New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-14

Of nC's who sustained him b MAYOR y..nse and
pant crime and universal eopfuon and have the
Of order and security The Project Of the Seine Is the
Of The Pec Of the Seine are not more re.pon.oI. md d
cult then the duties Of the Mayor Of NewYotk city These
BILE ability. (Rchmond Enquirer.
There is dry old saw which says that, if you
want to hear news of your own family, you mus,
talk with your neighbors. We have heard good
deal in this way ere now but nothing quite stag.
gering as this.
Fernando Wood became Mayor under peculiar
circumstances. In the first place, it was notori.
Gus that somebody must have bought and paid for
bis nomination by the Hard.Shell Convention and
1t was not generally believed that anybody but Fer
nando Wood was sufficiently eager for bis election
to make the investment. His previous life had not
been stainless; but, when he was elected, there
was very general desire to make the best of the
bargain. He was known to possess talent and en-
erey; he took hold as though he meant to be
honest and faithful; and his first few months were
characterized by many useful and some admirable
acts. He really seemed intent on doing his whole
duty, and winning for himself a reputation more
tnviable than the wealth Of an AstOr. Aud the
deluge of IaudatiOn with which he was drenched
might have turned q stronger head than bis.
The Liquor question was the first rock on which
be made shipwreck. The Legislature passed
Prohibitory Law. 1t was the imperative duty OF
Mr.. Wood, as the head of our Police, to see it
faithfully enforced and obeyed leaving to the
Courts the question of its consttutiOnalty and to
the People that of its expediency. Mr.. Wood un.
derstood this matter as clearly as we do, and had
built up towering reputation on bis avowed deter
nination to enforce the laws impartiay and lnfex-
IDLY, so as to have them repealed if they were OPP
pressive or mistaken. But he understood also that
he had been elected by the LquOr-deaers. on their
special Prohibition ticket, and that to enforce
the Liquor Law would be to turn the whole crew
fiercely against him. He faltered, proved recreans
and was urdone. In defiance Of bis boosted prin-
ciple, he framed set of instructions to the Police
telling them, in effect not to report unlawful rum
sellers as it was their express duty to do but take
care not to do it. They were debarred from enter
ing any place in which they knew perfectly well
that the law was constantly impudenay violated;
and they were to take special care never to arrest
any person for selling imported liquor anyhow. OF
course, the Police understoOd-they could not help
understanding they were to evade, disObey
and trample on the law; and they did it.
Since that fatal step-by reason of which hum
drcds now ell dishonored graves and thousands Of
families are doomed to lifelong INTERCHANGEABLE.
Wood has sunk steadily and rapidly. Gambling,
lotteries, polio, playing, brothels, and every form
Of public OK social vice, were never before more
active and brazep than now. And as to rampant
d" criu,e and universal confusion" we appeal TO our
police records in support of our averment that
these were never moro " rampant in our city than
they DOW are. Robbery in Broadway by daylight,
an average of two homcides per week. with any
amount of less heinOus outrages and crimes-if
this is as the reign of order and security" what
delightfully."- secure and orderly place Pandemomum
must be There is not in all Europe out of Italy
we think there is not even in Itay-a city wherein
life and property are less safe than in New.York.
These are sad facts. We wish they were some.
thing else. We supported q political opponent for
May or last time, as we did for Controller and other
important municipal trusts Inst Fall. We are
willing to do so again and again il we may thereby
secure the election of faithful, upright, capable,
efficient officers. We rejoice, however, that we
were never beguiled into the support of Fernando
Wood. His rect Mt conduct has justified the crimi-
believe he will ever again be chosen to respOusi.
bic trust If is, those who vote for him will
shoulder a fearful responsibility.