New-York tribune., 1897-10-24

THE "IRREGULARITY" OF BOSSlSM.
,,.rv or, GOOD CITIZENSHIP TO CRUSH 1T OUT
THE oppoRTrNITY OF THE COMING ELECTION
To the Editor OF The Tribune ,
sir. Comparatively few people have hitherto real
,zed what an odious thing is a political boss a
bo.s so-called Is an inscrupulous usurper OF po-
UtIcal power, through corrupt means anu ase"e'.''
for selfish ends and personal gain. ana VINO oe-
mands that his fellow citizens shall, without pro-
test be his servie followers
Abraham Lincoln defined true republicanism 10
hs government OF the people. by the people ana
FOR the people" and enjoned upon his countrymen
TO see to It that such government perish not lto"'
the earth" The political boss. with an astounding
audacity perverts this lofty teaching 20 H'eah'
practically government OF the boss. By the poss
and for the boss. And most strange 10 say the
votcrs with reprehensible indifference. have here-
tofore submssivey obeyed the commands or the
man who has made himself their poiiticai dc'ator'
and who mpudenty arrogates TO hlmseI the right
10 personate their party II the voters or the party
which he dominates venture to show any signs OF
revolt against his autocratic rule. ne forth"itn
excommuncates them from the regular organiza-
tion" socalled by him. and consigns them 10 outer
political darkness so far as future preferment ~
concerned thinking that such peremptory punish-
ment will deter other malcontents from daring 10
dispute his authority. The real genuine political
boss has an ineffable contempt for everybody be-
longing to the party which he controls for his
own base and selfish purposes who does no., not
promptly acquiesce In all his requirements, DC thsy
ever go iniqutous. An open revolt against MN ne
considers TO be unpa-donabo sin OF the deepes,
dive Ii seems TO be the concurrent opinion OF all
but his own part!sans that the Republican boss OF
New-York is consummate exemplar or political
bossism In its worst phase
Is IL not In high degree dscreditable that Amer,
team freemen should voluntarily consent TO and aid
I'm degrading republican government by SUB
serviency to boss rule? Could there be anything
more hagra nty irregular than the pretended reg
uiar organization" ruled by the boss who ignores
every idea OF the representative principle In gov
ernment and substitutes for 1t n form OF imperial
ism? .
Can there be any doubt that II is the solemn duty
OF every patriotic American citizen resolutely to
oppose. and thus destroy. this political bosslsm.
which Is most lamentably corruptlng popular gov
ernment far and wide and thus imperling the
liberties OF their country? Let them arise In their
might and make an end Of these most unrghteous
usurpers OF political power. No better opportunity
to administer crushing rebuke TO this unprin-
ciped one-man power In American politics has ever
existed than is presented to self-respectng and
independent voters in the impending municipal
contest In our great consolidated city.
The friends OF good government throughout our
land from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific. are earnestly
hoping that the great metropolis Will set an ex-
ample worthy to be followed. TITUS
Ncw-York, Oct 49, 1897.