New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-14

r,,v c.rsE OF HONEST GOVERNMENT.
We happy 10 assure our readers that there is no
;,aieerepee or apathy among the reputable voters OF
40 ,y with regard 70 the necessity Of thoroughly re-
farming the Common Council and restoring honesty
and economy TO their lawful control in the Corporation
The ,prit ia alive in al or nearly al tie Wards Msn
II energy and character haze taken tie lead in the
uoverent. and Wigs and Democrats, HunkeTs and
Freesoilers work cordially together. The disposi-
ton prevailing among tie reformers may be sppreei
sted On reading the address put forth in columns
this morning by citizens Of the Tenth Ward There
il among them earnest conviction that II Is high time
NewYork had ceased 70 be bought and sold and given
over to ruans and peculaors in order to secure the
triumph of this or that political party in the State or
Nation They feel that the evil has reachedits climax
and they are resolved to emancpate the city from this
degrading and unworthy condition
We need not add any new arguments to those with
which all men Of sound brains and hearts already
familiar The simple truth is that third alternative
does not exist and that either reform ruin must be
our lot There is exaggeratiOn in saying that
community cannot long endure TO be cheated and de-
spoiled as this has been by members of the Common
Council and certain administrative officers in the City
Government No social organization can long outlive
such boundless and unblushng corruption as has now
become regular feature of City affairs. Unless
reform be accomplished the City must become Pecu-
nisrily and morally bankrupt
Tie question is how this work may best be con-
summated The parties, Wing and Democratic
whose mechanism and management have brought the
metropolis TO this pass, modesy forward with
smiling promise to get out OF 1t, If we Will only
again confde ourselves to their hands. Having In
their bargains for power in the State and nation, sur
rendered US to the most rascay officials they reply TO
the indignant effort Of the citizens to shake off this
incubus of yainy and robbery by calling on us TO re-
main auiet and look for salvation to them alone They
would have Us believe they have perfectly reformed
themselves and are 90 strong in their new-gOt virtue
that they may be relied on to reform everything else
Now the burnt child which does not dread the fire is
fool and they would seem TO count the citizens Of
New.York to be fools who invite them again to trust
the government the City the chances and inrgues
of political parties Have we not been burned badly
enough that are expected again to rush into the
flames Besides what evidence have that the par
ties will serve US better than before Among the
Wigs do we not those very Aldermen whose NAL
feasance ia the theme of universal condemnation and
disgust held in high honor Is it not fact for in
stance that AID Surtevant has been charged by that
party with the duty OF nominating judges and has even
now to carry the announcement of denomination 20 a
Judge who recently sentenced him to prison for official
misconduct And on the Democratic side, look for
illustraon Of the new reign of virtue, TO the Hard
nomination for Alderman in the Sixth Ward. Is it by
such specimens Of improvement these that we are
TO be seduced into again entrusng the millions yearly
expended by the City to the agents Of these par
ties II may be that the people will so decide, but
he indications of public feeling that they will act
more wisely.
Party politics haze no concern with city affairs
There is here no question of principe to divide tie
public, no conflicting systems OF measures to be ap-
proved or rejected. It would be as ABSURD TO choose
Aldermen or Councilmen because they are Democrats
or Wings as il would be for a Railroad Company to
select its directors and agents on the ame grounds.
All that is wanted is integrity, intelligence and business
capacity and all sensible people will vote for the best
men whether they are OF their own party or Of no
party
II il certain that neither Wings nor Democrats can
be relied on TO set up proper candidates and that the
candidates they DO give US will be expected to act in
Office for the Advancement OF the respective Psrties
This viii it will neither insure reform for
tie present nor lead to the maintenance OF better
system in the future 1t would seem to be the duty OF
every good citizen to abandon all party considerations,
as far as the municipal elections are concerned and to
lend cordial support to the Reform Committee and its
affiliated bodies in the several Wards.