The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-13
NOT SHED VAIN.


subsidized organs in Troy, Albany and
Buffalo, the New York state Dsmo
cratic machine, which sustains its
political hold by hsgrant prostitution
of the public will aud does not scruple |
at unprovoked murder when aiming to |
foist its favoritiss into power. has,
since last Tuesdays outrage at Troy, |
not solitary newspaper apologist in |
the length and breath Of the Empire
commonwealth. Instead of diminish
ing in ratio corresponding to the
Ross tragedy's historical recession,
public indignation at that brutal crime
is hourly on the increase; and the con-
demnation of boss rule and boss
methods is swelling into chorus
covering not New York state alone, but
the sntire continent Us we'll As THEFT
BUNE instantly foresaw when it first re-
ceived this news of las. Tuesdays cold
blooded crime, this ruthless slaughter
by thugisms agents of an upright
and law.abilins citizen, while in
the voluntary aad valiant per.
formance of brave citizens honest
duty, has provel the added drop
which overA)wsl the 0ucl,;; the
crowning atrOcity which, after years
of patient and accomplishing toI9r.
ance, mas bryu,h down the deluge
Not since that other loyal son of Troy,
Frank Brownell, shot down the slayer
of gallant Colonel Ellsworth, in the
hallway Of tho Marshall House at Alex
andria, Va, when Ellsworth had tried
to pluck down the defiant, floating en-
blem Of disuniou, has there been a re-
sponse more direct. instant and gen
eral 1t has not been q partisan re-
sponse, although the murder of Ross
was a partisan murder It has not
been an occasion for successful
''cuekoo" talk Only one sentiment
has been voiced by the reputable citi-
zsnship Of the country. irrespective of
partisan difference; and thatssntinsnt
most cor dial detestation of the system
that breeds such awful deeds.
1t is well said by the Democratic
Brooklyn Eagle, whose ex-Trojau edi.
tor, ST. Clair McKelway, has recently
done such valiant service in the purif-
cation of our municipal government,
and whose energetic warfare upon
Boss" Mclaughlin aud, later, on
BOSS" McKane, contributed vastly to
the overthrow of these odious offshoots
of the new political science called
Murphyism-it Is well said by the
Eagle, ia this connection, that "the
people are not crying out against fraul
because it is done by the agents of one
party against another, but because ley
are opposed to fraud itself. The sta
oility of the government depends upon
the confidence of the people in the
honesty of the elections" Instances
could be cited in abundance in our
own state in proof that this is true, in
proof that crimes which look horrible
when committed by the enemy are no
longer converted into virtues by the
mere imprint Of ones own party label
If there is one fact clearer than all
Others in the political progress Of
this generation, whether we seek
for evidence in one state or
another, it is the fact tha,
fraudulent practices aimed at the
franchise are steadily falling into pub
lie disrspute. No other sentiment than
a common morality could, in our own
state, have banished the old style bal
lot and substituted. in its stead, ag 4inst
the practically unanimous wish of the
practical politicians, the secrst ballot,
with its fair assurances OF privacy In
the voting and its approximate homes ty
in the count But it has bsen for some
time necessary that this common anC
general morality should have the quick
ening impulse Of = new and sharp in
element; that it should be fertilizsd
into renewed and expanded strength b,
the rude impact Of some ssvere shock
Well, therefore. did William Ross. o
Troy, say when qusStioned as to a me
mortal; "The only monument we de
sire for our brother Rob ia the promis,
of pure ballot" And not the prom
Use, but the generous and jealous full
filment is what his countrymsn fairl
owe TO Robert Ross memory
But the lesson OF this martyrs deaf
applies also elsewhere than to ci tie
crealSlng and groaning under bossism :
gigantic lnisrue We are accustomed
to felicitate ourselves here in Scrantot
that we have not yet known, as a per
sonal civic experience. this monstrou
distortion Of republicanism calle
Murpbyism for short In contempla
tion of the servility that prevail
in many other cities and In view o
the rampant fraud with which tn
franchise il elsewhere beSet, we hav
been prone to draw the mantle Of q su
perior godlinsss about our youn
shoulders and to comfort ourselve
with the delusion that we are SAT
from these evils. Safer How do W
know that we are safer What praoti
cal preparation are we doin
TO make not problematical, br
certain, our security against this col
taminating municipal contagiou2 Ar
we vaccinating our civic veins with Il
virus Of a wholesome vigilanceH Ar
we fortifying our body polite vii
true earnestnSss Of municipal patrio
ism and proper interest In the go'