Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-04
NEW YORK LETTER.
q SURVEY OF rax POLITICAL FIELD on
THE EVE or BATTLE
A Statement Of the csss-Hswitt and Tam
many-rhs New Times Building-Jonss
va Potscs-An Ancient Charity.
,oorospOnasOos Of the Richmond pl.D.,ch.l

0encN ~ utiuE lOuEbt AhO NY Va sHo
situation is hero. The city lie the battle
field. Ii is the Gettysburg Of this po-
litical war. The County Democracy
bold Round Top. Tsmmany is in posi-
lion on Cemetery Ridge. and the Coo
gan Democracy holds Cups Hill. These
points must be held or defeat is certain
: Each faction flies the flag Of the national
: Democracy. Each apparently maintains
D firm front sgainst the advancing Re
publican line. The real situation, how
ever, ia little understood The line looks
firm, but il is extremely thin. Very few
Democrats are fighting tho common
= enemy. Each faction scorns assistance
from the other, and away behind
The entrenchments they are fighting each
other With the ferocity OF tigers Both
Tammany and tho County Democracy
assert undying fealty 10 Cleveland and
Thurman, yet each maintains Its Gluten
ut tho others throat. Meantime the
shouting Republican column is mounting
the slope. Its leaders are within pistol
shot OF the escArpment The whites OF
the ewes OF the men in the front rank are
plainly visible. The danger IN imminent.
Through either carelossness or treacbery
the enemy may slip in on the flank OF
either faction, turn its position, and
achieve q victory. Yet there arc enthu-
eissts who declare that this factional
fight strengthens the national Demo-
cratic ticket.
FIGHTING FOR sPOfLs.
Let us snAlyze the situation and ascer-
tain the facts.
There ~ no sentimentality in New
York city politics. Selfsbness alone Is
paramount Every point IA played for
what II is worth. This is a fight for the
loayes aud fishes For city politicians
fle next Mayor will have far more pa
fronage than the next President. The
Mayor will control the distribution Of
nearly 10000. 800 year. All this will
DE divided among residents who take an
interest in politics. The Mayors power
OF appointment is absolute. ID Is en-
tirelv independent OF the sanction OF the
DOnrd OF Aldermen or OF that of any
other municipal body. The next Mayor
will have the appointment of TWEEN
ty-three commissioners, who Will
distribute the vast municipal patron
age. Compared with this Federal pa
tronage j. mere drop in the bucket.
Ii amounts 10 less than $1,000 600 n
ycnr And this $1,000 900 is not dis
trihuted among city Democrats Under
Democratic Administration the Repnb-
hcaDs now retain more than half OF 1t.
County Democrats take half OF the re-
mainder. and the city Democrats are
forced ~ put mp with what IS left. 1t Is
safe TO say that to-day not 100000 n
wear IN Federal patronage IL distributed
among city Democrats. The Collector
uf the Port IL Democrat from
the strongest Republican county in
the State. He holds the richest
Office here within tine gift OF the
President. Ii is filed with Repub-
lcans. The Postmaster IL Re-
publican, and tho l.s00 places in his
Office are held by mcmhers of that party.
The Appraiser Is MugWump. and Re
uoblicans hold the most Of the places
under him. The Naval Officer is also
llugwump. HIS Office IS filed with
Republicans, and recent developments
show that there is a faint corruption
nb0utIt. The only staunch Democrats
are the Surveyor and the United States
Marshal. Their patronage is small, but
tue Democratic party gets tho benefit OF
it. Worse than all thu, the Presidents
power Of appointment to any Federal
office is Hunted by the consent of the
United States Senate.
NATTER or BUSINESS.
Such are the facts They explain them
eelyes Any man can draw deduction.
ls it reasonable TO suppose that either
the County Democracy or TAmmany
Hall will throw away sure municipal
patronage OF nearly $50, 600, 600 year
Tor IN uncertain Federal patronage of
S1O0. 900? Any businessman knows
better Politics in large cities is purely
matter OF business. Men invest in 1t
with view TO return on the invest
mont. Sentiment has nothing 10 do
with it. Assessments on impocunious
candidates for county Offices are fire.
Ouently raised 10y capitalists, who take
mortgage upon the receipts Of the
Office for return. If the candidate is
elected they may get 90 or even 200 per
cent. from his fees for their money. If
defeated they lose the principal. The
interest is proportioned TO the risk, and
the whole thing is u speculation. Who
ever heard OF Spectator governed by
sentiment?
IL costs each faction Of the Democracy
in this city at least $500, 900 year to
maintain its organization. This money
does not come from the pockets OF office
holders. II comes mainly from the
rockets OF ofice-seekerS They are
looking for a reward in the turmoil OF
municipal politics The reward comes
through the distribution of municipal
and not through tho distribution of Fed
eral patronage. If il is TO their interest
70 make the Federal ticket subservient TO
81 the municipal ticket it is reasonable to
assume that il will he done There will
he no sentiment about it. 1t will I've
business. DO not say that either Tam
many Hall, the County Democracy, or
the Coogan Democracy will trade votes
for presidential electors for votes for
mayor. The facts are stated and the
reader must draw his own conclusions
THE FAMILY FIGHT.
Right here make a note One Of the
candidates for mayor acknowledges a
personal dislike of the Democratic can
didate for the presidency. This candi-
date for mayor was nominated by citi-
zens' committee, in which Republicans
predominated. He is looking for Re-
publican votes. His nomination WAS
afterwards endorsed by wing of the
Democracy. In accepting the nomina-
ton this candidate sent his official letter
10 the Republican Citizens Committee,
and not TO the Democratic organization.
When importuned to withdraw for the
safety of his party he offered to do so
provided the union candidate was Sc
lected by the same Citizens Committee
that placed him in nomination. This
candidates hrother-in law As sell as him
self are decisive factors in the councils
OF the County Democracy. With these
facts IN view any man ought 10 readily
REQ how much the national ticket is
benefited aud strengthened by the fac
tional fight here.
The truth is that this is a fight rot