The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-28
Tho Mayor md the Collectors Of Assess-
mont.

and the collectors of assessment. but took the
precaution to disclaim at the time any respon-
sibility for its truthfulness. We publish to-day
letter from Peter Bismarck Sweeny, which
seems to show clearly that Greeley is not q
correct accountant, and that he has made some
serious blunders in the accusations he has
brought against the Mayor, SO far as the street
opening business is concerned. 1t remains
now for Greeley to explain his charges more
fully, if he can, and to prove that they are not
merely electioneering lodges, got up, as most
such stories are for political effect, and calcu-
lated to benefit rather than to damage the
parties against whom they are directed.
1t will be seen that Bismarck Sweeny, while
entirely demolishing Greeleys indictment,
pitches into the radical philosopher in very
mild and gentlemanly manner He does not
resort to Greeley's usual mode of argument,
and say bluntly, "You lie, you villain y but
| takes moderate courteous and unexceptiona-
BILE method of proving that the assertions of
the radical leader are unfounded. We expect,
nevertheless, that Greeley will come back upon
Bismarck Sweeny with his accustomed vio-
lence, and will heap upon him all the epithets
to be found in the radical vocabulary. 1t is to
be hoped, however, that the disputants will
not wholly annihilate each other prior to
| Grants election.
| So far as the Church street opening is con-
! cerned we know from personal experience that
we have paid three thousand dollars assess
nent on small piece OF property en-
braced in that work before the first spadeful
Of earth has been disturbed for the improve
ment. This may be all in accordance with law,
and we suppose it is. All we make out of Bis
marck Sweeny's communication, however, is
that Mayor Hoffman's father-in-law gets only
one-seventh of the percentage allowed on these
collections, instead Of the whole amount and
! that his Office has been worth only about three
| thousand dollars year, outside Of the Church
! street job, instead Of one hundred thousand
dollars. We learn also that Mayor Hoffman's
father-in-law is, in the dignifed language of
| Wall street, \ ''retired merchant" Well, all
we can say is that if he will retire also from all
street opening jobs he will save Greeley the
trouble Of telling any more such fibs about the
Mayor, will prevent the Mayor from being
taken to task about the doings of his father-in-
law, and will spare Chamberlain Sweeny the
necessity of apologizing and explaining for the
Mayor Will Starkweather retire !
The Chief Justice Denies the soft Ina-
peachmeni.
Dispatches from Washington state that Judge
Chase pronOunces as forgery the letter
said to have been written by him to his friend,
Mr.. Alexander Long, Of Cincinnati, declar-
ing his willingness to step into Governor
Seymour's shoes az candidate for the Presi-
dency. As matters have turned out il is not
a subject Of the slightest importance whether
Chief Justice Chase is charged with having
accepted or refused proposition Of this kind,
the fact being most probable that no such
proposition was ever made to him, as the
whole story Of change Of candidates is
now believed to have been a scheme Of the
Gratis in Seymour and Blair. That this letter,
purporting to be signed by Chief Justice
Chase, was part of that little trick, is
pretty well understood Had the Chief JUS
tice been nominated by the Democratic Con-
vention in July he might have been for
midabe competitor to the radical candidate.
His position in the contest since that time
has not been of much Importance, although
the curiosity Of many people may he salts
fed by knowing how he stands in respect 10
accepting Seymours old clothes.
TnR ELECTIONS IN GREAT BiuTAiN.--The
extracts which for some days We have
been giving from orr English files show that
the present election contest is one Of the most
wonderful which the British isles have ever
witnessed. Mr.. Gladstone and his friends are
turning up heaven and earth TO make liberal
ism, which for the present means the abolition
of the State Church, success at the polls.
Mr.. Disraeli. taking broader view OF the stu
alton. remains in digniiled silence. The situa-
| ton in England recalls the situation at home
! In Gladstone we have our Seymour. In
| Disracli We have our Grant. II will not he
wonderful if in both cases the November cleo
lions turn out in favor of the nun who is at
once the most dignitied aud the most silent
| iii should he 80 il will only he one argument
more in favor of the old saying tina, ''speecl, is
silyern and that silence is golden.
J T,sE ARMED NEUTRALITY OF AusrEIA.-The
passage by the Reichsrath OF the ministerial
bill fixing the basis as TO the numbers and
equipment for the army when on q war foot
| ing, IL significant indication of the chronic
state Of insecurity 10 which the great Powers
Of Europe are condemned by their mutual
rivalries and iealousies. In the speech of
Baron Won Beust in secret session. urging the
| passage OF the bill, the Prime Minister is said
to have alluded to the good relations which
exist between Austria and the other great
| European Powers. but he also minated that