The Saint Paul globe., 1897-09-26


city of the United States today is such
as to warrant a gu 2st: n whether the
people of this county nave decided to
abdicate their rights. We have s5 en-
nothing more surprising, nothing more
menacing, than the groW-h of bossism
at one extreme and political serfdon at
the other in those eo'iin"aitie5 which
are the oldest and most populous, and
supposedly the most enlightened in our
country. 1t has come TO Il pass today
where a single individual, and he a
man of low public instincts and con-
fessedly corrupt political practices. is
the unquestioned master of a great city
and state. Not only that, but we find
him supported in his opposition to good
government and reform by large
body, perhaps the majority, of the COM
munity that he has practically reduced
from a elf-governing democracy to the
subservient province of despot If we
need moral to emphasize the mis-
takes of the past, or an Illustration 10
point the dangers of the future, We
have but to glance at the aspect Of
public affairs in Greater New York.
The coming municipal election is one
of the most important imaginable. The
consolidated municipality is to choose
a mayor under it's new charter. and
he will have the dispensing OF cnor-
nous patronage and power. Upon the
selection of this executive it Will de-
pend whether government in Greater
New York is to be business affair for
the common good. or corrupt machine
for the benefit of professional politi-
clans. The choice is between paying
taxes for clean streets. an efficient po-
lice force and the preservation of law
and order and paying them for the
crowding Of the public service with
worthless political heelers and buns,
and the paying of taxes to supply
bribes for ward managers and their
superiors all the way up the line. There
is no lack of practical experience in
the matter either. New York has had
government by Tammany until it
knows just what is meant by the abuse
of political power. 1t has had filthy
streets, rickety pavements, a police
force that throve from top 10 bottom
on official blackmail and carnival OF
corruption and crime through every de-
partment of the public service. It's
choice now lies between that kind of
government and the kird that is repre-
seHted and aspired to by clern men,
men of honor, of probity ard Of zeal
for the public good.
Such a choice now les open before
It, and yet, astounding as the state
ment is, the result is doubtful, il il be
not already determined on the side OF
corruption and misrule. Those who
have high ideals and work for refnrm
have united to nominate as candide te
for mayor Seth Low Mr.. Low needs
no words of introduction or cornlnen-
dation to the people, not only Of Great
er New York, but of the United States
He is a man of the highest executive
capacity, whose only crime is that
where municipal govarnmA is con-
cerned, he is sufficiently Independent in
politics to believe that an honest and
efficient public servant of the party op-
posed to his own is better than an ig-
norant and corrupt tool of The one. tc
which he belongs. He has accepted
the nomination for mayor on the pat
form of the administration Of puhliC
office for the public benafit, and on thai
platform he is opposed and rejected by
the Republican party machine. That
machine is COMPOSE IF one na2-
Senator Thomas c. Platt. Yet, although
it numbers among its supporters cor
tainly 100000 voters in the city OF
New York, probably much more
than that, not one Of them has voice
or will of his own. AS far as the Ke
publican organization in Grealo~ New
York is concerned, it has less liberty
of thought or action than the people. o-
the lowest form of desporisin ON The
face of the earth.
Mr.. Platt found that he could no.
make satisfactory barg lin with Mr.
Low. He would have been willing IL
allow the Endorsement Of Low Romi
nation by the Republican machine i
he could have secured such ncAssioE:
as would assure the turning oyer 0.