New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-01
4 MUNICIPAL BlILLEFlUM.

MUNICIPAL M1LLEHAS"'
Gov. Fenton is not usually regarded an Alb.
stractionst, dreamy Utopian, an lmpractica.
bic and Pericctionary. Yet Gov. Fenton comes
down here and actually tells US that we ought
to have purity and economy in our Municipal
Government. Actually speaks of these, does
the Governor, with sober face ss if they were
possible. And We will warrant that he does
not believe either in perpetual motion, nor III
squaring the circle, nor in the transmutatlon oi
metals into gold-only believes that we can
have honest men for our city officers-honcst
men who will not play at ducks and brakes with
the public money--which. by the way, ~ oil
private money, and is taken directly Or indi'
rectly, out of cverybody's personal pocket'book.
We believe if somebody would give us sta.
tistical account of the net result of mpurity and
profuson, with short biographies Of the flchers,
and little anecdotes Of the grabs major ana
minor, with engravngs Of the unfinished
bridges, and the dirt -devouring Battery, and the
mud.mantled streets, with other sweet pc.
cularities of our civic management-we believe
if somebody would give US such book as this,
that il would be more thrilling, more iascI.
mating, more instructive, than the nastleSt and
bloodiest OF Miss Brsddons novels.
The CALLING truth s, that we have gradually
grown 70 dsbelieye in the possibility OF munici'
pal purity. However clean the bands when
they begin to manipulate our Now-York affairs,
We expect them to grow gradually grimy, and
always look to see the public dollars sticking to
the electrical palms. Men who 90 IN honest,
come ont to put it mildly, little changed. 1t
is The systcm which they de- not create, but
which they hud lying in wait for them which
Kills their moral character; especially when
they have great party to back them mp, aud
plcnty of outsiders who swear by them and also
share With them. So long as party managers
pick out our rulers for us. just 30 long viii the
magic Ring remain unbroken, anu we III poor
pilfsred slaves.
Purity and Economy. These are not un-
meaning words; they concern the prosperity
and happiness OF every man, woman and child
within our city borders We do not expect
4
/ and Corporation Counsel; We - b. content
with the mere simplcitos Of ho-es'y; and We
do not hope Ia find even these for any length Of
/ time in officers made such through dubons
methods. by impure influences, and The support
oi those who never girs but always sell their
power. We suppose that Mayors and Council
men will have a wholesome respect for those
who made and who con unmake them; and, if
they know that they are watched, Al good dogs
watch houses, by all the honest eyes in the city,
and that, if caught in questionable practices,
there is no Tsmmany, no Mozart, 40 Republican
party, which will come 10 their rescue. but that
they will be incontineniiy thrown overheard,
with Found Wanting branded upon their
forehcads-iG, We say, they know this, they will
recognize at least the policy Of Purity and
Economy, and, while they govern us, will govern
themselves accordingly. One torn Of such
rule would render many subsequent terms like
it possible and probable, until We should no
more think of elocting a Mayor upon the
strength Of his politics than of choosing our
lawyers, and doctors, aud bookaoepers upon
the same grounds
Puiiy-That means. Thou shalt not steal -
Eoomomy--Th.t means. " Thou shalt neither
steal nor waste"
1t is all o plain question ol money and
morals. Let ii be decided, moi by party, but by
the whole tax-paying people.