Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-11-23
FRIDAY EVENING. NOV. %. 1900.


the United States; bat the same may be
said OF republican government IN the
country. as shown by the last two Pres
idsnGal elections. New York being
much the largest city OF the Union ana
having a larger number OF foreigners oil
every nationality, presents very dith'
cult problems Of administration. 1t Is
With these elements that Tammany has
10 deal. But this is not half the trouble.
1t is generally assumed that the wealthy
and property-holdiug classes would ne
6 conservative and moral force 10
aid of an honest city administration. Ii
is not 50 in New York. Probably not
eincs the days of hesthen vice, before
Christ. has there been more depraved
class than the wealthy and leading
business men of New York city. Many
OF them lead the most shameless private
lives. The scandals of this sort at the
very top OF society, plutocrats marry
ing dissoIute women, managing banks,
railroads and the like. running New
York and Bar Harbor, running
churches and church conventions, aud
entertaining bishops, are familiar
stories to many persons. For one OF
this sort to manipulate bond deal
at the Treasury Department is an easy
step. It is this class who turn up
their noses at Tammany He'll and talk
about vice on the East Side. This
moral reform talk comes in the inter-
vais of stock speculstions, Wall street
swindles and trust organizations to rob
the public. They are the allies and
accomplces of Plat, Roosevelt and
Olell. Many of them 60 to church.
Their pet clergyman does rot tell
them to repent and reform. No He
tells them how good they are and how
bad the poor devils are on the East
Side. II other words, you may be
as big sinner or even villain as you
please, but you must wear broad cloth
and " hite shirt and move in the first
circles"
Politically, this dissolute class is hos
tile to the democratic party and OF
course to Tammany Hall, because that
organization is the democratic organi-
cation of New York and stands 10 their
way. Now, there is not one crime or
outrage that was perpetrated in the
South Uy the republicans that was not
supported and defended by the same
wealthy class Of New York republicans.
There is no abuse 10 government they
would not hide or justify, no corruption
too vile or shameless for them to prac
fice. This class would not like to
nave New York State dominated by
negroes. because that would "iDjure
business" aud destroy property, bat
they are willing to enforce, by arms, If
necessary, this curse of negro rule upon
Virginia, North Carolina or Mississippi.
On the other hand, Tammany Hall has
been the friend of the Southern people,
especially in the days when the South,
most of all, needed friends. Tammany
Hall does not desire TO see the
negro in the saddle 10 the South or
Tom Platt master OF New York. II
Tammany had no other merit than that
of being cordially hated by the New
York republicans, by Mr.. Tom Platt,
by the Potters and the Parkhurts, that
would De enough to enlist our sympa-
thies. The centre Of New York crime
is not the East Side or the West, but in
Wall street.
We know that some Southern men
uphold the New York republicans and
help to cry down TsmmaDy Hall. Nine
out OF ten of these men will be found to
have some corrupt motive for their con-
duct. They are after the almighty dol
lars and lawn upon the richest knsve
who is willing to help them. Why
do they not have something to say
about Philadelphia--the most corrupt
and ring-ridden city of the Union? 10
New York city the elections are admit
ted to be fair. Fraud is very rare. In
Philadelphia, by the testimony OF all
its papers, OF every political hue. there
are counted every year sixty thousand
fraudulent ballots. Why do not these
hypoorites, who assail TammaDy Hall
and Croker, have something to say
about Philadelphia? For the simple
reason that they would like to govern
New York in the same corrupt and
fraudulent manner as Philadelphia,
aud would do so, il Tamuany Hall did
not stand in their way. Ire New
York police are bitterly assailed. This
police maintain order. They protect
the stranger from brutal violence and
from common, petty thieves. 1t is q
great pity that they cannot protect so.
ciety from the rici thieves and mag
mates. who control the republican poll.
tics of New York State. Their powers
do not extend that fsr. The people
must do the balance.