Year: 1871

An election takes place in New York


to-day which is exciting unusual interest


throughout the United States, not only


for the significance Of its results upon


national politics, but for its determine


ton Of q question concerning the capacity


of the honest people to maintain them


selves in q square contest with organized


rascality. The politics of New York is q


singular mixture. Tammany Hall has for


years controlled the Democratic party of


that State, and William NJ. Tweed has of


late been the ruling spirit Of that institu-


tuition. Tammany was not originally a


corrupt. political club, but it has only be-


come so within the last ten years, since


the Democracy lost its choicest leaders on


account Of its opposition to the war for


the preservation of the Union. When


Tammany refused to 60 with the govern


ment to suppress the rebellion the best


men Of the Democratic party at once
abandoned its support, and it then fell
into the hands of Tweed and his present
associates. Without patriotism them
selves, and without honesty, they de-
graded politics into mere money-making
business, and by pandering to the evil
elements Of society, they have managed
to rally around themselves following
that is as devoid of sense as it is of
honesty. Tweed represents this mass of
ignorance and corruption. And the elec-
ton to-day will determine whether he is
strong enough to force himself upon the
people Of New York, or whether that COM
munity can purge itself Of corrupt man
by the legitimate process of the popular
vote. Or rather, the problem which the
telegraphic reports will solve tomorrow
morning is whether the vote of New York
represents honesty or rascaity.


We say the contest is square one be-
cause the legitimate Democracy of New
York, through the president Of the DEM
ocratic State Central Committee, has de-
nounced Mr.. Tweed as q robber of the
municipal treasury. A committee of
seventy Of the best citizens Of New York
have declared Mr.. Tweed, to be plum
derer of the public funds. The Repub-
lican party, through its organs, has
proved that Mr.. Tweed has robbed the
people of New York. The courts have
only consented to bail Mr.. Tweed on
bond of two millions of dollars on a
criminal charge. The charges and the
proofs against Mr.. Tweed have been pub
lished far and wide, and all his former
friends that pretended to anything like
have admitted their con-
clusiveness. He has so far pleaded guilty
that in order to avoid the consequences of
The suits that are now being urged
against him for these robberies he has put
most of his property out of his name.
Such an accumulation of facts and infer
snces leaves no doubt in the minds Of in
.elligent men, whether Democrats or Re-
oublicans, that Tweed is dishonest. 1t is
plain, then, that the election of this man
~ the very people who have been told Of
ais w.ckedness and depravity in such
way that they can not doubt about his
guilt, will be the Endorsement of his cor
upton. His success will be plain ac-
'eptance by the voters that support him
# dishonesty in public officials. And
'uch an acceptance of knavery will be
antamount to an open declaration of war
~ the majority against honesty and pri-
'ate property. We submit if our induc-
ions are not absolutely correct


1t Will be time enough to remark upon
he remedy for this alarming state of de-
aoralization when the telegraph has in
al ,1o 70 tho