The New York herald., 1871-09-19

Have We u Commune In New York e.
How Bad Precedents Mny Work Evil
What We Expect from Mayor Hall
and Judge Barnard.
There is one view to be taken OF the present
complications in Tammany Hall that seems
to us to shed new light upon the movements
of what is called the Reform Committee. Are
we not about to introduce under peaceful
guise the reign of the Commune, as we saw it
in Paris with perhaps consequences as disas-
trous as were ever seen in the Commune in its
widest days?
We have government. However debased
or foolish its administration may be, what
ever may have been done in the way Of
corruption or violation of public trusts, this
government represents the will of the people
of New York. 1t raises taxes, makes public
improvements, looks after the health, happi-
ness and welfare of the city, and from
decade to decade it has advanced our muni-
cipal prosperity from stage to stage until
we have a metropolis rivalling in wealth and
splendor the renowned cities of the Old World.
We have had republican Mayors and demo-
cratic Mayors, Mayors who were neither
democratic nor republican, but the choice of
rings and factions of the great parties, sud
denly blossoming into power and as soon
fading out of sight, like the gourd which came
up in night and passed away like vision.
There have been violations of the representa-
tive spirit-boards and commissions and arti-
fetal sforts to wrest the power of the people
from the people. In the end, however, the
old ship has always swgas os Rafk fkosbSsr6as S sss
and gentle seas.
Now there comes gathering of law
yers and merchants, rich, ambitious and
craving political distinction. Time after
time these men have striven for the
control of the great city. Money has been raised
and spent, and we have had all the machinery
of suspicious and dangerous partisanshp.
Every shape has been assumed and every
political fancy has been conjured into life.
The names they have taken from time to time
would form curious chapter of political arch
geology. Mozart and McKeon, Tammany and
Anti Tammany, Wing and Republican, Radi-
cal and Conservative, Democratic Union and
Young Democracy, Know Nothing and Native
American, Temperance and Citizens Associa-
tion-new names for one purpose-only
meaning power, wealth and ambition. All
these movements, however, have simply meant
one mans success or the success of a party.
They have never gone beyond the law-have
ne yer caused a triumph that was unnatural or
dishonest, or in any way in contradiction of
the established principles of municipal free
government.
Now, for the first time, the straining for
power means violation of the fundamental
laws Of representative government. We see
body of gentlemen assembling, selecting q
financial officer, making bargain with Comp
troller denounced for malfeasance, and with
his aid and assistance giving their candidate
power. Mr.. Green is nominated by Mr..
Havemeyer Mr. Havemeyer is the chairman of
a town meeting. He has no power and no re-
sponsibility. Any citizen may call meeting,
take the chair, cry reform" and nominate
whoever he pleases for Comptroller. If he can
find Comptroller, judicially denounced as an
abettor of highway robbery" and willing to
bargain for his immunity, or, using the palmer
phrase of our English contemporary, to turn
Estates evidence, he may place his candi-
date in Office and give him absolute control of
the financial affairs of great city. What
Mr.. Havemeyer does To-day Mr.. Morrissey
may do tomorrow. 1t is only question of
opportunity, aud if Mr. Connolly or a man
like him can be found In terrified humor
he will as soon make bargain with Mr.. Nor
rissey as with the ex-Mayor The example is
the same. 1t Is full of evil. Like all evil
examples it threatens danger to free institu.
tions and republican government.
We saw q bolder type Of this lawlessness in
Paris. The men 10 power were the chosen
officers of the republic. Whether the republic
was welcome or not, it was the supreme will
in France, aud any other assumed power was
simply usurpation. Well, there was gather
ing of men in Paris who had no confidence
in Trochu and Jules Favre and NJ. Theirs.
There was orruption--mperialism monarch-
cal purposes-all manner of offences in their
eyes. To be sure the reply was that these
and Favre and Thiers--were
the chosen ministers OF Paris, constitutionally
in office, and, whether for good or evil,
charged with the destinics of the great
city and the great nation. The gather
ing thought differently. They took up