New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-07
POLITICAL MORALS.

II is an encouraging sign that queSnohS "l
morals are every year taking stronger hoii
in Dolitical life. Corruption and fraud uscd 7"
kndlc opposition mainly because the people
we're Wrongcd in their substance. More lllal
twenty years ago. when the Tweed King was
ovcrthrown the charge which cut deepest was
that thc CITY had been Swindlcd out OF millions
of money in the erection Of Il new building
Now times are ripe for another municipal earth
quake. but the charge which cuts deepest is not
that the people in their corporate capacity have
been robbed. nor yet that the good citizens III
dvdually have been blackmailcd and plum
dcrcd. hut that the officials chosen 10 enforce
the law have been in shameless league with law
breakers and living on the proceeds of vice AMI
crime Good citizens feel that they would great
" prefer that tn, corruptionsts had directly
empted the treasury of the city, and imposed
more oncrouS taxes upon every taxpayer The
infamy and degradation. the intolerable corrup-
ton of government through completely with the
basest and most dangerous classes. would nave
been less then than il has been under Tammany
rule.
In State affairs there is Il similar change
All can remember how small variations in taxa
ton or questions of waste and fraud in Caplol
construction or canal management. swayed IN"
people years ago But there is less thought OF
such matters to-day than Of Il crime by which
the will of the people defeated in order TO
keep certain pariisans in office. \ single act,
the stealing of an election return. though II cost
the State and its people little or nothing III
money, cost the party in power more than Il
hundred thousand votes. 1t Is the same ana
other infamous thcfts. all organized ana direct
cd by Mr. Hill when Governor and protected
and rewarded by him, which constitute an In
superablc objection to him in the minds OF men
who care more for honesty than for dollars and
cents.
The issue in National affairs has come 10
have much the same character. The corruption
in Congress by which the nature of the Tarln
bill was entirely changed in utter disregard of
Democratic professions. affects the minds OF
honest Republicans and Democrats alike, al
though Republicans have no sympathy with
Democratic purposes II is felt that. in violat-
ing all the pledges of their National party and
insocntly disrcgarding their own convictions on
economic matters. at the bchest of a corrupllnS
monopoly which placed within reach Of l"giS-
lators privileges in the stock market. the Demo
Gratis in Congress were guilty Of a crime quite
which Republicans believe injurious 10 indus
tries. The latter was Il grave error OF behef or
judgment. Republicans maintain. The former,
Democrats and Republicans alike realize. was
an act of ''nfamy and periidy which Demo
cratic President had the courage 10 dcnouncc,
but unfortunately had not the courage to defeat.
When party reaches such point Of degrade
ton in morals that il l. condemned on the
ground Of common honesty and dcccncy 10y
friends and foes alike. not only in municipal
but in State and National affairs. il can no
longer command OF expect the votes Of lis up
right adhcrontS Believe what they may about
its principles and purposes. if they find that lis
Senators and Representatives are prepared 10
sell out their convictions to the highest bidder
they can have 10 confidence that the party VIII
accomplish anything il may desire. More I'M
porlant 10 every good citizen than any change
in economic policy or in rates Of duty i Tia
question whether government shall be- controlled
/ ly ORGANIZED corruption.