The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-20

Richard Or oker In a rich man. Hi
associates 10 Tam many Hall are also
rich. They have become rich In poll
tics. where men who have deserved
and won the respect of their country
men have remained poor. These meT
are not respected. They nre hated
despised. fenrsd, and fawned on
Croker himself 10 to-day, In his guided
state, as vulgar, as ignorant, as mucl
stunned by good people. as when he
was accused OF shooting down Tel
low-tough.
How has Croker gained his riches? A
few years ago Mayor Grant testified
that when he was Sheriff he pressnted
Croker's child with $4,000. He swort
that he gave this money because h,
was the chiIds godfather, and ht
knew that Croker was poor. Crolk OF
himself corroboruted this testimon y.
aud confessed that at that time he hat
no bank account.
Cookers prosperity has come TO him
since he obtained full possession oil
the city government through Grants
election as Mayor. When then the
city government passed into his
hands. he gained the power to levy q
tribute whose splendor and extent
have been recently Swallowed forth In
Mayor Gllroy's articles on the"Wealth
OF New York" Tie real ruler OF the
metropolis Of tho country may con-
troll the expenditure OF large share
OF the city's revenus. No man can Sc.
cure a contract for paving streets. ol
huililillg schools, markets. arnories
OF any public buildings, or for supply.
Ing the various departments with
needed furniture or / paratus against
bis Will IL he consents, the laws and
the city ordinances may Ia detiei
His tools and emissaries may extoit
money by annoying enforcement OF
municipal regulations. His police
agents may fatten Oh vice. III,
guardians of the peace may make
gain through tho meanest and most
degri ding of the occupations Of the
vicious.
There Is no opportunity for bribery
OF which Croker may not take advan.
tage II lie Ia so minded. and there ls
no corporation or person doing bust
Lees with the city who is not ut hi +
mercy. There are few city expendi
lures from which he may not. il ne
will. extort fte. lie may debase the
suffrage, and corrupt the worry ioun.
cations OF our free Institutions by
selling nominations. He mny inter
fere with the counting OF the votes
fAtu tRdN tt ctOtlldi1 tiCCttohSr i4lttht
ihe expression OF the voters nearly
what he chooses He may procure
tlle passage OF laws by the Leg stature
for tie protection of knavery, and he
may have those laws executed for the
enrichment of tho gamblers OF the
race truck, nnd tie suppression and
impoyersbment of the gamblers OF
! { he pool'ruom.
Since the day when Croker and Grant
swore that the autorrat of the city
was poor man. Croker has boughi
house on Fifth Avenue. He lives
-sprnsively ard IL luxury, few
ve.rs ago according to the testimony,
cab fare must have been constdera-
ton with him; now he rides In a iiLe
carriage OF his own. He has bought
an interest," IN stock farm at reputed
cost OF S2jo,0n. !ie Is magnate OF
the race track. the owner OF stable.
aud one OF he rich borsemen who con.
irol and degrade thu sport He ~ Il
prominent hgure wherever money
may lie spent yuigarly and profusely.
Ills strong ami coarse features IRE
us familiar as was once TIE face OF
Tweetl. Since The days of that world
renowned p.underer there has been nc
time. until Croeer appeared. that Nev
! York had ruler who made n pub IL
| dispIay of the wealth whose source few
know but many suspect, From Har
per's Weekly.