New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-02-03
The AGairs Of our City.

Whether Corporation management naturally
suggests The Forty Thieves, or rice rersd' we
were wildly reminded, in recently ponderIng the
condition and prospects Of our City Finances, OF
Moreiapa going the rounds of the jars Tour remem-
brance of the Arabian Nights is very rusty) and
responding to the hoarse whisper from each, Is 1t
time is il time 2 True, in the Corporation
case. the whisper comes from the outsiders, but
that is not material. Faint and feeble in its origin
we think il wakes rapidly louder and stronger, and
that soon the great mass OF our citizens will echo
the inquiry, Is it time TO separate our City Gov
.ernmeni from National and State Politics Is IT
time to elect men to manage our Municipal Al
fairs on other grounds than their avowed oPin-
ions upon topics OF grave concern, doubtless, but
having no conceivable connection, in reason or
in sound policy, with Police and Lamps with
Streets and Sewers Is it time to ask whether
q candidate for Alderman is thoroughly qualified
and upright, rather than what he thinks of Free
Trade and Taxes, Ad Valorems and Churu-
.buscop And we believe the day cannot be dis
tsnt when the great majority will answer, IL Is
TINE
For our part, we have long been satisfied ON
this point. We have desired, hoped, expected, to
see q great popular movement OF the Tax-payins
Glasses Of our City-in which designation we in
cude all who pay Rents or perform Useful Labor
in favor Of a radical and final separation OF our
Municipal concerns from external Politics. We
have long stood ready to unite in such move
ment whenever public sentiment should be ripe
rit-and is were folly and injury to attempt il
bstore. Whenever the great mass of those who
must bear the burdens even OF good government
aud suffer by the abuses of bad shall have become
cured Of testing fitness for Municipal station by
ANY party Shibboleth-when they shall have be-
come convinced that any civic rule by and fo
Party easnot be such rs the City needs aud suffer
for-we stand ready, as We have repeatedly de
cared, to unite in vigorous effort for the much
needed Reform. : Is it timef
But whils it is essential that any effort to de
zach Police from Politics should be general 1t
important also that il should be well-considere
aud thoroughly resolved upon. 1t will answer Il
good purpose to have three or four thousand voter
separate themselves from their respective psrtie
and take mp a position under the fire OF BOTH Their
to be defeated, broken down, and subj ected to eS
scrstion on this side and that as Instrumental
causing the loss of this or that Ward, and the su,
cess OF this or that party in the Common Counci
City Reform, must be responsible for no other a
ssndancy than its own--and the responsibility wi
then be heavy one. Nor is it worth while
move in the premises unless there is a settled pa
pose of making the divorce thorough and final
A single year, even OF unimpeded control. cam,
give IN, experiment fair tral-it must have tim
for the correction OF mistakes and for proiitiug
experience 1t must have time to replace any 10
ten timber il may at first be deceived into usir
with sounder and better. And if the people a
ready to give the experiment fall aud isir trial
not merely to wish it well but to work for 1.-THE
Ii Is time.
Rat we repeat that the work must not be hi
done. IL must not be expected TO do itself
execution must not be LETT with those who c
peet to be paid for il with places under the ne
Reform Council--that is 10 poison and blast
If done at all, it must be by the better class
citizens rich and poor, mercantile and laborins
coming together and pledgins themselves 10 ea
other TO know nothing of Party henoeiorth
Municipal affairs, bat stand together in lons Al
.tesdy pull for City Reform. There must be hu
dreds willing not merely 10 vote bu, to work
canvass. arrange and org snize-'o stand for Aide
men and Assistants ii need be-ts and we know o.
treat obstacle TO better government has hither
been the obstinate refusal the fttest men to ser
in such thankiess. annoying, and unpaid positions
If an effort il to be made the call for the first sc
ersl meeting in its favor should be signed by
least one thousand ofthe best men intbe City--m
above the suspicion Of sinister motive OF person
ambition. If such a call. circulated at the +
change for instance. should not be signed by tw
thirds Of oil who have an opportunity, the NOV
mont might as we'll be given up. People Of New
York uIr TIxsf