New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-19
THE CANVASS IN NEW-YoRK.

The vital importance of the elections which
are to take place in this State next November
is generally conceded 1t is not going to be an
of year campaign. There is too much at stake
to warrant such a suppositiOn. With Senate
TO be chosen which will have voice in the Sc
lection of the United States Senator who is to
succeed Mr.. Evarts; with an Assembly to be
chosen whose political complexion will 60 far to
determine the fate Of the excise, ballot, COM
pulsory education and other great reform meas
ures that will come before the Legislature OF
1890; with all the important Executive Offices
except those of Governor and Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor to be filled, it would be strange indeed if
either party failed to do its best.
What is to be the outcome? VIII the result
of the November elections show gains for the
Republicans or for the Democrats? We be-
lieye that if our friends throughout the State
make no mistakes either in the nominating con-
ventionS or in the management of the general
and local canvasSes we shall more than hold
our own. This certainly should be Republic
can year in New-York. Every intelligent voter
ought to be convinced by this time that an Or
eanizatiOn whose chief leader is David b. Hill
is unworthy of the popular confidence. HllIs
course as Governor has demonstrated that he Is
controlled by the worst elements in his party
by the saloons and tho INSCRIPTIONS bosses
lie has been whiskey's Governor; he has been
the machines Governor; he has not been the
peoples Governor. The best men in the ranks
of the Democracy-a fact that was made clear
al the Cleveland dinner-despise him. Yet this
is the person, this David B. Hill, whose will is
to be the law of the approaching Democratic
A al under
such leader makes bid for the opposition of
reputable citizens. Nor is the Democratic
situation improved by turning from the record
of the Governor to that Of the Democratic
minority in the legislative branch of the Gov
eminent. That minority has fought with Hill
to ford protection to the rum power and to
deny it to the ballot-box Like him it has
never heSitated to foster partisan interests at
the expense of the common veal Like him 1t
has steadily antagOnized the great reform bills
which were made for genuine public progress.
On the other hand the Republican party of
New York through its representatives in the
public service has done much to commend itself
to the popular regard. 1t has inauguIated and
pursued a wise and generous canal policy. 1t
has solved the prison problem so as to do well
by the State and the cOnvictS without doing in
Justice to free labor II has passed wise and
conservative measures placing wholesome re-
straints upon the liquor traffic, interfering with
bribery at the polls and with the spOliation of
candidates by means of extortionate assess
ments for election expenses. 1t has been the
sturdy champion Of the school system and has
provided for the compulsory education of idle
children. In short, it has been good and
faithful servant of the people. It is manifest
therefore that the Republicans have a right to
feel that the tide is with them. They will go
before the people inspired with the conscious
ness that they deserve success. All the same
they realize that they face a powerful foe.
The Democrats have the control of the EX-
executive offices they are the ms" At their
head stands Governor Hill, an adroit and ex-
perienced wire puler who will not hesitate to
use all the patronage at his disposal for the
benefit Of the Democratic State ticket. Rely
ing upon this patronage and upon the large
corruption fund which the saloons will place in
his hands, Hill may well feel like asking the
voters, in the words Of one of his predecessors
in Democratic party management "What are
you going to do about it p
But while it would be foolish to underest-
equally foolish to be discouraged by it. 1t has
been well said that a party which leaves out
of its reckoning the operation Of moral forces
is bound to 60 to the wall sooner or later. But
that is precisely what the Democracy of New
York under the leadership of Governor Hill
has been doing. Let the Republicans there
fore nominate a strong and popular State ticket,
strengthen it by trst-clasS nominations for the
Legislature and make resolute fight If they
do so they can not only retain and increase
their majority in the Legislature, but regain
the State Offices.