The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-03

they will not fail in the former, there can be no
doubt /; our only fear is. as we have said, that
with the precipitation peculiar to an angry null
titude, they may go too far, and convert the
SHINING aldermen into martyrs. We can but
hope that our warning, which will doubtless
find an echo among our contemporaries, will
avail something to prevent this error. There
is more room for anxiety with regard to the
second point Most of the remedies which have
been suggested are surrounded by dangers On
the one side, they either 60 too far. and amount
to an abolition Of the city council altogether,
or, on the other, they oppose such feeble bar
rier to the progress of corruption that dishonest
men and cunning lawyers would soon beat it
down or overleap it. A middle course, which
will neither plunge us into the disorders
Of municipal anarchy nor afford any scope
for bribery or population, is the desideratum
which we must expect from the wisdom
and patriotism Of the prime movers at the
meeting. There is much that we approve in
the published exposition of their designs. The
:. immediate reorganization Of the City Council
is eminently desirable-the how and the where
"
reader, and it does not fall to our lot to supply
the prudent omission. Light is thrown on the
subject by the alluson to the alteration in the
franchise, go that the members Of the two
boards shall be elected from districts of different
magnitude" and in this suggestion we empha-
tically concur. Any measure which will have
the effect of rendering it impossible to purchase
the favor of the Council merits adoption. In
like manner, the whole city will echo the cry
for an extension OF the veto powers of the
Mayor. One man dare not be dishonest, where
twenty might responsibility, like every other
burthen, is lessened by division. 1t is for our
interest that it should be increased. Nor will
pal elections from the fall to the spring, fail in
securing the sympathy Of the people.
So far, the suggestions of the signers of the
requisition are judicious. We need not say,
however, that to attain any practical end, more
cannot be done than is here foreshadowed. And
we will once more repeat. that the task which de-
wolves at this conjuncture upon the citi-
zens Of New. York in their collective capa-
city, is absolutely trivial when compared with
their individual duty. Corruption will never
be stayed by hot appeals to the honor Of
the community in newspapers. OF by angry
resolutions passed at a public meeting The
evil must be met by the frown in private
life, and the stern reproof Of society. Men
must learn to feel that to receive tale of
the dishonesty Of their representatives with a
placid smile. and to allude to civic corruption
as matter Of course, is to blazcn forth their
own callousness to dishonor, and to foster the
infamy they pretend to decry Public pecula-
ned and made to feel the disgrace of their con-
duct. They must be stigmatized by the DID,
and pointed out to the young as examples to be
eschewed and despised. By such means, and
by such only, will New York eradicate the
canker which is gnawing at its heart. A pub
lie meeting may assist such social movement
as this and give heart to timid individuals !;
and on this ground we commend it. But clamor
on such subject is worse than useless.
The PRISON ASSOCIATION TURNED INTO AN ADO
LITIoN MovEMENT.-The Prison Association is
in its design and tendency, very useful and
much needed institution; and so far from desir
ing to say word against it we have been always
disposed to promote its objects, as far as in our
power lay. But we cannot shut our eyes to the
fact that whether by design or Encouragement,
the anniversary meeting of Monday evening was
turned into an arena for the propagation of abo-
lition Of slavery, abolition of capital punish
ment. abolition of war, abolition of property
abolition Of the distinction established by nature
between the sexes, and abolition Of brandy and
wine and other drinks bestowed by Heaven
for the temperate use of man. In fact, all the
isms and fanaticisms Of the day were in full
blast, as may be seen by reference to our report
1t is to be regretted that such speakers were in
vited to address the meeting, or when invited,
that stipulation was not made that they should
strictly conGne themselves to the objects of
the association. instead of being allowed to
roam at pleasure through all the range of absurd
ideas springing from the added brains of fana-
tics and demagogues There was only one de-
sideratum to complete the tout ensemble on the
stage, and that was Horace Greeley with his
white coat. 1t is melancholy consideration
that associations. in themselves most laudable,
should be thus perverted to folly and mischief,
and that the good that would otherwise be eff
fected is either completely defeated, or other
evils are engendered worse than that which is
the object Of the reform in question The fault
lies with our sound thinking citizens them
selves, who do not come forward and take a
part in the proceedings of good societies.
We wish the Prison Association cvorv succooa.
but its anniversaries are not fit occasions for
the preaching Of sermons by women; nor
ought the place where its meetings are held be
turned into an abolition shop, and conventicle
for the dissemination of treason, sedition and
all manner of blasphemy.
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