The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-12
rHE PENALTN WE Pay.

THE PENALTY WE PAY.
1t is interesting and instructive to
any student Of political progress to OBJ
serve the paralysis which has fallen in
most cases upon the municipal govern
ments of the United States. The most
prominent and pertinent Illustration at
this time is found in the condition of
the cities of New York and Brooklyn.
These which are members Of the Great
er New York. are looking forward at
the. present time to fate of their own
the tender mercies of a governing body
chosen on a platform of the admins
tration of local affairs for the benefit
OF political heelers. on the levying of
taxes to be distributed as plumber
among ward bosses and a programme
which is summed up in the epigram-
matte Watchword of Tammany lead
er, ITO he'll with reform"
With this pleasant experience ahead
OF them, it might be supposed that the
last moments of the boroughs of Man
hattap-and Brooklyn would be occupied
with a sort of dcathbed repentance. On
the contrary, we find that the people
OF New York and Brooklyn are actual
ly anticipating the advent of Tam
many as a relief from the intolerable
corruption of the city councils whose
lives are about to expire. These
bodies. relieved from ali responsibility,
knowing that their terms of Office are
practically ended, are doing the very
worst they know how. They are Oc-
cupying their last days with rushing
through every corrupt scheme that can
be brought before them, and are max
ing a record in comparison with which
the worst that Tammany is likely to
do will seem to be distinct advance
toward good government. From depth
failure of municipal government.
and the darkness lightens only as it is
put in juXtaposition to the Internal
blackness of some other bottomless pit.
The extraordinary part of it is that
the people, who feel that this is their
own punishment for failure to perform
the ordinary duties of citizens, are fill
ed rather with the spirit of meek sub
mission than with a determination to
work any Improvement Almost every
newspaper in New York city and
Brooklyn admits that the citizens are
only getting what they deserve, and
that it will be proper for them to pay
their taxes swallow their grievances.
submit to the most odious form of
misrule and thus work out a repent
ance which is without salvation.
The question which every intelligent
man must ask himself is how long this
must continue, to what unseen depths
OF abuse it must proceed before the
Inhabitants of cities viii consent to
apply 70 the public affairs the princi-
plas that govern them in their pri-
waite business relations. Municipal gov
eminent is not in the least what we
are wont to call problem" The rea-
success are as plain as daylight The
choice Of local officers according to
party lines is the key TO the whole mis-
take. AS long as the people insist upon
that they Will not only suffer in per-
son and property, but they will set an
example which spreads Indifference
apathy and corruption through the
whole body polite. The most amazing
thing is that this is still their DELHI
crate choice The fear of 1eopardizing
the solidity of party organization at
some future contest in a national or
state election is sufficient still to hold
q majority of voters down to the GER
tainty OF sinking their city government
no Incredible depths and of sleeping it
IN the worst infamies that modern poll
htics mas developed.
I : Il Was plainly within the power
1pf the people of Greater New
kYork not only TO secure good
government Fer themselves, but to set
On eXamp}e for The other cities of this
country which wauld have inspired
Them with hope ana will and have adj
.Nanced Them all at one bound further
Than tla sraGuaI gains of decade
Ssnleht reach. Tbae vas just what
.sfhe party men fearea most. When
sthe regular Republican orgaat-
.zaton III New Tc:i- decided to run
n candidate O. i'' IN opposition