The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-02


| leans in return could not do less than choose
the man they knew would be most acceptable to
France especially as there was no other candi-
| date And here there is little difficulty. With
out questioning the sincerity Of France or the
purity of her intentions in all this matter, we
| would inquire whether she went to work In the
best way to secure an impartial choice. Il the
occupation Of q country by troops the most
certain way to establish the freedom Of thought
and action! Is not the presence of an army
likely to prejudice choice one way or the others
We have already seen that the national polite
ness OF the Mexicans toward their friends
from France would have some effect in this
way. And we are convinced that 1t is just
possible the Mexicans might have preferred
some other man to the illustrious Max If the
armies Of Napoleon had been kept at home.
Europe has some good ideas as to the effect
of military occupation on popular sentiment
In Europe it is believed that the presence Of
troops inclines public sentiment to the views Of
the nation whose soldiers hold the country
This has been seen in the occupation Of Rome
There are French troops there, and it is gener-
ally supposed that but for the effect their pre-
sence has had on the people Italy would have
driven out some time ago the poor old Pope.
| Germany furnishes another instance. The Ger
| man confederation is made up of two great
governments and number of small ones, and
the federal army is supplied in about
three equal parts, Of which one is Aus
TRAN and another Prussian, the third part
| being supplied by all the smaller States
together. Now the conflict of opinion that
is always in progress throughout the
German States is between Austrian and Prus-
sian influence. The struggle for the supremacy
of influence on the part of these Powers origi-
mates nearly all the complications Of German
| politics, and it has been observed that wher-
ever in the distribution Of federal garrisons
| there is large number of Prussian to the
| exclusion Of other troops, there Prussian in
fluence prevails. Where there are Austrian
troops, in the same way the admiration Of
| Austria runs high The observation Of this
| has made necessary much caution in the post
ing of federal troops; and it will be noticed
that while minor points are equally divided
1 between the paramount Powers, important
places are held in common. with equal forces
For securing the real freedom Of the people
and positively impartial expression of
| opinion we believe that this German plan is
| much preferable to the plan tried by the
French in Mexico. We suggest its application
in that country Not feeling quite certain that
the Mexicans would have elected Macmillan
Emperor if they had had their own way about
it, we call upon our government to make some
arrangement by which the election can be
had over again, under more favorable circum-
stances. The twenty-five thousand French
troops are very well to secure freedom, but
they would be better If assisted and balanced
| by twenty-five thousand United States troops.
Let rs try it that way. Perhaps, with equal
| bodies Of Frenchmen and Americans looking
on, the Mexicans might elect as their ruler
the puppet Of European game but we are
not yet ready to believe it.
The New City Adminisaration-Tho
Mayors Message.
Our new city administration was organized
yesterday. In connection with the proceedings
thereof the inaugural message 70 the Common
Council Of the new Mayor, John T. Hoffman,
will be found exceedingly interesting reading
to our city taxpayers and all others interested
in such visionary projects as retrenchment and
reform. Mayor Hoaman's opening message,
like those Of all his illustrious predecessors,
reminds us Of the old adnge Of the new broom.
With few exceptions, his statements, statistics
explanations and recommendations, and the
general drift and spirit Of his report, are good
lie challenges our confdenoe in such an ami
able aud convincing way that it is hard 10
resist him; but We also lind It hard to resist in
some things the idea Of Senator Sumner, as
applied to another matter, that this report, like
poor Pierce's defensive message on Kansas, sis
a white washing document"
Mayor Hoffman promises 10 do the ve-y best
That he can for us. aud We hope and believe
that he will. lie thinks the city should he per-
mitted to choose its own officers and carry on
its own governments proposition which,
prio,J .focje, seems 10 be unanswerable. But
experience is the mother Of wisdom, and our
experience under our City Fathers of the lssI
thirty years has from year TO year suggested
the necessity Of helping hand from the Legis-
lature more aud more, until at last very large
proportion Of our taxpayers would hail we'll
balanced metropolitan commission, with q re-
sponsible head centre, ~ godsend. Second
", Mayor Hoffman holds that the Mayor Of
New York should be clothed with power COM
meusurate with his responsibilities, }" which is .
fair proposition. But he nys further that "a
concentration OF power and Of responsibility
should be the end and aim VI all legislation
relating 70 is (ths city's) government" and
that IL is "thc division Of power and the divi-
sion Of responsibility which cause all, or near
~ sll. Of our municipal evils" This Is true;
and we think We have had quite enough OF .