New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-12
RRL- TIE EORCE II POLITICS..

Bat" Shea has been executed ut last. Law
has been indicated whore il WAS much in need
of vindcarion. The punishment of the man who
murdered Robert Ross at the polls in Troy two
years ago gives reason for renewed hope of the
intimate subiugation of the barbarc element in
American public affairs. This poor wretch VINO
died yesterday ut Danncmora was not OF him
self of any great Importance, ana Whilc men
might dctest his crime, they had no vindictive
feelings toward him more than toward any other
criminal But his act was type OF laWbrcaklhS
that has been growing in the community, ana
II * no cxaggcratiOn 10 say that on the posi-
bitv of stopping such outbreaks and furnishing
without fail those who engage In them rests the
future. Of our system OF government and the
nolntcnancc on this continent OF really civil
izcI socirtv Back of shea stood Edward Muir
phy. who rs the beneficiary Of stolen election
dsgracrs the State Of Ncw-Yorh in the United
States Senate. Shea WAS at once the tool ana
the victim Of Murphy. Every effort possible was
made to save him from the penalty Of his too
faithful service. and had this been done every
thug in the country. every ward politician who
n,cks caucuscs and in,mdatcs voters. every
party leader who looks upon an election as a
battle 10 be- won by fair means or FOUL would
have rcjolccd and taken heart 10 continue his
efforts for the overthrow Of republican nsttu-
tons.
The death II shea j. a lesson which MI the
rnffiaus who in various towns and cities have
been in the habit 81 attending elections with
ready list, and clubs and pistols will ponder over
with some seriousness They have been long
accustomed To- look to the noble leaders, who
gave names 10 their organizations. subscribed
for their clambak,S and made use OF their votes,
Is powerful pcrs ms for whose sake any crime
was hi,iinable and on whom they could unf"nr-
lnely rely for protection. II will be something
Of 4 shock 10 them 10 realize that man has
actually been put f. death for shooting an oppo-
n,nt ~ the polls and that all the power Of Ed
ward Murphy and the machine OF Troy hitherto
pr, eminent amun- cities OF IL size for repeating
at the polls and Intimidation of citizens could
not saw. the servant who trus;ingly put in prac-
ilcr the full measure II his masters teaching.
Election riots will not be 50 popular in Troy here
after They will not be- 50 popular anywhere
when the story Of the murder OF Robert Ross
and the punishment II Bartholomew Shea Is
read No fear ~ the bulli"S making hero OF
shea. There was nothing romantic about his
lawlc.>nc>S. nor anything that appeals 10 the
sense If bravado IN his trial and execution He
sought 10 throw the guilt upon an innocent man
M first and then tried To escape on the strength
If the trmpcd-np confession OF n companion.
Even the "heecr will see nothing in this life
and It's end but warning
Nor are the roughs and DULLES the only mem
hcrs of the community who need 10 learn the
lesson of this crime Robert Ross was truly
MARTYR 10 American liberty. The people needed
the shock Of his murder 10 wakcn them to an
understanding Of the political methods they had
allowed 10 develop among them. Satisfied with
the guarantees Of admirable constitutions and
content with the sense OF freedom and power
which belonged 10 them. the most enlightened
or our citizens have in the last halfccntury al
lowed the actual management OF their govern
mont NJ IFS source TO fall into the hands of the
ignorant, brutal and dishonest classes In the
last few years they have been trying TO over
come the evils which they permitted to grow up,
huf so far has the degeneration gone that all AT
tempts at bettcrment have been treated by the
prnctical politicians rs dreams of dettantcs ana
oristocrats Witness the snccrs at the lawyers
who objected 20 Maynard's thefts, the rldicule
with which demands for honest party manage
mcpt are met. the scarcely concealed contempt
with which II fraudulent enrolment in TINS city
has been pronounced regular ana proper. Inc
Nurphys and Platts and lautcrbachs ana May
nar,ls and Sheas have been tolerated SO long ana
their frauds and bullying accepted MS necessary
evil. that they have come 10 believe themselves
above the law and not subject to the rules OF
morality one Of them went II little further IMAM
the rest and committed murder. and yesterday
he suffered death. He was guilty. He deserved
his fate So all others who use fraud and vlo-
lcncr in politics deserve punishment. But De-
hind them all are the people who submit 10 pe
dominated by brute force. Are they not also
somewhat 10 blame!
MORE THREATS AND CONSEQUENCES.