The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-26
CITY REFORM IN BALTIMORE.

Under the above caption, the New York Times of
Saturday has some remarks upon the late Town
Meeting and Mr. Swann's address, of which the
following forms part
We have watched the reform movement in Ralti-
more with special interest, because we hope the
time is not very distant when something of the
kind may be attempted in New York The fact
that the respectable citizens of Baltimore have had
the energy and independence to attempt such a
movement at all, shows that as vet they are de-
cldedly in advance of our people. Political par
tisanship still reigns supreme in New York and To
Its interest and its avarce the great BODY of our
citizens freely sacrifice every consideration of the
public good. Whether this will always be the case
it is impossible to predict but every one who hopes
anything for our City hereafter, must have some
degree OF confidence that time will come when
party leaders shall be set aside, and CITY interests
receive some share of attention on their own ac-
count. In view of such contingency however
remote, it may be well to follow the movement
already inaugurated in Baltimore
That movement began, as our readers know in n
mass meeting of citizens, who resolved to take the
City election out Of the hands of political parties
to appoint a Committee who should nominate CITY
oincers regardless of their party relations and with
sole reference to their character and fitness, and
then to vote Cor and elect that ticket They resol
we'd at the same time to call on the Mayor of the
City to aid their efforts by providing for the pro-
T lection OF the ballot-box and the public peace
They also rendered him their cooperation and as
sistance In selecting the Judges of election and the
special Police for each Ward" An address was
presented to the Mayor, embodyng their views;
and we have already made illusions to his re-
ply. While he declares his willingness to receive
any suggestions they have to make, he declines to
divide the powers and responsibilities of his office
with any portion of his fellow-citzens
80 tar the Mayors action was well enough But
he, at the same time issued an address to the peo
pie OF Baltimore for which it is less easy to see the
occasion. 1t is prolonged and elaborate protest
against the meeting-partly, on the ground that it
was wholly unnecessary, and partly because it was
calculated to injure the commercial interests of the
city by procaimng its defects and disgraces to the
world. He denies the existence of the evils alleged
as the occasion of the movement This is question
OF fact which we cannot undertake at this distance
either to argue or decide. But we cannot believe
that so formidable movement as the Mayor admits
this to be, has been started without reason or in
the utter absence of provocation. Unless an i'm
mense number of the most intelligent and respect
able citizens OF Baltimore are the victims of an i'm
aglnary fear, there evils in the municipal gov
ernment of Baltimore which demand redress. The
Mayor denounces the PresSand this town meeting
with great yehemence for having opposed these
evils, and thus diverted confidence and trade from
Baltimore. With reference to the Press, he says:
81 do not hesitate to say that the Press has done
"more injury to this city than ten times the cata-
"logue OF rowdy sm which it has protested to detail
"N has ecctted your people to riot and doodshed at
'hOme, and has brought discredh upon qour qood
"name abroad. 1t has been the prolific source of
many OF the evils of which you compan-and if
"agency, which, in its efforts to secure patronage
''or gain party ascendancy, has trfed with the
'best interests of your people. If you go to other
communities, similarly situated with your own
with the same mixed popuaton-you will find that
''rowdylsm Is not more remarkable in this city
ethan in some of these. But their business men do
mot permit their eUls to Be made the constant theme
"ct editorial comment and eraggeration There is not
ga town or village in the whole country where the
good name of your city is not now assailed, and
the most fearful pictures presented of your deplo-
CRADLE condition.
This is certainly an extraordinary paragraph for
an intelligent man to write. We should like to
know from Mayor Swami if the 'tbusiness men, of
New lork edo not permit the evils of their CITY
Government to be made the theme of editorial
comment" Our Cuisines men, have never
thought it essential to their interests to cover up
and extenuate the evils of the City government
They have believed it better to reform than to hide
them,-and they know perfectly well that without
the exposures and denunciations of the Press no
movement towards reform is possible If the Press
in Baltimore or New York. has "excited the people
to riot and boodshed," the guilty parties should
be branded and crushed therefor by the Indignation
and disfavor of the public. But to blame the Press
tor disclosing abuses and denouncing malpractices
In the Government, and charge upon it the dis
credit and disgrace of the abuses thus revealed is
the height of absardity