The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-22

activity. TO haul them, ss II were, out OF =
hole and TO set the town on It's feet again.
as an erect and orderly com munity.
How wide OF the mark is all this We
have In New York ample machinery for
overy form Of legal inquiry and prosecu-
tion. The convictions for fraudulent vot-
ing. for instance, here are far out OF proper
tion 70 those in other communities In the
State, or in other States. The punishment
OF offending public officials is, conspicuous
ly. more thorough and general here than
elsewhere. Indeed such public offences rs
bribery. conspiracy to defraud. embraccry.
and the mutilation OF Official records. may
almost be said TO be crimes punished here
only, for In other counties OF New York, de-
PENDANTS charged with such crimes. either
go free or are protected by political intlu-
ence." as IL is called in the interior.
New York is distinguished among Ameri-
can cities for many peculiar cxcellencics.
separable from its large population, Its
wealth. and the enterprise and intelligence
OF its Inhabitants; and one Of these things
is the unerring certainty OF the indictment.
trial. and punishment OF public offenders,
however lofty in political stature or how
ever influential.
or what other city and OF what county.
unless 1t be our Democratic neighbor.
Kings. can this be truly said Under these
circumstances the appearance Of COM
mittee Of upstate Republican legislators.
can have no other object than TO bring pos
sible injury to the Democratic party.
Against such an unwarranted and unnec-
essary but not gratuitous invasion. for the
people will be taxed to pay the expenses OF
IL, the Democracy Of New York has no just
reason to complain. It means now. as 1t
has invariably meant in the past, not merely
a stronger union OF Democratic forces, but
apractical combination Of New York voters
against such Republican assault.
We believe that no one except few I'M
sophisticated Mugwumps will deny that
but for the appearance OF the Republican
investigating committee OF 1884. the chief
municipal departments would probably
have passed that year. through Democratic
division. into Republican hands; and but for
the appearance OF the so-called FAssErT in
vestigating committee Of 1890. the reelection
OF that faithful Democratic official, HUGH
]. GRANT. might have been imperilled.
The Democracy OF New York city Is the
chosen and recognized defender Of the
voters OF this Democratic town; and how
ever much its members may differ among
themselves on personal or factional
grounds. when the city Is attacked from
without by an upstate committee OF Re-
publican partisans. they forthwith unite.
and the whole scheme OF mischief falls to
pieces like house OF cards. The sending
here Of such a committee by Republican
Legislature Is an imputation upon the peo-
pie OF New York. which they naturally and
always forcibly resent. And why not ?
The voters OF a city who are incapable OF
looking after their own affairs. and Of pun
ishing those who betray their confidence.
are unworthy Of enjoying the benefits OF
popular government: and sad must be the
condition Of a city Of 1000 900 Inhabitants.
who turn in their distress to a personally
conducted committee from Nyack. Clyde.
Lockport. Binghamton. and Peekskill. for
guidance. daylight. and redress!
For the purpose OF making recruits for the
Democracy In New York city the Republic
can investigating committee cannot begin
Its labors too soon or stay too long.