The New York herald., 1871-09-17
WEAT THE PEOPLE SAY.

How strangely even the shrewdest politicians
bIunder and go wrong In sounding the depths and
determining the current OF popular feelingl
Ut Will soon blow over; II Is q nine days wonder;
1t viii soon reach its height, and then as IN the
case Of so many other reform movements the
leaders OF the agitation Will have to be bought or
by fat sinecures, aud the rank and file will subside
into su.len des pair OF evading the payment OF un.
just taxes.u
Such was the gist OF the opinions held and ex.
pressed, not only by the potcians directly inter.
ested, but even bv majority OF the outsiders VINO
make hoooy, though not a business, Of municipal
politics. and who form, as 1t were, a sort OF voun-
teers corps OF political amateurs WHAT an absurd
mistakel After so many false starts the
long-predicied revolt against public plum
der has at length come In good earnest.
And, more wonderful still, The excitement
OF The popular mind against the Ring and against
the political depravity OF principle that made the
Ring possibility deepens III quiet earncstness If
not In expressed vchemence OF indignauon, every
day. Whether travelling in the cars or stages or
loa6ng at American bars or In German beer sa
looms ldling away ent' 0cte IN the vestI5uc of
theatre the busy feet OF the journalistic
.Hane,T may stray slippery Dick," 'damned
scounurels," "thieves' and "Ring robbers'' are
everywhere the catchwords that stamp themselves
out, as 1t were, distinctly from the confused hum OF
conversation "What the people say p' That Is, in
deed, wide topic to dispose OF In single column.
But II is strange to marx how uniformly the people
agree upon certain Qran0 principles thar must un-
derIie the discussion Of the City Hall frauds Much
false news, many absurd rumOrs divers Ut
terly baselcss calumnies float forth every
hour IN the day to amuse for mo.
ment the public ear, to serve for q
season as the motive power for the wagging OF the
Aio
that is the usual fate Of these ephemeral nctions
But while facts are strangely various the treatment
OF facts all sides is the same The storm has ap
parently cleared the air of all those specious apollo
gists OF stealing who nourshed few weeks ago IN
rank luxuriance. The discussion of the whole
question is conducted in higher tone Of feeling,
and there seem to be cheerful symptoms everv-
wnere OF q revival Of dsinterested public spirit
Men show disposition to guard In the future not
only the prosperity, but also the good name and
fame OF the city Of New York. Robbery Is spoken Of
as robbery ana not under the convenient synonyme
Of spoils OF ONCE" 1t IS everywhere spoken OF
lnfamy that men should live and thrive and grow
enormously rich by abusing the confidence reposed
In them by their Fellow citizens.
so much for the general drift Of the popular
mind SO far as particular features OF the hight are
concerned the injunction naturally claims the nrst
place IN conversational interest Even now, in
spite Of the difruse and exhaustive comments OF the
newspapers, people seem scarcely to fully believe
that the Injunction Will, indeed, last over more than
o few days.
"Why on earth did they 60 to Barnard TO get III"
said one gentleman III u car yesterday morning.
because they had to, suppose: and besides, he
Is the only Judge who would have had pluck enough
TO face the music and intellect enough TO arrive at
just decision.n
"Wel, don't believe in him. was the retort;
NOR dld you or any one else q couple OF months
ago. suppose though, he is getting tired OF being
pointed ~ as the Erie Judge. That must have been
ilttle unpleasant to a man OF education
IL don't believe," came the answer again, "that
Barnard ever got one cent from Fisk or Flsks gang
How many oi his decisions were reversed He Is
good lawyer and good Judge before everything
eise and he knew tnat he mad decide In favor OF
Fisk's motions. so he did It, indifferent altogether
TO popular clamor and the certainty OF beng de-
nounced on all sides and the chance OF being
mob0ed. In tins last fight he has come out In his
true colors as an upright and fearless man. and this
time he has been lucky enough 10 be with the peo-
pie, instead OF against them. He Is now the Nap D.
leon OF the municipal sNuation.n
"He is shrewd enOugh-paying for reelection,
supposef"
"He Is looking long way ahead, then; MS elcc-
tion doesn't come or for four years."
Alter the man who granted the injunction the in
junction Itself Is generally discussed. some people
lake comfort IN the belief that vs. stated yesterday