Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-31
WEDNESDAY,. OCTOBER 81. 1894.
TannaEy.

The letter Of Mr. Hugh J. Grant ac-
cepting the Democratic nomination ior
Mayor Of New York ought to be read py
everybody. 1t undertakes to relieve me
Tammany organization OF some OF the
odium which has been brought upon IL
nv the solAshness and corruption OF
number OF its members. There Is an OLD
saving that 1.-THE devil Is not so black as
he is painted; and I, is to be hoped that
the saving may be found applicable 10
Tsmmany.
There Is, we think. no charge mat
Mir. Grant is not in all respects worthy
Of the confidence OF his fellow-citlZens'
He Is, we take II. "a man OF unimpeach-
able veracity. high character. and I'M
81 otted reputation. When. therefore. he
sreaks. what he says must be accepted
as true. He is not the man TO accept
office AT the hands Of a set Of pharisees'
but. as we have said. a man without fear
and without reproach.
Mr.. Grant incidentally calls attention
10 the fact that 10 the Democratic party
"a vast majority of his fellow-citizens
Of New York city owe allegiance. This
party is represented now by Mr.. Grant.
and every true Democrat ought to enlist
under his banner. In his letter OF ac-
ctptance he boldly proclaims to all the
world that he Will. If elected Mayor, be
absolutely free" not simply in one in
stance. but in every instance, to do only
that which in his Judgment will be best
for the interests OF the city, and VIII
reflect the greatest credit upon the Demo
cratic party.
Mr.. Grant says that during the past
year the Republicans have spared no
effort to discredt the city administration,
bur have succeeded in discreditirs only
a single department. which he pertinently
characterizes as "non-partisan depart
nent." lie adds, what many good anu
true men Will be glad to learn, that in
this dlscredted department OF the city
government Tammany Hall had but one
representative from 1876 TO lssi, none
from 1884 to 1889. one from 1883 to lO'-.
and two out of four thereafter.
MIR. Grant quotes Mr.. Hewitt a man
whose purity of character is proverDiai,
and who was once Mayor Of New YORK
himself AS saving that he knew of such
abuses as those to which Mr.. Grant re-
fers but could get no legal proof Of their
existence. and so was pOwerless TO pre-
vent their continuance. Mr.. Grant well
savs that wherever the responsibility
lies. police black mail and corruption are
intolerable lie adds that now that pub
lie support has been guaranteed TO him.
he will. If elected. DO all that in his
power lies to hasten the correction Oh
every abuse. We quote from Mr.. Grant
letter of acceptance the following:
mo fault has been found in any other
DEPARTMENT. Each has been subjected 10
the closest scrutiny. and would have been
examined and crOSs-eXamined TO serve
a partisan purpose If our opponents had
been able to find the slightest justlfica-
lion for ii.
Il advocate the thorough reorganiza-
ton OF the police department upon such
a basis as will render II Impossible LOT
such corruption as has prevailed to con-
tinue or exist.
VIII not Mr.. Grants letter drive on
from his support a great many of the
men who were concerned in the abuses
spoken Of? We think not. After all is
said and done that can be said and done.
the number OF persons who were parueS
TO the abuses charged upon the ram
Irany organization must have been small
as compared with the number OF persons
who had no hand in such abuses.