Year: 1875

we regret 10 see q ulSpOSlIlOn on the part
of two of our contemporaries leading
republican and democratic organs of the
city-to use the weapon of personal abuse in
fighting the local battle of the campaign.
Such mode of warfare is always objection
able 1t thrusts aside issues in which the
public interests are involved, and which
ought to be calmly considered and intelli-
gently decided. 1t has been resorted to in
certain quarters in reference to Governor
Tilden and Mr. Bigelow and has not helped
the cause of their opponents in the State.
In our local contest personalities are the
more Objectionable since the candidates to
be elected are mainly judicial officers and
should not be dragged through the mire of
partisan quarrels The people are concerned
in the election of upright judges and inde-
pendent, faithful prosecuting officers, who
will not be swayed in the discharge of their
important public duties by personal feelings
or political considerations. They look to
the press and to their political instructors to
enlighten them as to the issues involved in q
campaign, SO that they may by their votes
secure the result at which they aim.
4
on one side and personal abuse of
John Kelly on the other side will not
afford them the information they seek, and
which they have a right to expect from jour
nails of the character and ability of our two
contemporaries. This sort of warfare was
initiated by Mr.. Kelly, it is true but his
judgment as a political leader is not re-
1aI - L.
tainly should not be accepted as an example
to be followed by an intelligent press. We
are certain that our political contemporaries
will appreciate the justice Of our criticism,
especially as they both enjoy established
regulations as able party journals and close
and effective disputants from their respective
points Of view.


The tickets presented on both sides en-
brace some candidates against whose fitness
for the positions for which they are selected
nothing can be justly urged. The people
are too intelligent to be made to believe that
the union nominees are all political traders
or that the Tammany nominees are all tainted
with the corruptions 50 unfortunately asso-
ciated with that party name. From the
review Of the nominations and Of the manner
in which they are received, published else
where in to-day's HERALD, it will be seen
that popular sentiment indorses some Of the
candidates on both sides. 1t is possible
that in casting their ballots very
large number Of intelligent citizens
will select such nominees as they
deem the most desirable without regard to
he strict party lists. In dissertation on
the morality of politics, published in city
morning paper last Monday, Mr. John Kelly
declares that the democratic party in this city,
as an organization gaining victory only by
harmonious, combined action, is compelled
to accept and support some bad candidates
for the sake of securing some good ones. We
will give his own language justifying this
policy Suppose man Of our party" says
Mr.. Kelly, ''who has done something wrong
but is strong enough still in his own district
to be elected in spite of US, is
put up for election. If we name
another man we should be certain
to lose. For the sake Of maintaining our
party organization we should have to let
such man in, try him once and make a bet
ter man Of him if we could" The election
of William NJ. Tweed to the Senate after the
exposure Of his rascalities, was a case in
point. Here was bad man, so powerful in
his district as to secure the party nomina-
ton. If Mr.. Kelly had then been the leader
of Tammany he would not have dared to
object to Tweeds candidacy for fear Of dis
organizing the party. There is a looseness
about this political morality which is
scarcely consistent with earnest reform.
1t might be supposed that sincere
reform leaders would resolutely resist any
bad nomination, trusting to the honest con-
victions Of the people rather than to mere
party machinery for justification and sup
port. Mr.. Kelly's picture Of the Tammany
democracy is not very fattering one. He
admits that in some districts, at least, bad
men control the party and thus partially, if
not wholly, justifes the hard things that are
sometimes said Of it by its political oppo-
nents But the people are not un-
der the restraint imposed according
to Mr. Kelly on the organization
Of which he is the dictator They are not
necessitated to accept even two bad can
dldates Tor the sake of securing ten good
ones Indeed, Mr. Kelly's naive admissions
prove the necessity of careful scrutiny Of
the candidates Of his party and justify the
mutilation Of its ticket. Because Mr.. Kelly,
as leader, dare not venture to resist bad
nominations here and there, the people are
surely not to be called upon to accept and
elect such men.


The personal character OF the nominees is,
however, only side issue in the present
local contest. Disraeli in his admir-
able work Of 'Lothair' points out, in
striking manner, the dangerous ten
dencies Of secret societies and the