did indeed accomplish great reform
work. but the salient fact remains after award
ing him full credit that the Constitutional
amendment placing the canals on an economic
cal and sensible basis, under single superin-
tendent, and the related amendment which did
the same thing for the prisons, originated and
were pushed to their passage by Republicans
in the face of Democratic opposition.
We are not asserting that the Republican
record is without spot or blemish far from it.
1t has its weak places. Some of the men chosen
to represent the party in the Legislature or in
other leading positions have not been above
reprOach. Bummers and dead beats and in
competents prey upon every great organization.
But take the general average, and the DemOc
racy is nowhere. The rule has been that Re-
publican officials have done better by the State,
have acted with more wisdom and economy
and general efficiency than Democratic officials.
The public records attest the truth of this
monumental fact.
WHAT DEMOCRATIC VICTORY MEANS.
The question whether Democratic victory
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