The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-08
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER Z, 1900.
PEANUT POLITICS.

MIR Croker,s vind;ctive attack on Sen
.atar Hin because Mr.. Hill had dared to
say that sooner or later there was bound
to be a great fight in the American point
ical life against the boss who runs the
party solely on the principle of the CO.
hesive power of pubic plumber has served
to open the eyes of a great number OF MI
Croker's admirers who seeing his natural
forces are tempted to overlook the means
by which he acquired the ascendency
and the ends for which he uses it.
a democratic government which rests
on the Will of the majority of Che people
as from the very nature of its consutu-
ton Obliged to be divided into parties, and
parties inevitasly choose leaders who have.
in America at least, an extraordinary de-
gree Of power with a no less extraordinary
lack of responsibility.
Can any one believe for an instant that
majority of the good Republicans of
New York State and city are in sympathy
with the methods of Thomas c. Platt, or
that there are not nuI.lberless good Re-
1,ublicans in Pennsylvania who albhor the
Ubiquitous and debauching methods of
Matthew Stanley Quay, and is it to be be-
lieved for an instant that Grover Cleveland,
William c. Whitney. Charles S. Fairchild,
Abram s. Hewitt or David B. Hill
sympathizes with the brisandish ways OF
Tammany Hall, simply because it mas
cuerades under the name of Democracy?
Yet the interest in point in all this dis
cussion about bosses is the fact that the
boss is in no way responsible to the peo-
pie AT large. He is not elected into office,
nor can i.e be voted out He holds his
position because he is able to divide offices.
patronage and money among his followers.
The offices and the patronage have 10 be
divided, and giving them to ones follow
ers is not in itself and Of itself wicked
thing. but it is infamous and to the last
degree reprehensible for a man who Yields
the powers that Mr.. Croker undoubtedly
possesses to use ii solely for the advance
ment of himself and his own nefarious
schemes.
New York City for many years. and New
York City has been systematically plum
iiered. and With the growing light upon
this subject Senator Hill was perfectly
correct in saving that the ciIizans. moi only
in New York. but Of other great cities
and States, We're gong to demand that the
boss exercise his power for the good of
the people, or they would form new rings
with new bosses on higher lines and smash
the old ones.
II was the truth of this statement and
the sense of his own past misdeeds that
drove Mr. Croker 10 cali Hill peanut
politician" sneak and a political
sr!ckster." The people of America have
sound Judgment. Upon that Judgment and
that honesty re rely. Upon that judg-
me,m and upon their high motives De-
1noeracy is butt and rests and believing
as we do in the spirit and principle Of
Democracy we cannoy doubt tut that the
people will rise in their nigh; some day
ana will make the name OF the boss who
abuses his power byword and a hiss.
John Y. sacAane VIII not be forever the
only fo,sher under the guise of leadership
who has received the reward ofchis mis-
deeds. and If Mr.. Croker wishes to van
Z su,sh Mr.. Hill he will have to take some
more powerful issue than the record that
Mr. Croker has made in New York as
opposed TO the statements made by Mr..
HID ri the record that the citizens of this
republic wish.