The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-02

1 uedAu Vic ucAlS ring SoHlc again, RiCudIu, AoIu
Mayor of London." the prospect unravelled by
the sounds thus gratefully interpreted, was one
Of unmingled pomp, respect and honor. Not
blemish marred its splendid face. The rank
Of mayor" was to him the highest glory to
which mortal could aspire If we have
among us any little Whittington's in pinafores
| or jackets, we beg to guard them against SINH
| lar decisions. OF the Lord Mayor of London
| our knowledge does not enable us to speak with
confidence, and we have gone as far as strict
consciousness will allow, when we observe
that his name is inseparably connected in our
mind with turtle soup. But of our mayors
here, we know quite enough to say that the
office is by no means one Of those which, as a
general rule, reflect lustre or fame on their in
cumbent. The influence of state and federal
politics over our municipal elections. deprives
it Of the honor which the unbiased suffrage OF
ones fellow citizens would otherwise bestow;
and furthermore, our mayors have so often
proved incapable to discharge the duties OF
their Office, and unequal to cope with trying
emergencies that their official career generally
completes what their election commenced.
We mean to cast no reflection on our present
mayor. who has had in fact no opportunity of
displaying peculiar fitness or unlitness for his
post. But the Astor place riots are not so far
distant that their recollection is effaced. On
that occasion, New York learned that in case Of
difficulty, more reliance was to be placed on
the good sense and energy OF the public at
large, than on the nerve or ability of our chief
civic officer.
Many other cities in the Union seem equally
unfortunate in their Mayors Baltimore is a
peculiar object of commiseration. The Mayor
Of that city distinctly states, that if the liquor
dealers were to get up riot to interfere with
the lectures of temperance orator, the latter
and not the rioters would be held responsible
In other words, the civic authority at Baltimore
does not regard liberty of speech as one of the
rights enjoyed by that city; and any lecturer
whose opinions conflict with that of the Balti-
more mob may be silenced and expelled from
the place. 1t is well that this fact should be
known. A city wherein stranger is not al
lowed to express opinions on matters Of public
interest ought to be advertised. Lecturers
should be notified Of the danger they will incur
in adventuring within its limits. OF course
every city has clear right to govern itself in
such matters; and it would be an unwarrant-
able act on the part Of a stranger, to interfere
with its well-established usages The people OF
Baltimore may decree that temperance lectu-
| rers. or Bible lecturers. or any other class OF
speakers, shall be denied the right of free
speech within their CITY, All that we can do
on hearing of their decision is to- note the fact
and caution enlightened men against venturing
thither. If the inhabitants of our sister city
choose to curtail their own liberties, and to at.
tempt retrograde step, while their neighbors
are advancing, it is their business, not ours.
We may pity them, but we cannot interfere.
In like manner, the Mayor of Cincinnati for
babe a street preacher to continue his dis
courses, which inflamed the public. mind !;
and the May or Of Boonville, Mo-, issued pro-
clamaton forbidding one Ross to continue his
lectures on temperance. These facts only
show that the degree Of freedom enjoyed here
is not shared by our fellowc ountrymen else
where.
The phenomenon is not confined to the United
States. Tyrannical, inefficient mayors seem the
rule in the Canadas. The Mayor of Quebec for
babe Gayazzi to lecture in the city. He of Mon
treal. became so nervous on the occasion Of a
disturbance that he ordered the troops to fire
on an assemblage of quiet, peaceable indi-
viduals. He of Toronto is charged with hav-
ing conspired with Mr.. Hincks to defraud the
city out of some twenty thousand dollars
Grouping these various facts together. one
is inclined to imagine whether cities would not
thrive as well without mayors. as with those
functionaries. They are no doubt highly or
namental on certain occasions. but 1t is ques-
tionable whether this merit is not counterbal-
anced by the practical injury they seem dcstin-
ed to do. When an energetic officer is needed
they are not to be found; or II they do appear
on the scene Of action, it is to commit some act
of folly or imprudence. On the other hand,
when all is quiet and their ieilow-citizens de-
sire to enjoy those liberties which are the in
herent birthright of every American. the may or
stops forward and interposes his tyrannical
authority. BY the constitution Of this city,
our mayor has not much power to do wrong
But elsewhere it is seemingly different and
the chief civic magistrates display no squcern
shness about the exerciac Of their authority
The siencing Of temperance or Bible lee
turer arc very small things in Themselves; bat
the principle established BY the iact i, one OF
the very highest moment. II IL. in short. no
hing less than the recognition OF the absence
Of liberty Of speech. We need Lot say that we
have little sympathy with itincrant field preach.
srs, or with Maine law advocates But thcir
opponents must not deny them the right q
expressing their views and argning their cause
il lie most public place in new York OF
elsewhere.