New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-01
DEuOIRACYS SHIN FIGHT

In political campaign party Is certain To
use the best ammunition al its command. II 1t
fires stones instead Of bullets, OF grass instead
of stones. we may be sure it does 50 not from
choice but from necessity. Now in the present
campaign in New-YOIk the Democrats are not
relying upon arguments addressed To the intel
lect and the conscience of the voters: they are
NOT inviting general attention to the record
which their representatives at Albany, their
Governor and his supporters in the Lcgislat-
ure. have been making of late years they are
not undertaking to show that Republican law
makers have not served the interests OF the
people faithfully and well. No; not on these
lines are the Democratic bosses conducting the
canvass, save incidentally and in minor key.
Their main contention is, so far as State issues
are concerped-and the voters can be trusted TO
decide the contest primarily on state lSSueS-
that Mr.. FaSeett is not his own master, that he
is another mans man. That allegation IS their
fayOnte weapon.
In other words. not having any giant powder
they are compelled to fall back on dwarf powder
They are charged with protecting canai thleNeS'
with cOnSpirirg to break down the excise law,
with antagonizng ballot reform, with denying
the right of petition, with being guilty OF la!Se
pretences in regard to taxation, and with other
serious offences against the people. What IS
their answer to this Indictment? Largely that
Mr.. Fassett is another mans man. They cannot
prove that Republican administration OF puOHc
affairs in this State has not bcea, on the whole,
,autary and economical, Just as they cannot
disproye that Democratic administration mas
been. ON the whole, unwholeSOme ana cXtiaHa-
CANT In the emergency they give voice to thelt
embarrassment with the fling that MIR. FaSsctt
i, another mans man. They concede that his
character is unblemished; they DO not question
his ability: but with the lluency OF prlz3 par
rot they Iepa;t that he is another man man
Does any sane person believe that the Dem0c-
racy would keep advancing this cry IN lleu OF
arguments. or as the chief of It's arguments, II /.
were not aware that it deserves defeat at the
hands Of the voters
Another weapon in which 1.-The Albany
Argus and other prominent Democratic organs
pu their trust is the fare and pettfogging pre-
tence tha tn, last Legislature was Democratic
Legislature 1t was nothing OF the sort. The
Senate was Republican by substantial major
ity. lust as the Assembly was Democratic, ana
cons a0uently neither house could pass any meas
uIe without the consent OF the other. The fact
that the Democrats had a majority on joint bal
lot does not help the pretence, since legislation
is never accomplished by joint ballot. Never
thele,s, THE Argus and its fellow-organs
carefully pick out al which they regard as most
credtabe in the record made at Albany last
winter, and unblushingly attribute it TO the
" democratic Legislature of 1891. The Scaly
trick deceiyes no person outside of padded
cell Like the favorite Democratic reiteration
that Fassett is another mans man, it serves to
show THAI our friends tn" enemy are not in
fighting tim this fall Their weapons are poor,
their ammunition is weak These criticisms are
not intended for Tammauy, but for the rest
Of he patty. For the Tammany leaders are
content to keep quiet and commit the fortunes
Of the campaign 10 Mr.. Flowers checkboOk.