Year: 1872

We are not disposed to deny that
there has been reckless extravagance
and unblushing fraud in the manage
ment of the financial affairs of New
York City. We have no doubt that
such is the case. We have contended,
however, that the Democratic party il
not responsible therefor. 1t is true
that party has been in the ascendancy
in the city for years, bat IL il also
true that the chef facilities for fraud
were placed in the hands Of the city ;
government by Radical Legislature,
and have been used by ring made
up of both Democrats and Rspubli-
cans, whose operations were finally
exposed by Republican sharsr in the
plumber who was incensed because he
was not allowed the full amount
which he demanded.


But granting, temporarily, for the
sake of the argument, that the De
mocracy being in the ascendancy are
responsible for all this extravaganza
and fraud, let us take the financial
condition of New York as it Is, and
compare it with that of another city
which the Democracy do not control.
Let MS compare it with that of Bos-
ton-Puritan Boston, which boasts,
and honestly too, of being the cradle
| of modern Radicalism, city which
has done infinitely more to direct the
course of the Radical party than New
York with all its power and wealth
has TO shape that Of the Democratic
party.


1t appears by the repors Of Comp
troller Green, that the total amount
of the ascertained debt Of the City
and County of New York, together
with the presented claims ON she 18th
day of December, was S94, ,J23.-
S67.22. This is truly an enormous
debt, and its existence is a crushing
weight upon, as well as an undeniabIe
disgrace to, the people Oh New York.
The total debt OF the city of Boston
at the same time was $50. .3S3.-
39O.J2. much smaller sum. it Is
true, but there is something else TO be
considered. The population of New
York according to the last census is
952. .292, while that of Boston is 25O,-
| 526. This gives debt of S00.0S
per capita for New York, and one of
Sll7.2S per capita for Boston
These figures furnish their own COM
mentary 1t, then, it shall be said
that Democratic extravaganza and
fraud has piled an enormous debt up
on the shoulders of the people Of
New York, what shall we say that
Radical economy and honesty has
done for the people of Boston!


| Now let us go still further and con-
slider the matter of taxation. Taxa
ton in New York has justly been
complained of as burdensome in the
extreme. The aggregate of taxes col
lected of the people of New York
City for the year 1870 amounted to
S27 ,4O3, $50, or S99.OS per
capita, while the aggregate of the
taxes of Boston amounted to So
OJO, 42O, or sac per capita! Tins
it seems that taxation in Boston is as
much higher. proportionately, than in
New York. as the Indebtedness of the
city IS larger, which fact shows the
financial management of the former
city in far more damaging light
than that in which the latter now
stands before the public.


There is nothing like coming dewn
to hard facts and plain figuers in con-
sidering this matter of the compare
tive extravagance or economy of Dem
cratic and Republican management.
and there is nothing which our oppo-
nents SO greatly dread, unless through
the remarkable ingenuity of a man
like Boutwell,, the figuers can be
made to do what it is said they will
not-{ie.