The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-20
STEALING THE CITY GOVERNMENT
Scorching Arrangement of the Nc
Arthur Act and the Reckless
Party That Supported 1t.
Especial to .-rhe Jersey City News."1


TRENTON, Oct. 20. lSs7-The address
to the voters of New Jersey issued by
the Democratic State Committee was
given to the public this morning. This
is the full text of the address,
TRENTON, October 20 1897.
10 THE VOTERS OF NEW JERSEY
The Democratic Party of Now Jersey,
relying on its time-honored principles OF
the sovereign right of the people 10
govern themselves, The responsibility OF
those in authority TO the people governed,
the exercise of prudent economy IN pubiic
expenditure consistent with effective
government, the right of the people to local
self-government, just system Of taxa
ton which shall be distributed in pro-
portion to the benefits and protection re-
ceived and confident that these princl-
pies are essential to the best administra-
ton of the affairs OF this State, invites
the corporation of all who endorses these
principles as based upon our fundamentaa
and abiding theory of government and
calls upon such to express their protest
againts the reckless. extravagant and
viciousIy partisan spirit that has char-
acterized the Republican party In Its
administration of the affairs OF this
State.
The Republican party was elevated TO
power upon platforms pledging the
people that every reform demanded by
them should be accomplished. But we
charge them with utter failure to bring
about any effective reform or to redeem
any pledge. Such extreme partisanshtp
as has been displayed by the Republican
party has never been exhibited heretofore
in the conduct of the affairs of this State.
Almost every department. office and
Office has been subject to the domina-
ton of the bosses who control that party
in the interests of the corporations
We congratulate the people of this State
that the question of race-track gambling
has at last been settled. But in congratu-
lating the people we must charge upon
the Republican party that they never at
any time favored the adoption of the con-
stitutiona amendment, but sought. by or
ganfzation in nearly every county in the
State, to bring about its defeat. And we
charge them with maintaining in hudson
County every form of gambling under the
pretence of reform. And We call attehs
ton to the published words of John J.
and Sheriff of Hudson County. in the
Evening Journal of Jersey City, ON the
evening of Oct. II. 1897. that when Sheriff
certain gambling places were befriended
by certain well-known Republicans high
In power at that time, who tried to in
fiuence me in my duty" And, again. he
says have been reminded by some OF
my former political friends that had not
been so active against the gamblers and
other certain forms of infractions OF the
law which came under my notice as Sher-
iff, I might to-day be considered as yet
in the politics of the machine"
The people of New Jersey look upon the
judiciary of the State as free from sus-
picion and contamination. and at no time
in its history had it ever been reflected
upon until 1t was left to a Republican
judge, under Republican administration,
to sacrifice judicial dignity by appearing
as a railroad lobbyist before a. committee
of the Senate, and advocating railroad
measure. And when the attention of the
Republican Legislature was directed to
this fragrant breach of official duty. by
resolution of condemnation. they refused
to act or consider the same, and, without
protest, voted 1t down. We beheld a rail-
road lobby on another occasion invading
the Legislature and defeating submis-
sion to the people of constitutional
amendment changing our judicial system
This, too, reflected upon the judiciary by
suggesting that they were the creatures OF
corporate snfiuence, and subject to their
will and dictation.
During the last Legislature a bill Civ
ing the right to the commuters, who pass
to and from business over the railroad
lines within this State to carry with them
parcels for the use Of their families, was
introduced and passed the Senate. But
the influence of the corporations proved
too strong and this bill never became a
law. The Republicans pledged themselves
to give the people a constitutional amend
nent providing for the election of Assem-
blymen by districts instead of by the OBJ
solete and plainly unjust system of elec-
ton by counties. This was a needed re.
form and consistent with the' principle OF
local self-government, but the wishes OF
the people were disregarded and thou
sands of voters have no voice in the
selection of their representatives in the
lower House. and political minority is alb
solutely unrepresented.
We charge the Republican party with
attempting to assal the peoples rights