New-York tribune., 1869-05-20
NEw-YoRK DAILY TRIBUNE THURSDAY. MAY 20. 1862

of the Younger artists. They felt as the Indians
that Peter Farley tells us about used to feel
when they aimed at Washington, and saw the
bullets drop harmless into his breeches-pockets.
It was to be feared, that all attempts at
reform would be given up; tired as they
were of these Old Men of the Sea, they could
not shake them off, and they must jog on as
they could. with the load.
But at length, enough spirit has been
plucked up to enable an opposition, formld-
able in point of numbers, and respectable by
the character and ability of its members, to
give hope that something may be done TO
effect the reforms that have long been needed
In truth, the preliminary skirmish has been
fought, and the smoke having cleared away,
reveals the young adventurers in plain posses
sion of the field. At first blush, it must be
confessed, the bulletins read too much like the
old Confederate reports of battles where the
enemy was always getting dreadfully whipped,
but succeeded nevertheless in tenaciOusly
holding his position. For the COnserya-
tives trumphantly announce the cleo
ton of Mr.. Huntington, Mr. Gray,
and Mr. T. Addison Richards, who were
the principal objects of the enemy's fire.
There is no need Of characterizing the way In
which this was accomplished. The simple
truth appears to be, that the party of reform
was betrayed by its blind confidence. We
trust that to have had confidence once, and to
have been betrayed, will be enough. The
party has shown its strength by the election OF
its entire ticket for Council, and, no matter what
may be the wishes of the President and
Vice President, they must obey the decisions
of the Council. We believe the Council has
fully made up its mind as to what it will de-
mand. In the first place, it means to insist on
making the Academy National in fact, and not
merely so in name. At present no artist can
be an Academician unless he be a resident of
the City of New-York The new men mean
to make non residents eligible to membership.
Then, the intention is to limit the tenure-of-
Office by the President and YiCe-President to
two consecutive terms of one year each. At
present there is no limit of any kind, and the
officers may hold their places as long as, by
hook or crook, they can get themselves re-
elected. Some of them have held their offices
so long that they can U endure to have their
right to them questioned. They actually
talk about rebellion" when anybody
suggests that it is time for them
to CO. state of things like this
soon paralyzes any institution, and renders
the accomplishment of any good work impos-
sible. A third and much needed reform is to
consist in reducing the Hanging Committee
from thirteen to three, these three not to be
officers, and to be changed every year. We
trust that the fire of these officers, as soon as
they are in power, will be directed along the
whole "line.n If it be vigorously and con-
scientiously aimed, we shall see some very dis
creditablc things put q stop to. There are
other changes intended, but tho ones we have
named are those with which the public is
chiefly concerned. These reforms, if faithfully
carried out, will do much to make the Acad-
emy rs powerful rs it has hitherto been ineffi-
cient; and that is saying great deal. But
work is needed, and vigilant eyes must keep
guard. Up, boys. and at them!