A FOREWORD.

IN publishing "New York in Bondage," by Hon. John D. Townsend, the possibility was at first anticipated of writing the book up to date on the lines laid down by its author, upon the premises that in the natural course of events the conditions of public affairs would change.

This necessity has not arisen, for judging by the daily chronicles of the press (expressing the sentiments of the people), the scenes and the actors of them remain practically identical as when the writer laid down his pen four years since . [the same reasons extant that make the Boss system possible, that is, the "backing" furnished by "respectable" citizens and corporations, doing business through their chosen figurehead, who but for this could not exist the same so termed Boss, menacing public honor, dignity, property and peace, controlling and handling the ribbons of the police force harnessed to his chariot of vice and corruption, with the Chiefs of departments as his acting footmen and outriders.

A pitiable spectacle, as it is termed, of tinsel pomp, with the additional debasement of witnessing the majority of