Year: 1875

Some of our contemporaries are complain
ing that the election of John Morrissey to the
New York State Senate is the alloy in the
fine gold of the defeat of Tammany. We
have yet to learn that John Morrissey was
ever charged with having corruptly disposed
of his vote in any legislative assembly of
which he has had the honor to be member.
If he is objected to as speculator in stocks
and cards, and the speed of horses, and the re-
suits of elections-in short, if he is a gambler,
and has been an exponent of "the manly art
of selfdefense," and is to be prescribed on
this account, we very much fear that he has a
numerous companionship in Wall street, and
in the Produce Exchange, and among those
who are occasionally losers of the money
which the Hon. John Morrissey wins. We
are opposed to gambling of all kinds, as
simply a method by which drones manage to
possess themselves of the products of the
labor of others. Gamblers never produce
anything. They create no wealth. They add
no value TO things already produced by others
through an expenditure of their own talents
and skill. Their genius is never exerted to edd
value to manufactures or raw material by any
real improvement, but is all devoted to cause
fluctuations of prices in their own interests.
AS rule, we should not favor the election of
such men to legislative assemblies. In fact,
their support should always, if ever, be the
choice between them and some worse cand;.
date. In this way, perhaps, the support of
Morrissey was justifable. As between him
and the Jay Goulds of Wall street, or the
spectators in the necessaries of life, to the
robbery of the laborer through high prices,
caused by q monopoly of breadstuffs and fuel,
we regard Morrissey as infinitely the superior.
He, at least, frankly confesses that it is his
business to win your money if he can, while
the former take it from you under the guise of
business, without adequate return.


When Gov. Tilden was elected to the chief
magistracy of the Empire State it was by an
overwhelming and unexpected majority of
5000. To-day we find these immense figures
cut down to the meagre amount of 8, 900, with
several counties to hear from, which will de-
crease this paltry majority, in all probability,
to such an extent that It may merge yet into a
Republican victory. There is pointed and
important truth to be found in this result
which should be understood by all who are in
terested in the welfare and prosperity of New
York. For the past ten months the De-
mocracy of that State, through the desperate
efforts the party press, combined with many
timid and flexible journals, such as the
Tribune, have sent broadcast over the country
wild and exaggerated reports of the marvellous
reform movement inaugurated by Gov. Nlden
with indiscrimination against the canal thieves
and corrupt rascals of both political COM
plexions. At first the people drank in these
apparently refreshing draughts, and holding
up their hands in happy congratulation, cried
"Surely this is a Daniel come to judgment
Now we are to have justice supplied exactly
where justice belongs Now we shall have
peacer' In the beginning there was much
blowing of fine horns and many promises
given, but these things soon wore away, and
the promised prosecution of thieves and rob-
bers delayed, while in many instances rogues
and rascals were lifted up out of the nire of
combination of earthly meanness and allowed
to fill places of important State trust. The
widely-circulated rumor of reform, in which
the people thought they saw the dawning of
better days, has vanished and left scarce a
trace behind, and in order to show their ex-
treme appreciation of this bitter disappoint-
ment they have virtually forced the Democracy
from power and placed the reins of govern
ment once more in the hands of men whom
they are confident will toll with zeal for the
welfare of the great Commonwealth. The TIL
den reform has signally failed. Although for
time it hoodwinked thousands, still it can
no longer be considered as live and poignant
thing.