New-York tribune., 1894-06-12
HOyEYcoMBED WIrH CORRUPYoN

HONEYCOMBED UITH CORRUPTION.
The revelations which have already been
made in the course of the LpXOw Committees
Investigation, although as yet comparatively
few witnesses have been called, and hardly
more than beginning made in the work in
hand are Of the most startling character but
the most startling thing. the most alarming
thing. about them is the apparent paradox that
they s.artlc no one Whoever has taken pains
10 observe the effect upon the public nina al
the continuing story which the daily news
papers have been giving their readers since
the committee began its laborS has not failed
to remark the perfect equanilnlty ana lhe i"'N
OF apy demonstration OF establishment or sur
prise on the part of the general public lhlS -
due no doubt 10 the fact that common runor
has familarizcd the public with the existence
OF most of the evils and abuses which afiiict
the community. and the habit of endurance mas
become 50 hardened the hopeleSsneSs OF remedy
SO fixed that citizens have ceased 10 give them
selves fret or wOIry over maladmlnStrauoh ana
misrule or 10 take much interest III 1u'le
schemes for reform. The alarming feature OF
the situation Is the apathy with when uleSe
revelations have been received. 1t is as II 'he
whole public should say: "Oh, yes; It's rotten
state Of affairs but how can we help II! Nhat
can't be cured must be endured This Is the
diScouraging feature of the existing SITUATION
But there is another one which Is full OF en-
couragemcnt and hope That is the panic INTO
which the revelations have thrown the leaders
Of the Tammanv organization and chief behe-
ficjarIes Of the system Of misrule. There have
been indications OF fright on the part of these
people ever since the LeXow Committee began
lifting off the cover that concealed their opera
tions and letting the light in upon tnc wris-
Cling. squlrming mass. The flight Of Croker IS
a fully developed symptom Of panic.
This. let us hope, is the beginning of the end.
In the exposures already made the incriminated
leaders may read the certainty Of more ana
worse TO follow; the clewS Of which are IN me
hands OF the committee. These cleWS VIII u'
followed perSistently and ceaSelessly wherever
they may lead and whoever may be the s'liier-
ers The result will be the disclosure OF com
plete network Of corruption and crime. lhvolV-
ing all departments Of the city government ana
including directly and indirectly In greater
or less degree Of responsibility every Official
who owes his place TO the active lnnuence OF
the simple liberation and indulgence or ram
many Hall When all the things which are OF
public notoriety. though improved. and all
which are 50 strongly suspected that the suS-
piclon has the force Of moral CONVICTION, are
laid bare and clearly established by legal proofs,
there will be- an end OF public Indifference and
apathy In the uprising which Will follow there
will. no doubt be among the most vociferouS
dcclailners against Tammany corruption ana
Tammany leaders some Of the newspapers ana
some of the men who during the past three or
four years have been rendering Invaluable aid
to the political criminals by contributing the
support Of their reSpectahility TO the candidates
presented by the organization in city STATE
and Nation. The newspapers ana the men VINO
either openly applauded or approved by thclr
silence the bargain struck by Grover Cleveland
with Tammany Hall at the Victoria Hotel con
ference IN 1892; who supported Roswell Flower
for Governor in 1891. knowing him 10 be the
creature of Tammauy and ready 10 do all us
bidding: and who have invariably come TO the
help OF Tammany at election time ana de-
nounced 1t in the intervals Will, no doubt, be
foremost In advising what shall be done in the
interests Of Reform.
And their advice will be- as usual, that 10 step
be taken that shall harm the political party
which Is responsible. and solely responsible, for
the evils and abuses, the misdccdS and crimes
OF Tammany rule. Then the old story Will be
repeated that the Republican party, the only or
ganization that consistently and constantly Op
poses Tammany. day In and day out all the year
round as the very law OF It's being, Is 50 weak,
SO fabby so incchcrent and untrustworthy, that
II cannot make an independent, hand-to-hand
stand-up fight against TammaDy with any hope
Of success, and must accordingly abandon us
standards In order 10 unite with some faction
or factions Of the Democratic party II IL not
impOssible that fcw-though we are glad 10
say from present appearances, very few-Rc-
publcans will be ready 10 fall into this old trap
in which they have been caught so many times
The effort 10 divide Republicans on this ques
ton has already begun, and will be kept up
But It will fall The significant fact about the
municipal situation uncovered by the LeXow
Committee IS that the Democratic party Is re-
sponsible for f.. And by Democratic party we
mean the whole party. from Grover Cleveland
down TO paddy" Diver 1t cannot be re-
formed Good government and honest admin
istration cannot be attained without hurting
the Democratic party. And II Is the present
and continuing Republican purpose to hurt the
! Democratic party next November, and hurt 1t
very badly.