New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-04
DENOCR4TIC OFFICIALS.

A delicate subject, and one not often treated
candidly in Democratic papers, Is thus men,
toned in 1.-THE New-York Sun:
somewhat more than year ago the Treasurer OF inc
state Of Kentucky absconded from Frankfort taking
with him considerable sum OF money. tbs
year four other teasurcrs OF Southern c0mmohWeas
have absconded leaving financial troubles behind then'
These are Ilemmingway, OF Mississippi treas
urcr Burke of Louisiana; Treasurer Archer, OF Mary
land and Treasurer holland, Of Missouri. Such DEF
alca:ions in five Southern States at once constitute
more than "a mere coincidence. III 'no -'o''"
crn States such dcfalcations rare.
"The Philadelphia Tines thinks that men
of business experience and integrity should
be chosen instead of politicians. But Inc
New-Yorls sun" considers that Northern Treas
urcrs rarely default because those men are
chosen who have demonstrated their hdehty
10 political trusts" There seems to be an eX-
pIanation which these critics are careful 10
omit At the South, where five out OF sixteen
Trcasurers default within about year. the
Treasures are all Democratic. At the North,
where not one out of twenty-six Treasurers
has dcfaultcd. nearly all these officials are Re-
publicans.
II does not follow, Of course, that kcpuD-
lican official is necessarily honest, or that
Democratic official is necessarily dishonest. buo
the methods adopted by the Democratic party
in its struggle for power are strongly corrupt
ing 1t would be strange, indeed, II many
mon. previously honest and of high rcpute,
were not dcmorlized By personal participation
i'm the management of Il party when cocrces
or dcfrauds large proportion OF the voters III
the South. and which carries elections IN South
crn States as in Northern cities, by stuilhS
ballot boxes and making false returns. The
wonder is that in spite of constant contact
with such c0hiaminating influences, part OF
the Democratic Treasures remain honest IN
their financial trusts But it is not at the
south alone that Democracy corrupts. The
exposure of frauds in Jersey City is quickly
followed by the exposure OF Mayor Cleveland ;
hu.nc,s methods. The Indictment and con-
yiction of Sheriff Flack and his associates, and
the exposure of Ludlow Street offences, are
followed hy the disclosure of Mayor Grant )
misconduct when Sheriff.
Where party habitualy depends upon fraud
and crime for success. how can 1t DO expected
to select men of rigid integrity as It's most
active and conspicuous representatives. Men
arc needed who will consent 10 some faScallty
for the sake Of party. or who will at least close
their eyes when rascality is pcrpctratcd by
their associates Tho candidate who Is to be
elected by Hudson County methods, or by
Tammany methods, must not be too squcamlsh
q person. or he would throw up the nomination
before the election He must not be too strict
in morals to use his Office, or to permit it to be
used. for the benefit Of Tammany Hall or the
Jersey City ring. The same influences de
moraliz the party throughout the south. The
men who rob coorcd voters at the polls. or who
consent to their wholesale robbery, cannot be
expected to be very SqucamiSh when in Office
The trouble with tho Democratic party is that
Democratic methods are dcpraying. They com
pei the selection of candidates, AT least for many
important Offices. who arc already dcpraycd
enough TO tolerate those methods and profit
Iy them