The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-09

The above were the only illusions Of political nature
TO nigh euogy Of the press, and 70 some eninenty
teal observations respecting agriculture and the improve
ment Of the condition Of the aborng classes.
New York to be the Most Magnificent
City I'm tho World-Fernand0 Woods
From the London Times, Dec al
II parliamentary government 10 No longer to be CON
sidered on s trial. certainly municipal institutions have
still to make good their claim TO superiority In the great
concerns Of nation every man Interested, the conduct
Of them is looked upon as the highest duty TO which
citizen can aspire political office soafers the highest social
most Of what wealth can buy. It may be said that
whatever may be the form Of government n q country
@ snd
the cderative democracy Of the United States will be
able TO obtain supply Of competent men az well as
civic and municipal honors do not attract very high
order OF talents why this should be the does not
great cities every year the people Or he two hemisphere
are becoming more and more town inhabting people
sn oes 'S sHe s% u
where the air permeates slowly through courts and Al
eys, where the refuse Of every household remains in
dangerous proximity TO the lungs where the rivers and
springs supplied by nature poisoned by garbage
the leakage Of drains the oozngs Of gasppes where
the pale faces Of children and the bowed forms OF women
testify TO the unhealthy influences which are continually
at work One would think that the government of great
city uOaId attract TIE highest order Of minds In his phi
laNthyopic age; and that men would be willing TO
quit the arena Of party conflict the debates congresses
and ntervenons and squabbles at the other end Of the
% o 70 .vS can % The Of go
cey depends on the physical well being Of the people, and
now that so large proportion OF every civilized race
coming to dwell within the limits Of towns, II might well
be the pride Of the most distinguished citizen to take
active part in corporations and vestries felf. lfr
Yet among both branches Of the Anglo Saxon race the
government Of towns 10 have fallen into the hands
Of inferior order Of men, In the United states things
certainly seem to be far worse than here but It is
evil Of the kind, and New York Is only exsg
gerston Of london, American institutions general
an exaggeration OF our own. The city which is tn
arrived at the utmost point OF bad government
20 that the respectable community are extracting dk
NAL consolation from the state Of affairs and saying that
things cannot possibly be worse, they must now beg
TO mend The city is certainly the most remarkable
suit Of wealth and enterprise which the world has known
rank Of tenth rate town 70 be the third city in the world
in population and riches. In the hast ten years the larger
part has been entirely rebuilt marble and reesone edi
substituted for the old brick houses; Broadway has
been extended for miles; vast park Of near
G astss SsD e he e what x haze BE
ben built by thosgdn, far ecding elegance and
fort the arruge Dwellings, Of Londons, and Nep Fork,
bitants may look forward to being in Tie neat generation
only the largest ba perhaps ne most BEAUTIFUL city in the
% s s ss been eSas y ' e gns
hands ne rs.u, mud hare besw for extraordinary
Bue by al accounts the municipality Of the city has
ofncers-tbe MaynSs, the Aldermen. and other
digniiaries-have teen often men Of dubious cha
racter, or, at hast, mere trading politicians, who
have risen by panderng TO the mob Of
voters gin singing in bars with the ruans Of the town.
and using their ocal power only to put money into the
pockets Of themselves and friends The jobbery has
been universal Enormous sums are raised yearly and
there result The lighting, the paving and the clean
ing Of the streets are paid for In the most exavagant
little provincial town. The odor evenn the best parts
intolerable In hot American summer. Even now pigs
almost Wild through the streets and tho dirt OF these
nirnals and n ha a
poison the atmosphere. With the very greatest ad.
vantases for draining, the city y in danger Of pesti
lence from the accumulation Of filth underground. Yet
the municipal taxation b such ~ would hardly be
borne IN this country. Our correspondent informs W.
s: saa g an
q i've cent derived from property two hs are con-
nscated The inhabitants remain almost passive under
lowest class OF the popuace No chance Of being chosen
exists for any man Of education and respectabity in
The uoua sSu S
given for nothing, and civic ruler u expected 70
be always repsyng the debt he owes 70 his
to the public is WHISTLER this or that eel
Of CONTRACT shall take some two or three millions
year out Of the purse Of the taxpayers in the form Of
obbing c0ntracsr' Tho late elections resulted In
the election Of Mr. Fernando Wood 10 the Mayoralty
and Is sd that the respectable part OF the nhab
oVsr ne 0S sasd " % the
choice for though NJ Wood belongs 70 the cass which
has always governed, yet he looked upon IS man Of
stem the tide Of corruption during his term Of Office.
Courage indeed requires, FOR In New York party
fare not confined 10 polite generaies, as In England,
but politician attacked through his private affairs or
bis family when he Is not exposed TO challenge
the wild justice Of revolver. q K lr.f III
We have called attention TO these transatlantic dongs,
not out Of any wish 70 rail ct American institutions but
because what passing there 10 only distorted hksness
OF our own deficiencies In America though there may
be much corruption and. according 70 our IDEAS very
little political ability, yet the federal and State govern
ments manage TO ind competent men, while the munici
paies VIGOROUSLY inefficient In this country the
contrast more striking, for Parliament contains
great number Of men Of genius eloqueuce and high educa
ton, bile the metropolis in which they sit surrendered
OF ransatlantc ciis. Why should not place at the
Metropolitan Board Of Works, or even in the Maryle
bone or g. Pa9cras vcetry, be . legitimate object
OF ambionf Why should the Corporation Of the city
Of London DO filed with really influential mem Surely
The reguaon Of the greatest city in the word the pur
hcetion Of the Thames, and the watching the bea
OF 5000 600 souls win give fun exercise for the highest
in France for the wonderful Improvements he has made
in the great cities d the empire Can any to be
won In the House Of Commons exceed the reputation OF
the man who shall help convert this dingy and III built
metropolis into something worthy Of wealth and cvili
zatoni We are sure that better would offer them
selvcs they would Be chosen for In this c,unty At least
the respectable portion Of society are not kept back BY
Tear Of violence or obaoquy
What II Thought I'm England OF the
Execution Of John Brown.
From the London Times, Dec 10
We have been so far removed for quarter OF cen
fury from all national interest Ia the question OF slavery
that look with impartial eyes the strange events
which have recently occurred the other side OF the
Ia 49,