The New York herald., 1870-03-17
The Charter TrOublc-RctroYressI

The bill for the government of tho city OF
New York, MO the Charter, is still in the con-
dition Of Mahomets coffin, between heaven
and earth, the magnetic attraction being de-
cidedly towards the lower pole for it is ''of
the earth and earthly" and is falling to pieces
by natural decay. So far has tho dissection
OF the original document OF Samuel T. gone
under the scalpel of both houses, in caucus
assembled, that there will not be particle. of
flesh left upon the bones of tho unfortunate
skeleton when it stalks up with grim and
grizzly mockery of dignity to the clerks desk
to be legislatcd upon. Members will have to
send requisition to the Dudley Observatory
for the largest portable telescope, in order to
discover to what particular bone fragment of
tho vital functions clings.
What a spectacle! And what disappoint-
ment to million of people who are waiting
eagerly for good government, after endur :
ing for so many years the mysterious opera
tions of foreign (Albany) commissions When
the democratic party at the last election rode
like gallant ship upon the topmost wave
into power in this State, the people-that is,
the immense democratic majority upon
tho leaders, not only to give us q good city
government. but to establish such q status for
the party throughout the State and the
country as might command future
of supremacy for quarter of CEN
tainly embraced the probabilities of Presi-
Dental succession in 1872, with Hoffman as
the man of the time, or any other democrat
strong enough to show himself giant in the
Presidential convention. There may have
been some doubt as to whether the city gov
ernment would be improved by the Wholesale
abolition of the existing commissions. A few
of them, at least, are held in high regard, such
as tho Central Park Commission and the
Croton Board But the politicians may be
they do, from entirely different standpoints.
We, however, from our own observation, are dis
posed to listen to the 0or popuh, which claims
nothing in the temper Of partisanship in the
management of these two boards
That, however, is not the vital question as
far as the 'slost cause" (f we may so call iD
of the democratic party is concerned. They
had magnificent opportunity. They created
brilliant hopes. The majority which put
them into power had right to expect that
this newly acquired power should be exercised
under the judgment and experience of tried
men, who had lifted the party up throughout
the whole State from the position Of a minority
to majority. A colt that breaks its halter,
smashes its stall, and, running loose, kicks up
it's heels wildly, is apt to do some mis-
chief; but your well-trained horse is not
a dangerous animal to be trusted under
ordinary circumstances. No one knows this
better than Citizen Genet, for he has had
some experience on the subject. Harlem lane
or the caucus.
There is nothing more certain than that men
who assume to govern should be trained in the
art of government if they hope to become
useful instruments and not obnoxious obsta-
cles in the way. In England, for instance,
craftsmanship is science which is studied by
the younger scions Of the leading families.
They do not step upon the political and diplo-
matte stage unfiedged; and, although many
of them enter public life very young, as we
see every day, they have been edu-
Gated to the business, as it were,
trained by experience and moulded almost
by instinct from generation to genera
ton into a knowledge of the science of gov
ernment Our mistake is that men who knew
nothing Of public life five or six years ago
whom the people never heard OF except in
some small ward ofice-aspire to make gov
ernments and execute their provisions We
do not question the honesty Of these men.
Their desires may be all in the right direction.
We do not doubt that Sammy Tilden means
very well, and is as ''honest as the sun :"
but our dainty silk stocking friend must know
that there is something more than honesty
required to run a party and to govern State,
and that is capacity, which seems to be sadly
wanting, both in Sammy and his rongh and
ready friends. Brains are not often found in
silk stockings, nor in hard fists.
This is the real difficulty with the '.Charter" I"
IL is knocked about like shuttlecock. 1t has
no master mind to direct its course through
the intricate channels of legislation. 1t is like
ship without rudder, pilot, or even q
competent man before the mast.
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