New York Republican State Convention.
At the New York Republican State convention in
Richfield Springs the following ticket was nominated: For Secretary of State,
General Joseph B. Carr; controller, Ira Davenport; state treasurer, Pliny T. Sexton;
state engineer and surveyor, Silas Seymour; attorney-general, Leslie W.
Russell. With the exception of Mr. Sexton, who was nominated on the first
ballot, the fore-going are the present incumbents. Following is the platform
adopted:
The
Republicans of New York, in State convention, hold that the record of the
Republican party in the past affords the best guarantee of the party's purpose
and acts in the future. The preservation of the nations life, the extension of
freedom and equal rights to embrace all, the keeping of the national faith, the
promotion of the national credit, the payment of the public debt, the reduction
of taxation, the protection of home industries, the elevation of labor, the
purification of the civil service, and, in fine, the administrative policy
based upon wise legislation that has given unexampled prosperity to the country
and promoted the happiness and progress of the people, are achievements that commend
the Republican party to continued popular favor.
We
rejoice in the wisdom and success of President Arthur's administration of the affairs
of government, which commands universal respect throughout the country, and has
the confidence and support of the Republicans of the State of New York. Our senators
and our representatives in Congress have our thanks for their part in the
reduction of internal taxation to the extent of $40,000,000. While the national
credit is kept unsullied the public debt is being steadily reduced, and the
defenders of the national life are justly the recipients of a grateful republic’s
bounty. We approve honesty and fidelity in governmental expenditure, the
reduction or interest on the public debt, and the payment of the debt as
rapidly as may be without unduly burdening the people; the bringing of taxation
within the lowest practicable limits, the reduction of the force of public
officials to the lowest number consistent with the requirements of the service,
and the adoption of every practical means that will diminish the burdens of taxation.
We
rejoice in the successful inauguration of civil service reform, a result of
Republican agitation and national progress, and insist that the work thus
auspiciously begun shall be prosecuted to complete success.
We
favor a system of tariff laws under which, while revenue for the government is provided,
American producers are justly protected, American labor elevated, and home markets
are secured to home products for the advantage alike of the producer and
laborer.
We
favor the removal of all unjust burdens upon American shipping and the awarding
of ocean mail contracts to the lowest bidders among owners of American vessels
after open competition.
We
favor the establishment by Congress of a national bureau of labor statistics,
with the object of promoting the industrial, social and sanitary condition of
the people.
We
favor the surrounding of the primary meetings, as well as the popular
elections, with the security of honesty and purity, as indispensable requisites
to correct political action.
The
tendency to create monopolies requires checking by adequate legislation. Unjust
discrimination in transportation should be prohibited, and violation of chartered
privileges justifies the interruption of the State to correct the evils thus
engendered. Taxation should be equalized, and its burdens be borne proportionately
by real and personal property, and the policy of the taxation of corporations is
approved on the test of its practical operation.
The free
canal policy of this State has in practice justified its adoption by restoring the
canals to their usefulness, by bringing to the State increased commerce, by
assuming to it the continuance of commercial prosperity.
We
approve of the plan of party reorganization in the city of New York, and recommend that it be persisted in to the end that it shall embrace all
Republicans in the city of New York.
We
believe in the wisdom of the people in deciding all questions pertaining to the
public welfare, and would accede to the desire of a large body of our citizens
to submit to the voters of the State a constitutional amendment in regard to
the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors.
Democratic
incapacity and inability to administer government are demonstrated in the
conduct of the late legislature, where a two-thirds Democratic majority was false
to its pledges and to public interests. The reckless partisanship and insatiable
greed for office of the Democratic party brought it into contempt. Its special legislation
to make places for partisans and its increase of the salary list to reward
favorites, brought upon it public execration. Its utter disregard of important
public interests and increase of State taxation are offences not to be
condoned. The course pursued in its cowardly attempt to evade the responsibility
of the affirmative action on the convict labor question and to shirk the issue
directly presented in the platform of the last Democratic State convention, has
earned the distrust of taxpayers and the contempt of the working man.
It is
the duty of the people to rescue the legislature from the control of an
incompetent and faithless party and from being the sport of place-hunters and spoilsmen,
and to secure a continuance of economical, efficient and satisfactory
administration of the State departments by the election of the ticket for State
officers this day placed in nomination.
