The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-12

| spectability During the last few years, under
both democratic and wing rule, the expenses OF
our city government have been annually increas-
| ing, until they have reached point shameful,
atrocious, and astounding. If they 60 on at the
rate at which they have been marching for the last
| Three years, the taxes of this year will be three
millions Of dollars, or more Had the wings re-
tanned full control in the Corporation, or had the
democrats received majority of both branches,
we are afraid that the same extravagant expendl-
lures and shocking waste would have been con-
tnued during the present year--the same as marked
the last few. decided majority of either party,
wing or democratic, in the Common Council, is
decided and positive evil. Both parties are alike
in principle and practice. The leaders and ciiques
of each only care for living in extravaganza, out
of the industrious portions of the community
Fortunately, however, for the public interests,we
have mixed city government. Mayor Havemeyer
is a democrat of the soundest principles-f such
thing can be found. He is good and independent
man, when he is properly acquainted with the
matter in hand. One of the boards has wing ma
jority, and in the other there is tie, without any
majority on either side. This condition of the
parties in the city government presents fairer OPP
portunity for good being done, than any thing
that we have been fortunate enough to have for
many years. We trust and hope that party feel
ings, both wing and democratic, will be turned to
some good account and that there is a spark of ho
nesty yet left in both factions, sufficient to strike
out new path, that may lead to reform. We want
clean streets, on some economical system. We
want we'll paved streets, even in spite of the cold
water thrown by Mayor Havemeyer over the Russ
pavement. We want well lighted city-we want
| The commencement of measures that may lead to
| the construction of granite walls for the whole
city. We want cheap ferries, and proper accom-
modations to the public, in the departure of the
| boats, day and night. We want economy in the
| Aims House expenditures, and in the management
of the police. We also want more efficient po-
lice system, and that the police shall not be made
up of idle men, at the expense OF the industrious
portions of the community.
| These some of our wants, and we trust there
are some independent men in both boards, who
will unite with Mr.. Havemeyer, heart and hand, in
| giving us these reforms Mr.. Brady, the late
Mayor, was good and independent man. He was
wing, it is true but that nothing against him.
Unfortunately, however, his own party had large
majority in the Corporation and that was the bane
| and antdote of the whole. Mr.. Havemeyer is not
! more worthy or better intentioned man than his
predecessor; but he is fortunate in having well
balanced Common Council, who can't carry mere
ultra party objects at their will Let US, therefore,
have some practical good government, on all hands,
if it were only for the novelty of the thing; and
in addition, we hope and trust that measures may
be quickly adopted for complete revolution of the
city government, by giving an executive and two
chambers on such principles of reform as our gene.
raj and State governments and from which there
would be chance of expecting a wiser admins
tration of affairs than from the motley form we
now live under.
FRENCH REpuBLIc.-The fate of France has
been decided before this time. The great ques-
ton whether a republic will be peaceably and
quietly established in that country, or whether
there will be recurrence Of the fearful scenes
which followed the revolution of 1873, has been
decided ere this; and we hope and we believe that
law and order have prevailed The elections for
members of the National Assembly were probably
held on the thirtieth of April last. If they were
conducted peaceably and orderly, and good and
true representatives elected, the republic is safe.
We have every reason to believe that the cleo
tons were conducted peaceably, and in an orderly
manner At the last accounts from Paris, the
people, with the exception Of the Fouriertes, or as
sociationiss, were disposed to preserve ORDER and
had full confidence in the members of the provi-
sonal government. This class of public disturb
ers-of factious demagogues-who evinced their
regard for country and patriotism by leaguing to
subvert the temporary government of France, at
time when itneeded the support and confidence Of
the people, wished to create another revolution,
overthrow the then provisional government, and
place in power their own fanatical leaders-men
who, from their conduct in frances most critical
time, cannot be ranked among any but disorgan-
isers and promoters of sedition, bloodshed and
anarchy. But, happily, their damnable designs
were frustrated. The National Guard, by whose
fundamentally the overthrow of the corrupt Louis
| Philippe was in the main accomplished, stood
firm, and evinced their determination as good
citizens to support that great patriot and ex-
celent man, Lamartine, and his associates. They
showed no disposition to fraternize with agrarians
and scoundrels, whose only desire was to help
themselves TO portion of the wealth of the rich
and more fortunate of their fellow citizens, without
regard to the veal or which their conduct
would entail on the State 1t was quite imma-
terial to them whether the republic was in crisis;
whether it was on the brink of prccipce into
which one false step, slight pressure from
without, would pTeclPitate H. az long as tney sue
ceeded in their views.
We shall look with much interest to the result of
these elections, for it depends the solution of
the great question whether France can be re-
public or not
The ELECTRIC TEEsRAPH.-We publish in
other column, letter from Professor Morse to
contemporary, giving his views upon the recent pub
LEGATION made by Mr.. Balm, giving an account of
new discovery, or new application. as regards the
electric telegraph. From the statement of this let
ter, it appears that the superiority claimed by Mr..
Balm for his invention, is not so Overwhelmingly
great the public have been led to imagine. 1t
| anDears there are three qreat nlans for fele-