The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-01
The Mayoralty Election To-Day.

We give, apropos of the Mayoralty election
which comes off this day, an article from the
Hartford Times and another from the Pennsyl-
canaan on Mayor Wood, as some Of the express
sons Of rural opinion which are finding their
way to light in the country newspapers. The
views presented by the Hartford and Philadel-
pha journalists will strike the readers of the
black republican journals as something very
new; yet ii is hard to discover any flaw in
them, or to state wherein, or in what particular
they vary from the fact.
1t is undeniable that soon after Mayor Wood
had been first elected to the Office he now holds,
the papers of all parties were warm and ardent
in his support: none more so than the very
black republican organs which now cover him
with abuse. The city was congratulated on all
hands on having found al last Mayor who
was capable and not afraid of performing his
duty. Under such auspices he began his ca
reer. He began series of reforms in the city
government which, had they been carried out,
would have entirely changed the aspect of mu-
nicipal affairs, and rendered the city very diff
ferent place to live in. He infused new energy
into the various executive departments of the
city government Every one remembers how
vigorously he assailed the small abuses and
grievances which are the great annoyances Of
city life, how popular an institution his Com
plant Book became, and how promptly and
thoroughly the evils complained Of used to be
remcdicd
OF the reforms projected by Mayor Wood on
his first entrance into the mayoralty. some were
carried out. New vgor was infused into GER
tain Of the executive bureaus. A new smpi-
city Of administration was tried in several de-
partments. The police were rendered more
efficient than they had ever been, and crime be
gan to diminish. But before many weeks, the
usual difficulties sprang up in the path Of the
reforming Mayor Jealous fellow officials Of the
Mayors began TO throw obstacles in the way Of
the accomplishment Of his reforms. Unfortu-
nately. the aid oountenance and active support
Of these very officials was essential 70 the &C
complishment and the realization Of the plans
which the Mayor had In view. For instance, he
could not suppress gambling houses IN
les the District Attorney would agree to
prosecute to judgment the indictments that
we're framed agaNt gamblers BY the Grand
Juries: and this that official could not be per-
suaded t. do lie could not suppress street
walking or rowdyism 80 long a. jealous fellow
magistrates set parties free who were arrested
Nv the police. and took pleasure in frustrating
the law, a. was the case with more than one
magistrate Of the early period Of Fernando
Woods career a. Mayor.
Thwarted and his efforts neutralized by the
ill-concealcd Jealousy and spite Of the very
parties whose cooperation was essential to his
success, Mayor Wood pursued bis off,
cia career with the same energy az ever
in those matters where his unaded exertions
could achieve useful purpose Ills presence
Of the head of the police department was still
signally noticeable; parties who had lived
under former Mayors knew how to appreciate
the difference. But even within the narrow
limits left to him, he was soon assailed;
grasping republican majority in the Legislature
wrested from the city authorities the control Of
the most important branch Of the admnistra-
ton Of the city goyernment-the police-and
simultaneously, legislated the Mayor, SO to
speak, out Of Office The usurpations Of the
Legisature-the Metropolitan Police act, the
City Hall act, the Central Park act, and the
other acts which completed the great enterprise
OF spoliation-were met by the Mayor in the
spirit Of municipal pluck which occasionally
distinguished French or an English Mayor, in
tSG day Won English and French cities were