New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-08
4 PTBLIC ENEMY.

1t is time 10 speak out and talk plainly There
IS no more doubt about what 15iooo citizens of
/ This town voted for last November than there is
about the fact that there was an election. There
have been times when The verdict OF the ballot
/ box might have been vague and uncertain ana
/ oppn 10 miSc0nStrucjOn. Last November was
not one of them The result was elimination
Of events that had been watched with ncnScSt
interest hy all citizens. good and bad: m end OF
logical processes which all men understood ana
no man could mistake. 1t followed a series OF
cXposurcs of the rlScaiticS of the existing Police
system and the degradation of the Police Court
bench which had shocked and angcrcd the whole
! community II was political rcyolilllon--so
! complete a revolution that even those who had
effected il were momcntary amazed N lis cX-
tent and fulnCe; 1t needed neither commcn-
tarv nor gloss II m"dc lis own. lis significance
and purpose could not have been more clearly
and precisely stated had each voter inscribed
! upon his ballot his specific meaning. his aSpirl-
/ tion his hope his earnest desire II was thc
passionate cutlery Of a distressed people for de
liycrancc Nor is there the shadow of doubt III
any mans mind that the party which contributed
most Of the votes to the result in This city. and
under the stress Of The popular uprising here car
ricd the State by an Overwhelming majority. IN
tered into a solemn contract with those voters 10
give them their wish. No one knows il better
than the Republican members of The l"si'E-
turc who stand paltcrnc with duty. wasting
time i'm dcviSing tricks and SubcrfuscS by which
thcy may keep the word Of promise To- our ear
while they break il 10 our hope
Between this community and the legislation
it desires and has The right to demand stands The
will If one man. This will not be- disputed For.
as all men know-as we'll by his own u'tcrIir'S
as hy those Of his inspired mouihpicceS Mr.
I Thomas C. Platt owns the Republican majority
in the Senate elected in November 1879. body
! AMI soul and moves ii n his viii On"
word from him. as his followers hav"
publicly boasi,I. is sufficient To- carry or de-
| feat IA bill He could lift bis finger (" his
Senators at Albany ana civ" His city rcor-1n
lied Police ana Il Bench If reputable Police
| Justices He knows that ~ b" he supr"in" de-
sire Of the vast majority of voters H. Knows
more than that that the change IS opposed only
by the Tammany Democracy: 10 be in sympathy
or cooperation with which on II matter 50 vital
as this is for any Republican, great or small 10
less than party treason Yet with one hand he
holds back his Senate Will" with the other h"
takes this city by the throat and says: You must
reckon with me for the legislation You wan'
you shall take what | see ii. 10 xiv" You or
nothing" This he has said in So many words
through the Senators who speak for him and HE
newspapers which he inspires Al word from
him the Police Magistrates bill. which GOV
crnor Morton SO strongly approves ihn' A' has
taken the unusual course of sending 10
the Legislature special message Oh the"
subject. and which has already passed the
Assembly by a unanimous Republican vote,
could be made law He has known this
for weeks, but has held il back for the IN
concealed purpose of trading upon public
anxiety and mpajcncr for bis own personal al
vantage. until now his s"ryc follower. ne bla-
tant OCclnor has So MP trick i'll COLLISION
with Tammany 10 defeat il, and - careful
an observer Of State politics aS Mr.. Dcpew says
there is no probability OF lis passage" What IS
this man. who 80 stands in with the men 10
whom he prctcnds 10 be- hostile, for the betrayal
Of the party he calls his own. and The sacrifice Of
great public interests what is he but public
enemy
How does this man manage 10 get such con
troll Of the State Senate that he j. able 10 defeat
the expressed wish Of Governor Morton. OF the
Assembly, of the Mayor OF this city and the vast
ma iority II It's voters What is The secret of his
, power? II IS no secret 10 those who are at all
familiar with the working machinery Of state
politics the machinery by which the success Of
a great party of honest voters asserting prin
ciplc is turned into personal triumph for an
irresponsible Boss This is the endless chain of
the machinery. II can b" briefly stated 80 as
10 be perfectly comprehensive 10 the ordinary
intelligence. The great corporations Of this city
having legally mo souls, are made up OF ndl
yduals who do have souls and have votes: who
in their individual capacity believe in certain
political principles and have certain notions OF
political morality and are affiliated accordingly
with one or the other of the great parties. As
stockholders and officers of the corporations
trustees as they say Of great properties and i'm
portant financial interests, they consent 10 the
making Of contributions TO political campaign
funds not in accord with their personal views
and beliefs upon political questions, hun Ac
cordng to what they think is necessary 10 pro
tcct the corporate interests which are AT the
mercy Of the party in power. They contribute
, I'm many cases TO both parties, but always il
e such way as 10 make friends for themselves IL
: the Legislature. These contributions 50 far "a
II they have been made 20 Republican committees
s have been given to Mr.. Plat in person, for rca
I sons not far to seek. Disbursements for cam
II paign expenses in Senatorial and Assembly dis
II tricls throughout the State have been made Il
E. the candidates 10y his personal check. Similarl!
r Republican newspapers Of Il certain class III tn
r rural districts have received support from com
t. mttee funds dis bursed by Mr.. Plat Do w
It need to point out how by natural sequence III
( corporations get the worth Of their money, an'
$ how with each succeeding campaign the cndlcs
II chain goes round? When il H. known that ever.
Republican Senator at Albany considers himscl
under personal obligations to Mr.. Plat; for cam
k paign contributions do we need seek any furthe
r. for an explanation Of his power 10 use that bod
h at his will:
J. He is using il now as Il public enemy. Do III
Y corporations which have been furnishing hiI