New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-13

might, perhaps, be read with interest in Ne~-iorA
and other Eastern cities. II viii readily be seen
that your correspondent is fayorably disposed To-
ward the party; but he is conscience isly 50 and
has no private interest whatever 10 sioserve. Inc
next elections will have taken place before tins Is
read and besides, the writer neither SEEK expects
nor wishes any Office.
San Francisco now presents the strange and
snomalou. spectacle Of municipality dlsreeardn's
national political questions in local affairs ana
making the test OF qualification for office no'
Democracy or Republicanism. not LecOmPtonism
or Anti-Lecomptonisn, but personal character
alone. In no other part Of the Union, pefhaPs'
il there 50 rigid and searching scrutiny ins'tu'eo
into the reputation and private character OF q can
dldae for office as now in San Francisco. Inc
question j. not "Is he Buchanan or Broderiek
man ~ but "Is he = capable msn, and is his repu-
tation good ~ The newspapers of the city, when
commenting upon candidates for local Office do not
mention their politics but src filed with lnyesllga-
tions into their moral and personal qualities MS
stat. of things commenced in the year l-1b, and
was initiated by the party named abOye--she REQ
pies Reform, a. il is called-whIch sprsns ot oi
the Vigilance Committee. II was one OF the
politics should De discarded liz local Affairs, and
since the party has been in power this principe
has been IN practical operation, and cur oiilcials
have been men of various political creeds-solne
Democrats. some Republicans: IN fact, none but
the personal acquaintance of Our oaicers eau tell
what kind Of national or State gicket they vote
III pursuance of this principle, the party, at lts
first organization, nominated and succeeded IN
eecting set of officers, all of them men of un-
questioned character and known business qualihca-
tiOns. These men, having their Interests identical
with those Of the city, gave almost complete salts
faction, and we have, indeed, cgoyed under them
a model city government.
The Board Of Supervisors, which Of old consisted
of such men d. Casey and other INSCRIPTIONS poll
tcians for the last two years has been composed of
business men oftried honesty. While the munich
paty in old times was robbed and plundered, and
plunged into almost hopeless bankruptcy. the new
administration has pursued a continued system OF
retrenchment which has filled the treasury and
placed the city and county finances on substantial
basis again. The Police Judge also has worked a
great revolution in his department OF the govern
ment and, without much knowledge of law, as
laid down in the books, has exercised lis great in
tellectual sagacity with 20 much fairness and JUS
tice to all, that the entire community loud III
bis praise. So also with almost all the other officers,
men of industry and personal worth having been
lected, and their duties having been performed with
scrupulous care, the party has succeeded IN pro-
longing It's organization, and is, perhaps, stronger
to-day than when the circumstances which called il
into life we're fresh before the minds OF the people.
While three or four years ago, no city IN the Union
was more cursed with evil rulers, and no body of
officers were more open To charges OF corruption
than those of San Francisco for the last two years,
We venture to say no city III the Union has been
better governed, more security been afforded to
life liberty and property. None Of the new officers
tav haa datsu itar i'm nv "a
one ofthe old officers were deiaulters); no charges
of corruption have been brought; no suspicious OF
dishonesty are even breathed against them. The
memory of what the party has thus already accom-
plished. the spendor of its first acts remains az
bond of union, embracing not only the original
founders but many Others who have eyes to see and
ears To hear what the reform movement has done.
am aware that my picture is bright one, and
that but little greater praise could be given 10
Administration; but it is true, little as il may be
credited in most American cities, where national
politics hangs around the municipality like the old
of the sea about the neck of Sinbad. | say it
is true the past two years have shown It, and the
present posture of affairs, for the success of the
Reform party at the approaching elections seems
to be- conceded on all hands still further shows it.
The manner in which nominations Of this year
were made, was by a Committee of twenty -four,
two delegates from each city district. appointed
BY tie nominating committee Of lo57, and sub
mltted for ratification or rejection to district meet
ings of the people. The Nominating Committee of
1855, thus chosen, has been sitting more than a
week canvassing the claims of candidates for Office.
Their sittings have not been public, but consider
able il known of their mode of seton, and the kind
Of qualifications which have avaied with them.
Most Of the present officers have been renomlnated,
but in some instances new men have been put for
ward, and what is known to have passed IN the
Nominating Committee in regard 10 one of them,
the Chief Of Police viii be taken 10 illustrate the
remarks made above. There have been u number
of applicants for the Office of Chief of Police 1t
would be invdious To name, but il may be stated
that they nearly all good men in the ordinary
acceptation Of the term. One, an able man IN
other respects, and who would otherwise, IN all
probablty, receive the nomination, has been as
certained To gamble to some small extent and has,
therefore, been rejected. Another, who enjoys u
perfectly good reputation for morality and inte
gritty has been rejected because baying been on
the public force for several year,. he has made
none or few important arrests, in other words has
not exhibited that energy, which is now requisite
for nomination. The Committee went outside, Of
the names before them, and offered the nomination
to an able and energetic wsrehouseman but he
declined on account of inability To serve, his resi-
dence being nnd likely To remain, few miles out
of the city, while his presence at all hours, day and
night would be requisite in the city to faithfully
fulfill the duties. The Committee then selected
another man.
The above has been instanced as an example Of
the manner in which the Reform party are carrying
on their work. The same system has hitherto per-
ysded the party sndit seems that the same system
is being followed in regard to all the nominations.
1t can scarcely be hoped that this state of affairs
will last but as il still exists il is admirable and
worthy of imitation. A remarkable proof Of the
stress laid by the Reform party upon private moral
character occurred during the last fortnight. 1t
became known that the Prosecuting Attorney Of
the Police Court had Cd intrigue with the wife of