State Politics.
The Republican State Convention held last week at Richfield Springs was the
shortest convention ever held in this State—lasting less than four hours—and it
is the unanimous verdict of the Republican press that its duties were faithfully
and well performed. There was a general feeling through the State that the best
interests of the party demanded the renomination of the old ticket. The men now
holding office at the hands of the Republicans are men of recognized ability
and integrity. There may be others in the State equally well qualified, but
they are not as well known because not tested.
What the people want to avoid
this fall is experimenting upon new men. Let the Republican party in county and in State this fall put in nomination men
of such known fitness for position that no one will be obliged to defend them
or tell the people who they are. Officers are come to be understood to be
public servants, not pensioners, and it costs the public no more to have
servants who can fill the places in need of them than it does to elect untried
ones. The people understand this, and are demanding the best possible quality.
Gen. Carr has won laurels as
Secretary of State, as Mr. Davenport has as Comptroller, and Leslie W. Russell
is the worthy successor of that long list of brilliant men who have filled the office
of Attorney-General. Indeed, it is the unanimous verdict that the State never had
a better Attorney-General, and the same may be said of the State Engineer and
Surveyor.
The office of State Treasurer
is now held by Mr. Maxwell, a Democrat. For that place the Republicans have
nominated Pliny T. Sexton, of Palmyra, who is spoken of in the highest terms by
those who know him.
Already throughout the State
the ticket is rekindling somewhat the old enthusiasm which has so often carried
the grand old party to victory. All we need now is a little discretion and a
pull together, and the State of New York will be redeemed from the misrule of the
modem so-called Democracy.
Let Cortland County nominate
its best men, who will inspire confidence— a ticket that is its own best
argument, and we too shall be redeemed from the Democratic rules, which the follies of the past have threatened to
fasten upon us.
Item.
The main portions of the
admirable Republican platform of this year were written by the Hon. Carroll E.
Smith, editor of the Syracuse Journal. He was also the author of last
year's platform. Mr. Smith is one of the most vigorous and sagacious political
writers upon the press of the State, with large political experience, and can
be trusted to formulate the Republican creed. He certainly has shown both skill
and conscientiousness in the work he has already done in this respect.—Rochester
Democrat.
 |
| Tammany Hall "Boss" John Kelly |
Democratic Harmony.
The Democrats had a grand time at their caucus in this village on
Tuesday of last week. It was given out that Hugh Duffy, of the wagon shop, who
makes no hesitancy in claiming to own men enough to carry any caucus in this town,
was to attend in the interest of John Kelly, and Lewis S. Hayes, with the chair
factory at his back, was to second the motion. Assemblyman Jones, of the Democrat,
was to command the stragglers [sarcasm directed at Benton B. Jones,
proprietor and editor of the Cortland
Democrat—CC editor], and he had his hands full, too, later in the
afternoon.
It was a sight to behold. There
were Kellogg and Courtney, commanding the regulars with all this terrible odds against
them, with Knox and Champlin and the other lesser lights all pushing in the
background. The regulars fought nobly. At one time our "esteemed
citizen" thought, and freely expressed it, that the regulars were ahead.
But they did not take into account the fact that Dr. Dana, who was running on
the Kelly ticket, was chairman of the caucus.
It is a great advantage to be chairman
and count the votes when a man hankers for place and is running for it. When
the votes were counted it was found that the regular Democrats had 84, and the
bolters of four years ago were declared to have 151. Thus were the regulars
overpowered and the purchasable bolters decidedly ahead.
We haven't any tears to shed
for any branch of the so-called modern Democracy. But there is such a thing as fairness even for them. Here the men who have
stood up for regular nominations through [storms] as well as in sunshine were
overwhelmed and overpowered by an irresponsible crowd under the control of
Tammany’s John Kelly.
[several lines of newsprint are
illegible—CC editor]
[We know well] enough when that
emissary of Tammany spent the week in town, not daring to register at any
hotel, and hobnobbing with the head bolters, that the regulars would have to
get up very early if the true men outvoted the false. Men in legitimate
business don't travel incog. And when the begruntled men of both the
Republican and Democratic parties nightly meet and counsel with such sneaking
riff raff, it may as well be understood somebody is to be hurt.
