The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-29
The Necessity OF City Reform Through
out the State.

The necessity OF CITY REFORM ThrOugn.
out the state.
The attack of party of Albany roughs and
rowdies upon the quiet inhabitants of a village
on the Hudson, few days ago, is an illustra-
ton of the spirit which we are endeavoring to
suppress by urging Governor Fenton to under
take the work of immediate municipal reform.
There are rowdies and roughs in every city,
but they are no more necessity of city life
than fever and ague is of country life. If these
ruffians were not fostered and encouraged by
our present system of city government they
would soon be weeded out by the police. But
by means of this class of fellows corrupt poll
ticians maintain possession of political power
in cities, and therefore we appeal to Governor
Fenton to turn them out of office and allow
honest citizens a chance of good gOvernme mt.
In this city, for example, every leading poll
tician on the ruling side has tail of bruisers
who are used to drum up votes, to keep oppo-
stion voters from the ballot boxes, to raise a
noise at political meetings, to march in politi-
cal professions and to do all sorts Of brutal
work in conventions and primary gatherings.
Being thus useful they are also well protected,
and should any of them get into the hands of
the police on account of row, robbery or
riot, the politicians step forward and exercise
their influence to restore their followers to
freedom. We presume that the routine in Al
bany is the same as that in this city,
and in all probability the rogues who
sacked the country village will escape
the punishment they so richly deserve.
With the shining example of New York
before them, the smaller cities Of the State are
not slow to initiate our vices and .corruptions.
Governor Fenton may change our example to
one of another and better character if he
chooses; but if he continues to delay we shall
90 on from bad to worse until this metropolis
is scarcely habitable.
The policy of making municipal reform
State question is becoming every day more APP
parent Introduce this new issue into State
politics, and the party which Governor Fenton
represents may carry New York triumphantly.
The people of the whole State will be with the
Governor upon this issue. Wherever there is
city the necessity for reforms is obvious, and
the inhabitants of the country districts are not
that whatever advances the interests of 80
large portion of the people of New York will
advance their interests as WELL Let the Gov
ernor remove all the heads of departments and
prepare the way for the appointments Of
metropolitan Mayor, and he will establish
reputation which will make him immortal. We
are glad to believe that he is ready to take
this step as soon as his health is sufficiently re-
stored to permit him to return to the State
capital. But, if he is at all disposed to delay
action, let him come to this city for few days
and observe for himself the miserable extrava-
gances and corruptions and the notorious
populations and Improvement which attend
the present municipal system One such visit
will be worth thousand columns of argu-
ment in aiding Governor Fenton to make up
his mind. If he does not correct the evils of
which we complain he will be held responsible
for their continuance.