The New York herald., 1871-09-09


the Injunction asked for BY Mr.. Foley is the
first step towards an intelligent settlement Of
the Tammany question. There has been q
good deal Of what has been called razor-strop
journalism on this subject, which had the
effect Of selling the rasor-strops, we presume
We have been amused by the eager competi-
tion between the Tribune and the Times, for
instance, ss to who produces and ofers the
best article Of strop. They are strops after
all, and all their clamor is meant to force sales
and attract the crowd. The matter Is too
serious to be belittled by this eager clamor OF
news-dealers In condition Of business as
phyxia anxious to give some new life to their
trade. The citys credit, the honor Of the
metropolis, the good name Of America, are
too seriously involved in this strife to permit
passion to rule. rtaty rsvat
What is the situation? The present rulers
of our city, after hard contest with corrup-
ton, political ambition, the intriguers of the
republican party, their own stpendisries, and
the representative of q condition of municipal
affairs which really was chaos, obtained an
intelligent, logical charter. based upon the
principles of free municipal government All
the old rubbish was swept away. The clumsy
machinery oi ''boards" and s'commissions"-
wheels within wheels-engines clashing
against each other-was destroyed, and we
had smooth, good organization. There was
Mayor at the head, the city's choice, and as
such responsible, efficient executive. There
were men to obey, with the power to compel
obedience and discipline. All friends of good
government breathed freer and looked with
hope to the future. The press, without regard
to party, endorsed it. the Tribune and Times
especially, which, having just at that nom ent
no razor-strops to sell, found themselves for
once Independent. The people Of the city
passed Judgment upon the charter, and, by a
most decided majority, elected Oakley Hall
Mayor. rnfu
The work Of clearing away the rubbish has
been more difficult than was at any time ex :
pected. Those who have watched the course Of
affairs in New York for the past ten years
will understand how the vicious system of
commissions" and ''boards" degenerated into
chaos and robbery. There was no overseeing
and responsible power and authority. The
building had no corner stone. Democrats
planned tax levies which republican legislatures
were seduced to pass and republican governors
induced to approve, ard the money of the city
was swept into the hands of irresponsible, raw
enous men, who squandered it. What they
did was by Storm of law" To be sure the law
was vicious and corrupt, but the people had
made 1t, BY sending men of the lowest class to
Albany. They showed the utter abse noe of
public virtue, and suffered for it by the spolia-
tions of legislative adventurers What these
men did was q part of the legacy bestowed
upon the present rulers of the city when they
came into power. This accounts for the bur-
den of what is called the illegal appropriations
Of money. Since New Year the running ex-
penses of the city have been economical almost
to penury. The money paid has been to
sweep away the accumulated rascalities of the
republican administrations, of boards and
commissions created by republican legislatures
and endorsed by republican governors, and of
democratic officials who, finding no controlling
power over them, concocted all sorts of jobs
and plundered the city to their hearts con-
tent. - ~
For much of this Mayor Hall has been held
responsible. The razor-strop people 6nd that
nothing can be done to advance their own poll
tical and pecuniary interests unless he is de-
stroyed. Yet every one who knows Mr.. Hail. or
who has any familiarity with our public men, will
understand how foolish and absurd any charges
are affecting his integrity. Mr.. Hall has never
shown himself to be venal man. His direst
foes have always admitted his personal honor.
Nor does he belong to that class of men who
see in money something to stimulate personal
and political ambition. Mr.. Hall has been q
successful lawyer. The money he has made
have had put upon him the burden of clearing
away the debris Of the old government. While
doing this work and doing It faithfully and
well, he Is suddenly made responsible for It's
creation. Nothing can be more unjust than
this, and the pertinacity with which the razor
strop politicians assail the Mayor is q salts
factory proof that the Interest Of the taxpayers
OF the city is not the sole or principal object
of their clamor for reform. 1t is notorious
that under the administration of the easy and
good-natured Lincoln enormous frauds were
perpetrated by republican officials, and that
between whiskey rings, internal revenue rings
and contractors rings the United States Trea-
sury was plundered of many millions of dol
lars. When accident raised Andrew johnson
to the Presidency the robbers CON-
bined to tie his hands and to make
aheadless, irresponsible muddle of the national
government in order that they might continue
their depredations without let or hindrance
The people thought fit to place General Grant
at the head Of the nation to stop
this wholesale corruption and debauchery,
and he has proved himself deserv-
ing of the trust. Now, what would republican