The regulars have a rough road
to travel this fall. This caucus is a specimen of what is going on all over the
State, where Kelly has a foothold or money can purchase the floating
population.
[Editorial Comments.]
Since writing the above the
Democrats have had their county convention, and it was characterized by
activity if not by discretion. When Democrats set about it, they can tell a
good deal of truth about each other. Not because so much inclined that way, but
because there is so much of it laying around loose capable of being told. The
same packing of caucuses which had proved so successful in Cortland had been
attempted in the other towns. It had succeeded in getting A. T. Ney on in Homer,
and now and then a stray one in other towns, while it captured some whole
towns. The plan was to throw Courtney, Porter, Van Hoesen and the other Tilden
men off the county committee, and send three bolters to the State Convention.
Alas, how evanescent human
hope. When they came to count the votes the regulars had a nice working
majority, and John Kelly and his backers were routed, "horse, foot and
dragoon." Porter presided, Van Hoesen "saw" the faithful, while Kellogg
and Courtney in debate sat down heavily upon Palmer, Hayes and Duffy. It shows
what pluck with a good record will do against fearful odds with a bolting
record.
Jones of the Democrat fought
hard for Tammany, but it was no use. Even the ghost of Tweed stinks in the
average country nostril. But it did some good. It cooked Knox's goose for
County Judge, and created a mist, if not a cloud, over the prospects of Hayes
and Jones for the Assembly. It seems as though any man with half an eye will
see that in this county at least no man who has taken a part for Tammany in
this fight need expect any favors at the hands of the regulars.
Tammany has been too greedy and
desperate to have its crookedness overlooked this year. There is a limit beyond
which even those accustomed to being regular cannot be forced. That limit will
be reached by the so-called Democracy in this county this fall.
---------------------
The accidental
District-Attorney [reference to Irving H. Palmer--CC editor] was about right the morning of the Democratic Convention when he said he thought the fox was "just a leetle"
ahead of the dog. All the dogs of John Kelly will be unable to catch that sly old
fox, Tilden.
When Hon. O. U. Kellogg assured
the Democratic Convention last week that "the accidental
district-attorney” lied, Esquire Wood, of Freetown, called for his brass
knuckles and got into position to defend Kellogg from any assault of him of
"Roman firmness and iron-grey locks." Oh, it was a jolly lovefeast!
No man ever presided with more
dignity and impartiality than did Oliver Porter, Esq., at the Democratic
lovefeast last week. And yet Knox, Jones & Company are not happy. It was foreordained
that Porter should be one of the fellows that should go off the County
Committee. Foreordination was in this case a failure. Bolters are not good
foreordainers.
There is no so good a way [sic]
to run a Democratic convention for Tilden as to get the Kelly men to cry that
Judge Smith is on the Tilden side. Five years ago Knox & Company tried to
get a resolution through a Democratic convention in favor of the impeachment of
Judge Smith. It was defeated by about four to one, and ever since that the ghost
of Judge Smith has continually stood before Knox and the other Kellyites until
now the people spell Smith's ghost without a g.
It is susceptible of proof that the sum of eight
hundred dollars was brought into and delivered to three Tammany Democrats in
this village, the agents of Roswell P. Flower and one Jenney, to oust Hon. O.
U. Kellogg, M. Van Hoesen, J. Courtney, Jr., Oliver Porter and Geo. A. Hulbert,
Esqs., from the control of the Democratic County Committee, and also to send to
the State Convention three men opposed to the above named gentlemen. What was
done with that money? It is due to Irving H. Palmer and Hugh Duffy to say that
neither of these gentlemen had anything to do with or knowledge of this disreputable
contract.
Frightened and Disconsolate.
The Kelly wing of the
Democratic party adjourned from the convention last week to the office of the
Cortland Standard, where they met editor Clark, L. P. Hollenbeck and
such, and sought such consolation as comes from companionship of kindred
spirits. And how they trembled and turned pale while the accidental
District-Attorney explained how the ghost of Smith came in through the window and
controlled their convention. Poor bolters! Knox had gone home heartsick at the
thought that Porter, Kellogg and Courtney were still on the county committee.
Poor Knox!
“Engaged Professionally.”
