The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-05

he Candidates Tor XAyor-Proposatson ssr
Grand Mass Meeting I'm the Park.
The following are the candidates from which
the next Mayor Of New York will be chosen on
Tuesday next We arrange them in alphabeti-
cal order -
Know Nothng-Jsmes W. Barker.
Whig-John ]. Herrick.
Nun cipal reform-Wilson G.. Hum.
Har1 shell and sof shell-Fernando Wood.
Now. Notwithstanding all that has been one
to enhghten the pubic upon their respective
claims for he Mayoral'y by these gentlemen
themselves, and the partiegsnpporting them re-
spectively, the public mind is Ill involved in
much entanglemen, and confusion upon the
subject-vely much. We never saw the like
of it before and may we never realize such
state of things again. But as the crisis Is upon
as, we are In duty bound to II animate our fell
aow-citizens, and to clear up their embarrass-
ments with regard to the-election, a. far as pos
sible. This may be regarded as philanthropic
view T the case but we TEEN 1t simple
matter of duty to all parties concerned.
The inexplicable complications OF the cam
vass for Mayor, then, is the subject before u.s.
And what are these complications? Old party
lines are crossed in every direction by new
lines of dem arcation; there is subdivi-
sion of parties and fusion of fac
tions which practically throw upon
very voter tie be utiful and extraordinary
privilege of casting his ballot independently
and freely, according to his own Judgment.
Happy privilege! A whig may vote for de-
mocrat, hard for soft shell, a soft shell for a
hard, Q Know Nothing for an Irishman. and
Catholic for Know Nothing, and there is no
party Star Chamber clique competent to take
cognizance Of the act or to punish the offender
Beautiful beautiful 1t Is . {" free fght;" and
in this aspect, Notwithstanding our manifold
perplexities, we enjoy the practical blessing Of
popular sovereignty. Goo And 1t is that
highest and most desirable of all forms of popu-
lar sovereignty-the absolute right of an indie
pendent ballot. Liberty forever!
We have four candidates for Mayor, each
upon separate pla forC-all promising the
benefits OF good government, and from one Of
the four the May or will be chosen on Tuesday
one of the four. But the people want more
light We know that Mr.. Wood is supported
by fusion of softs and hands from Tammany
Hall and Stuyvesant Institute; we know that
Mr.. Hunt is sustained by . detachment Of re-
iractory hard and soft shells, and by the inde-
pendent municipal reformers; we are apprised,
also, that there are hard shells and softs and
wings who will vote for Mr.. Barker, the
Know Nothing and from some of the Know
Nothngs themselves, we are notified that
Mr.. Herrick, the wing candidate, is
also theirs. We have men Of every party sup
porting every one Of the four candidates; and
yet each candidate is presumed to be the cham
pion Of a distinct political organization; and OF
course this befogs the honest voter, and he
wants more light.
Il is manifest, painfully manifest, that in this
business the work is unfinished. Yes. AL the
platforms, manifestoes and correspondence that
have been published only serve to thicken the
fog and to increase the noise and confusion"
There is but another working day between Us
and the election. 1t is short interval, and
can only be efficiently appropriated to enlight
ell the public upon the canvass for Mayor in a
grand mass meeting of all parties, to-morrov a.
tarnoon or evening, in the Park. Wecommend
the proposition, therefore, to the immediate at
tention Of the friends.o the four candidates still
n the field, and recommend o mass meeting to-
morrow evening. in the Park, at seven O'Clock,
and half hours speech from each of the four
candidates in question, defining his position, his
principles, his purposes, and his expectations in
behalf of the Corporation and the people, in the
event Of his election Consider this.
Nothing like stumping The stump in fact,
is an ind spensahe institution for /" fair shaker
before the people in a scrub race like this Of
ours. More might he accomplished in half
hours speech from each eandidate for Mayor,
at general meeting of the several par
ties in the contest, than has been
accomplished N Strengthening the subject
among tn, voters since the opening of the
campaign Let us look into it little For
example, we should learn from M. Barker, as
the Know Nothing candidate, If he did sub
scribe, how he happened to subscribe those
twenty-five dollars cash for Catholic Church
at Fort Hamilton; and whether, IN the event of
his election, the liquor laws are to be enforced
exclusively against the Irish grog shops and
German lager bier saloons; and whether or no
"none but Americans are to be put on guard at
night" So, in reference to Mr.. Herrick, the
whig candidate. In defining his position, we
should learn not only his exact ideas and inten-
tions upon the Maine liquor law, but also in re-
gard to the principles of the Seward coalition
ard how far he sustains or repudiates their Sc
ditious md disunion programme for the Presi
dency. And these questions, in this Union city
Of New York. are Of vital importance.
Mr. Hunt, as the candidate Of the municipal
rtformers from all parties, would have the OPP
rortunity at the meeting suggested, for
highly inter- sting exposition of his principles
and corporation programme. We should learn
something of his plans for cleaning the streets,