The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-16
DAYTON DOWN ON DEsPoTs.
His Letter of Acceptance Bitterly
scores CrOkerism.

New York. Oct. 15.-The letter of ac-
Ceptance of ex-Postmaster Charles W.
Dayton for controller on tho Thomas JEFF
ferson democracy ticket, which was made
public tonight, is, in part, as follows:
"The administration of the office of con-
troller of the second city of the world Is
one which necessarily affects the interest
of the poorest, as well as the richest
citizen. 1t will involve a system of
finance, not only of enormous magnitude,
but of infinite detail, requiring industry,
vigilance and executive arrangement of
the highest obtainable kind. More than
this, the controller must stand between
thunderous attacks upon the city treasury
and the welfare OF the citizens who pay
taxes in any form. To the administra-
tion of that office along the lines here in
divided energies and such abilities as 1
possess. Agreeing, as l do, with many
of the principles set forth in the plat
form of the democracy of Thomas Jeffer-
son, l deem the main issue in the municl
pal campaign now confronting the peo-
next four years rule in our greater city
By Crokerism 1 mean an imperious gov
ernment in the hands of one man, who
administers a principality solely through
the agency of personal favorites, subserv-
iency to his will, wishes and purposes, be
ing the essential test of fitness for Office
Until the people shall decide otherwise
4.
city, with all its attractions, its great
future, its affairs and it's treasury, will
be placed in the hands of any self-consti-
tuted ruler. Every instinct of manhood,
self-respect, patriotism, civic pride, and
true democracy rebels against such a
prospect. At all events, I rejoice at the
opportunity which your nomination offers
to take a stand against such a humilia-
ton. This issue of personal rule in party
affairs is fundamental to the cause of pop
ular government. If one man can control
the action Of a great party from the
primaries to conventions and thus secure
practical ownership of men elected to
office, we no longer have government of
the people, for the people and by the
people, but, instead have a government
of the people by a despot, for his own
purposes, whatever they may be. If this
despotism shall be permitted, laudable pO-
litical ambition will be stilled, political
interest must suffer, popular government
must cease and vassalage will take the
place of persortS liberty.
THE coming Of Mr.. Croker and his as
sumption of compete control of the demo-
cratic party of Greater New York: the
autocratic methods pursued by him; the
utter absence of any voice but his in the
action of the conventions of the party; the
sitting of even the right to be heard on
the floor of conventions-all this seems to
me to raise a doubt as to whether or not
We are living in land of free men.
"My first vote was cast for Horatio Sey-
mour. l have never failed in loyalty to
the democratic party, and in this cam
paign, l stand heartily with my fellow
democrats for the election of our superior
state candidate Hon. Alton B. Parker
This acceptance of your nomination in
campaign to be waged for good govern
ment, and for the establishment of the
doctrine that equal rights shall prevail in
the councils of the democratic party, place
me upon impregnable democratic ground.
Charles w. DAYTON"