New-York tribune., 1891-09-23
THE DEMOCRACY AND THE CANALS

THE DEHOCRACI AM <hD
"The Buffalo Courier" and 1.-The Rocnes.er
rnion'; are endeavoring TO make capita ,or
Tammany Halls candidate for Governor oJ
laving stress upon the canal plank OF the Denl,
oo,atc platform. This circumstance wVulu
aeem to attest that both Of those shTewd' et-
norienoed journals realize that Mr.. Flower Is
Loading a forlorn hope. For certainly only
something very like the frenzy OF desperation
oould lead them to endeavor to gain votes 1or
the Democratic ticket by directing attention TO
Democracy's record on the canals. The plank
in question is innocent enough. Here u Is :
"We favor a continuance of the policy which
seeks to improve the canal system OF the State
and maintain its efficiency" But words are
proyerbially cheap-particularly words that go
to the making of Democratic platforms in con-
vention dominated by Tammany.
In order that the plank should have any
weight with the voters it is incumbent Oh
course for Democrats TO show that as oppor-
nlnity has offered by means OF their repre-
sentatives in the Executive Chair and IN one
Legislature they have as party evnceo all
intellioent interest in and faithfully served the
canals. But this practical test they cannot
meet. No later than last winter Governor Hlll
the Democratic Senator'S and the Democratic
Assemblymen were banded together not 10
improve the canal system Of the state and main
tain its efficiency" but to protect the canu
thieves of the State and maintain their ell
c;ancv Some difference between these tWo
aims The Republicans under the lead OF SEN
ator Fassett made a long and gallant fight for
the adoption Of a resolution calling for thor
ofo NAL anqO
viously. if the Democracy had honestly desired
to conserve the canal system 1t would have been
glad to vote for the resolution, since 1t was gen.
era)y admitted that an investigation was neeu-
ed. What it did do is matter OF history
r. left no stone unturned to defeat the resolu-
tio1. going to the length of organizing and Tor
weeks maintaining deadlock in the Senate
Democratic Senators, led by Governor Hill and
encouraged by Speaker Sheehan, took the
sbameless position that rather than allow the
resolution to come TO a vote they would play 'he
part of obStrUctionists, preventing the trans
action of public business until the eno OF the
session. And yet with these facts still fresh IN
the public mind the Democratic Convention had
the assurance "to favor a continuance OF the
policy which seeks to improve the canal system
and maintain its efficiency" and "The Buffalo
Courier" and "The Rochester Unlon' are found
pointing with pride to the plank. Maladroit
bumbug could not well 60 further than this
But aside from this salient chapter OF its
record the Democracy is not in poslnon 10
attitudnize as champion OF the canals. For
MANY wears David b. Hill has been their ac-
knowledced leader in this State, but no man
could have evinced less friendly interest in the
canal system than he. He has transmitted SIX
annual messages TO the Legislature, but has not
found room in any of them for a good word for
the canals In 1887 the Republican Legis-
latuIe, acting in accordance with the Republlcan
polcy of canal enlargement and general i'm
provement passed bill appropriating the sum
of $3.50, 900 "to facilitate State commerce by
increasing the lockage capacity OF the Erie and
Oswego canals, and to improve the OSwego,
Black River, Champlain, Cayuga and Seneca
canals" The bill became law, but not with
the Governors signature. lie declined to put
his name to it.
On the whole, it may occur to both 1.-The
Courier and "The Union" that they really can
not afford to call attention to that canal plank.
Tammany knows better. 1t puts its trust in, 1t
goes its whole length on, the "boodle" OF Its
"boodle candidate" 1t will be observed that
in calling Mr. Flower Doodle candidate we are
not using our own words Oh, no. We are
quoting a characterization of him made on the
floor of the Democratic Convention by an in
teligent, plain-Spoken delegate.