To please W. H. Clark, and on
his motion, B. T. Wright was placed upon the Republican County Committee. It was
the highest evidence that the regulars were willing to do anything for harmony.
Now Mr. Wright comes out with a "card" declining, which he has caused
to be published in all the newspapers, including the Cortland Democrat.
As an advertising medium it is very good. The only important announcement in it
is that B. T. W. was in Syracuse "engaged professionally" when the
liberty was taken with his name. Just what that "professional business"'
was is not stated, but he says he was there "engaged professionally,"
and his name is signed to the card, and it appears in several papers. So that
we may conclude that Mr. Wright was actually "engaged professionally"
in Syracuse, and that is very gratifying to Mr. Wright, however it may turn out
with his clients. It will be equally gratifying to the Republican party that he
declines. Now was just the time to do it, and it is well done when done promptly.
What THE NEWS Would Like to Know.
Whether Jones of
the Democrat has lately taken an inventory of Hon. O. U. Kellogg and J.
Courtney, Jr., Esq., and if so, does that inventory show the happy fact that
these gentlemen are bachelors, and can safely be out nights?
Whether said Jones ever
seriously considered the task he undertook at the recent Democratic County
Convention of trying to throw overboard the gentlemen now controlling the party
organization, to wit: O. U. Kellogg, M. Van Hoesen, Oliver Porter, Jno.
Courtney, Jr., F. M. Benjamin, Geo, A. Hulbert, Wilson Greene, Sherman L. Woods
and their friends?
Whether said Jones will
sacrifice Dougherty, or Hayes, or both, and if he is fully aware that both
gentlemen are very popular with the Tilden branch of the party?
Whether the Kelly element of
the Democratic party in this county will ever again engage in a warfare with
the regular Democrats, and will they continue to tell all sorts of stories
regardless of their truth or falsity?
Whether the aforesaid Jones
believes the Hon. O. U. Kellogg, M. Van Hoesen, J. Courtney, Jr., and Oliver Porter
know anything about politics. If not, why not?
B-b-birds of a F-f-feather.
It is a strange coincidence
that the editors of the two "leading papers" in this village should
sustain the same relation to their respective parties—Clark of the Standard is
the bolter of the Republican party, and Jones of the Democrat is the
Kelly bolter of the Democrat party. Each is doing more to help the party he
pretends to hate, than the one he fools when they believe his protestations of
love.
In the Democratic County
Convention last week, when these gentlemen got close to each other in a corner
and put their heads together and "planned" how to beat the regular
Democrats under the leadership of Kellogg and Courtney, how beautifully they
illustrated the saying of Lord Dundweary, "B-b-birds of-of-of a thingle
f-f-feather f-f- flock!"
Under the Hudson River.
The tunnel which is being
constructed from New York to Jersey City, under the bed of the Hudson River,
promises to be a more difficult engineering feat than even the wonderful
Brooklyn Bridge. The latter is a marvel in its way; but its construction, after
all, only involved the extension of engineering projects which had proved
entirely practicable in minor enterprises. The tunnel under the British Channel
is justly regarded as an easy engineering feat, because the substratum through
which the tunnel is to be extended is an easily worked chalk, protected from
the water by intervening rock and clay, but the North River [Hudson] tunnel is
driven through a soil of mud and sand, and artificial works have to be constructed
to keep out the water while the tunnel is under way.
The construction has so far
progressed from each shore as to justify the skill of the engineers who planned
it. When completed it will be 5,500 feet under the bed of the river. The approaches
to the water line will occupy 3,000 additional feet, so that the total length
of this "hole under the ground" will be about two miles. The deepest
part of the river is sixty feet.
It will be two years before
this work is finished. Its direct effect will be to bring freight and
passengers from the West directly into the city of New York, which fact will largely
enhance the value of real estate in that city. So certain are those interested
of the success of this project that another tunnel is projected between the
lower point of New York island and the region below Jersey City. The beginning
of the next century will doubtless see four or five tunnels under the Hudson
River, and as many more between New York and Brooklyn. The engineer is clearly
the industrial pioneer of the close of the nineteenth century.—Demorest's
Magazine.
Hudson River Tubes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uptown_Hudson_Tubes
Tammany Hall: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammany_Hall
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