The New York herald., 1870-04-09
Our Great City Governmcnt-A Good fros-
poet Before Us. N4l4 t4t

good Charter. After twenty years OF changes
twenty years of modelling and remode'ing QUIZ
municipal government-to suit certain pafs'es'
factions and cliques, we have got back 10 tne
| fundamental principle Of our republican insti-
tutions, local self-government. Inc iounna-
ton of the liberty of England, OF the United
| States as an offshoot of England, and OF the
! free cities of different parts of Europe which
rose in former times to great commercial emil
nence and power, was local self-government
| and the civic rights of municipalities. No
more fatal error was ever committed In politi-
cal science, and none more inimical to the
republican institutions Of the United States
than the attempt to govern New York by inde-
pendent commissions appointed and controlled
by the State authority at Albany. AS party
measure, too, it failed. 1t neither gave us
better government nor promoted the interests
or political power of the party which was the
author of it. With all the evils the city
endured under preceding municipal govern
ments, with bad men, and too frequently the
worst men in office, and with the arbitrary rule
of faction, none proved worse or such a failure
has just been abolished. We know that the
virtual disfranchisement of New York by
radical Legislature, under the pretext OF
reforming abuses, was a political measure
only but so badly has it worked that no such
pretext remains any longer. Indeed, the
| republican party in the Legislature gave an
] overwhelming vote for our new and excellent
| Charter, and thereby acknowledged the error
| it had committed before in taking away NUM-
| cpal selt-government.
In one sense the new Charter may be called
| a party measure, for it was framed by the
| democratic leaders Of the State, and could
| have been carried, no doubt, by democratic
| votes, even after the small faction, preten-
| tiousIy called the young democracy, opposed
it; but it must not be forgotten that the repub-
licans, with a few exceptions, voted solidly for
| it. The motive for this action of the repub-
| licans is impugned in certain quarters, and by
! the defeated faction. 1t is said they were
| bought. While we have not much faith in the
ncorruptbility of some members of the Legis-
lature, we cannot doubt the honesty of purpose
of portion of them, at least, in this case
They desired, undoubtedly, to give a good
government to this great metropolis. They
may, it is true, have obtained certain conces-
sions Or promises with regard to the Excise
law, Electoral law, or to some of the commits
sions under the new government; but this may
prove beneficial to the city, and should not be
regarded as bribery. We think, therefore,
that the Legislature as a body, with the excep-
| ton of a small faction, acted conscientiously
! and for the best.
Under these circumstances there is reason
| to expect we have Charter now that will
stand. It is, on the whole, an excellent piece
| of work, and If properly administered, there
will be no motive to abrogate or materially
change it, whatever party may come into power
in the State hereafter. The responsibility now
| rests with the dominant democratic party, and
in the first instance particularly with Mayor
Hall, who has the power Of appointment to the
various and important Offices in the city. His
position is more important and responsible
| one really at this time than that of the Gov
ernor of the State. No Mayor ever had an
opportunity of acting more Independently and
| for the welfare of the city. If he use his
power wisely he can become very popular
with all classes of our citizens. He can make
| New York the model city of the country and
the government of which other cities will be
glad to copy. He can, in fact, acquire ma
| tional fame and rise to higher honors.
The first thing to do is to reorganize the
several departments Of the city government in
a manner that will command the respect of the
intelligent portion Of the community. The
most respectable and capable among our citi-
| zens should be placed in control of all the
| commissions. Gamblers, low grogshop poll
| ticians and corrupt men should be ignored.
There could be no finer opportunity for revo-
lutionizing the city government and makihs it
respectable. If those who have reputation
| and interests at stake in the city should be
placed in responsible situations we should soon
| see the happy effect. Governor Hoffman
| began making an important change in dispos
ing of offices when he ignored the old politi-
clans and appointed DR.. Carnochan Health
| Officer of the Port. In his case professional
and personal merit was the FIRST consideration.
Every respectable citizen hailed the appoint
ment, consequently, as good and
proper one. Let Mayor Hall do the
same with the different and important
appointments he has to make under
the new Charter and he will become the most
popular man in the city. New York is destined
to be the first city in the world. 1t is the third
now. It's future wealth, commercial greatness
and magnincence can hardly be imagined.
But much will depend upon those who rule it.
There is great work to be done and vast
improvements to be made. At present the
city Il in a rude state, comparatively, some
thing like the new cities Of the West. Look
at our wretched piers and wharves, our filthy