The New York herald., 1870-01-23
CITY PoLITIc s.
The Political Atmosphere-A Split in the
Tammany Ranks-The Fight Over the
Albany COmmissiOns-A New Anti
Tammany League Of Five
The Shrievalty The
ComptrOllership.


The political atmosphere Is considerably disturbed
at the present moment, and the weakened hangers
Of party leaders imagine that they see In tne afr
porrents OF a storm that threatens complete wreck
or severe strainings to the Tammany machine II 1t
be longer recklessy run upon the present track.
The coming contest over the offices to he provided
for by the change OF legislation now actively pusned
forward at Albany is that which exercises the mind
OF those most interested In the shape which that leg
isIation may lake, But intimately connected with
this question Is the no less absorbing subject on the
vacancies accruing In the coming fall election, when
four OF the important oices in the city govern
ment will become vacant aud want return OF the
present or fresh occupiers. Thus TWO causes-0no
present the other remOte-with all their conc0mi-
tants and ingredients OF disruption tend TO mako
the political cauldron bubble, bubble. toll and
trouble ut an unexamped rate at this time OF the
year.
Just now 1t would appear to the uninitiated that
the war Of politics was waged wholly within the gay
and festive circles OF "cub balls, " sociabes," SEQ
terles," 'reun0ns and the like. 1t is true little
OF the spirit Of the political contest enters into tho
composition OF these parties, with great deal Of
personal rivalry after present and prospective popu-
larity, whenever In the latter fresh race for
office draws nigh, and popularity becomes power
full element to success. Thus we have mad numer-
GUS tests OF tnis politicosocia popularity closing
50 far with the triumphant success Of the Richard
b. Connollys cOterie on Tuesday last which ecipsed
in all respects the best efforts OF the aspirants for
public recognition and patronage that mad pre-
vlously entered upon this festive arena But behind
all this are the political wireworkers game and the
leaders, strategy apparent TO all who know how
the political cat jumps. Passing over the
I'M aI.i ria f0
on the dispensation Of power with regard to tue
Albany commissions the bills introduced aud cer
tain to be passed for the reconstruction OF our City
boards and commissions the fall campaign has .
great deal TO do with the present disturbance and
perturbation in the democratic camp 'Tis true, as
clearly and truly expressed by our Albany corres
pondent that the mutterlngs and threatenings OF
political storm become suddenly calm at times.
Feuds and discussions may for a time rule the hour
The waves OF seeming destruction may wildly lash
against the ship vi state but when the moment
which ap pears most nOmeniouS arrives the man
who holds the political clements III the palm OF ms
hand has but 10 appear and eXclaln, "teace, DO
stilin ana there comes instantly great calm among
ali tue fierce political elements.
THE SITUATION.
IL is currently rumored among the kn0 wing nea
and generally taken rs gospel That there are i've
powerful maiconlents IN the held opposition To
The imagined policy OF the great Peter Bismarck
with regard W tue municipal powers and on whom
shall be conferred the legal and sole authority 0r
dispensing the patronage soon 10 be restored TO mu
niclpal government These hye opponents to the
supposed programme OF the Tammany c9ie1 are
Congressman John Fox, Snerln OBrlen, State Sena-
tors Norton aud Genet, aud Police Commissioner
M. 1. Brennan, great men anu valiant In Gotham.
onensive ald defensive. against the Tammany
oiigarchy and lib great cnier ana from one
the e noa @ 70 nsnoronn ns oaes can can Ss Ss
Coming conflict. O'BrIen and Company (the SherlT
beng always on hand is placed mere on the front
rank or the macoatent chieftains) demand a. fair
or the patrOna.e-that 49, OF the power OF spO
nalion--when the tunes come to enter upon that
congenia work. They insist that Sweeney, Hall aud
cious jaws could swallow and hold all the offices
ana iat p.ckngs IN the city without as much as the
first admonltory symptoms OF u crainp; tnat tney
have IN fact boundes5 StomaclS as Impossible to N
any OF stree. railroad cars or broadway stage
ment, any one VI the Taminany magnates
might not be equal to the emergency Of
slowing away without certain sunocatlon the pat
ronase ARISING from the expulsion OF all the repub
lcans Oil boards and COMMISSIONS, the O'Brien baud
Vi patriots come 10 tneir relief and say, We insist
on dividing the honors aud the dangers with your
Indeed IL political necessity with Llem Lie or
deash hangs The balance Should they be defeated
this struggle, FAREWELL long farewell TO all your
greatness, gentlemen Of tine league. Where would
UBrien be, where Norton, whereY Echo answers
wnere-Mat. Brennan. Genet and Fox, the men-
bers Of the anI.Sweeny ieaguef What the aleague-
lists want IS, 10 nave all the municipal appointments
placed in the hands OF the Mayor, and the Two
Boards OF Aldermen. These boards the creatures
| O tue new ring Of tive and or course must be
| subserylent to do the rings bidding should they
| thority 10 make ali municipal appointments.
! delicate piece Of strategy This. why, the Mayor
might as well try to 'wlstle down tile WIND" as 10
OF any avail against the dlctum OF tho
| two Boards who would assureuly go tue whole hog
| with OBrien aud their other patrons But 'catca
weasel asleep" as tile saying Ii. TIE Tamnlany
chef has pondered upon ali these things and wnlle
no DOUBT, ne win COnclllate the ''qulnteten now
sngldg out OF all democratic tune be VIII not let
them play upon this ul5Cordant narp or I'VE strings.
However wildly speculation may rise III the city upon
all these vexed questions, few days more must de.
| eide Jnem and Until then we DISMISS the subject
| THE COMING VACANCY IN THE SHRiVALTY.
There are already three powerful competitors In
the field for Mr. O'briens shoes when he steps out
| next fall. These are:-Snann0n Clerk OF tae Conf
| mon Council; Conan, President u the Board OF
| Aldermen and Congressman John Fox TneSe may
be briefly noted thus:DigntS, dty3ttOf. dtyntSSluS.
| Is to DC hoped not t. our Latin.
| THE STREET COMMISSIONERSHIP
| zTbe present genial aud popular George-by the
| grace or Tammany-Street Commissioner aud SO
knows him shall know him no more forever. Sheriff
u irien deserves to be the worthy successor OF 80
worthy man; but whether ne Is gong to get II Dy
the grace OF lammany, or Dy the grace Oh Iammany
greatly depend upon the c0mplacency OF the ai0re-
| SAID ring, when the time Tor making conditions
| shan have arrived.
| THE CoMPTRoLLERsHIP.
Should the pollticO social test, TO which we alluded
IN The opening OF this article, have any co2ency
when the actual conflict arrives IL would not Dc in
| the least premature to predict that Matthew Il.
/ would tie no Were and that Richard B. would DO
lust where he Is-Comptr0ller OF tins great city, an
once which le has ably nled-lor another term.
The foregoing picture or the political nght Is per-
| feet IN the salient points presented few days
| mar bring about important changes, which VIII DO
daily noted and laid before our readers IN our next
| article