The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-20
Our city and Its Dangers.


The highest legal authority advises us that under
that cunningly devised fraud, the new charter the
whom he has appointed. Under the test OF events
this preience or o government with responsible
head breaks down: The c2nspirators who contrved
direct responsibility to the people, nor any power IN
puolic opinion TO control The administration by act
ing upon It's head. They w0ve the net for the pup
lie; they are caught 10 1t themselves, and 1t Is not
for them TO complain.
But the situation IS none the less full OF difficulty
public and deserves IT, But his present position Is
scarcely moro than mat OF referee In charge OF
Official records fol- the purpose OF ascertanng facts
He Is not recognized by the Mayor as an oicer; no
WARRANT signed Ly HIM can be paid; and the whole
doubt upon the VALIDITY Of his Official acts On the
other hand his mere access to the 0ffce depends
who might at any timeedec reconciliation with
hts old associates In misg0ycrnment and shut his
doors upon Mr.. Green and the public.
The utter DISCRIMINATION OF the city government
must result II this situation continues. There Is
already serious danger Of disorder, and the danger
ment Is made helpless Dy dIssension. Any open
attempt by Mayor Hall TO enforce The views he
Selling the oompTolIers ONCE, could now 81
made only az the risk OF riot lar more
terrible than that OF last July. Yet. ~ quietly
Gift filed and It's powers exercised under an autho
rity which deles him, he would accept humiliation
which cannot fail TO weaken his whole government
and bring his own Office into contempt. 1t Is not
surprising that Mayor Hall shrnks from either
to accept Mr.. Green as an onicer of the city; his
duty as guardian OF the public peace Will not per-
What remains for the Mayor 10 dor Nothing but
to make Mr. Green, not the deputy, but the success
conn 90 70 ean Mr. Green &c
pointed This appointment then, Will be acceptable
to an the parties Will remove me legal
e sass the s' Mayors i ocal dignity not
confidence to the financial administration Of
the City far more enectuay than temporary and
personally ready to meet before ihc public oil the
facts which appear upon the Co lptroller's records
he can have no motive strong enough to overcome
these reasons for accepting Mr.. Green as Comp
Unless this be done Mr.. Green cannot properly
himself, but for the people. Admitting that he
holds 1t IN violation OF sound principles
O fdR 81 saa S1 when
to Its authors and to the city, yet the violation
OF principle Is not his, but theirs who framed the
his associates, VINO contrived for others the trap
which now catches them. Until the people have
Hall and Connolly have seduousy and cunnlngy
withheld from them, they are right IN taxing every
Sey San wa s. SeeS soen from
and Just who has stolen H.; aud. in order to obtain
this information, which Is their right oil legal
But it cannot be denied that the Mayor and his
associates have the power not only TO sacrince the
Green, but seriously to endanger the public peace
| by simply continuing their refusal TO recognize
! his authority. The moral authority OF the city
government Is already greatly impaired; the
restraints which control the dlsordcrly elements Of
our society are already weakened, and the pas
siOns OF men are already so much heated that there
IS growing danger OF disturbance. little thinl
might to-day I'LL our streets with violence and
crime. There are prominent men In the city who
are eager for disorder; 1t is their element and
will multiply their power These men arc not
now the friends OF the Mayor out by maintaining
giving them the opportunity they watch for
AS the guardian OF the pubic peace, Mayor Hal
Is called on to offer to Mr.. Andrew H. Green his ap
polntment az Comptroller OF the city. II he cannot
accept ana execute the peoples VIII In this matter
now so important to the public safety the sooner ht
resigns the trust they have given him the better
They Will then elect Mayor In November who Will
regard himself rs the servant and agent OF the poo
pie, and not OF MS own petty and personal pride.