New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-21
OLD IND NEW RROONS.

Tina Epening Post, under the title of "a
Government in Distress" reviews the Num-
cipal situation, and decides that it cannot en-
dure-that there must be q rupture somehow.
The Post continues:
"One suggestion has been mafo which has obtained 10
,nucb favor and seems Co be Of such practical import
epce as to deserve passing notice.
cit IA that an immediate change DO made In tho fnar-
cia department OF the city by obtaining the resignation
of Controller Connolly, and by appointing In his place
man who will be independent and frank in his official
action II Is no secret hat the most influential OF tho
Democratic leaders desire that Mr. Peter H. Sweeny DO
the new Controller. They sayhat MIR. sweeny person
ally commands more Of the public confidence In all
nartes than any other man whom Mayer Hall would
be asked TO appciRt; that no Is not implicated In any
Of tho frauds Of the RinR;' that his administration
OF the oce would be Independent, energetic and thor
ough his reports full and uureseryed that his influence
80 great that could satisfy his party friends of tho
necessity of reform and econOmy; and that In short ho
could harmonze all the conflicting factions OF his own
party while directing their action In the government
as to make 1t acceptable to the people, They point to bis
career as City Chamberlain and to the fact that he was
the first to pay the interest upon tho City deposits into
the City Treasury rs proving ut once his capacity ana
his integrity in high financial Office.
"The suggestion Is shrewd one Mr. FYeeny Is
credited among his party friends with eXtTaOrainary
personal power amonginen and with great adninsira-
tive ability. II the city government, as WHOLE cod
now be saved doubtless he is the in 1t who could
do the work. But the question arises whether II Mr.
Swoeny is the his friends take him fer ho VIII con-
sent to take such burden upon him as Mr. C0nnoiys
acoountsi 1t seems than doubtful whether,
II Alexander Hamilton himself here to undertake
the job Of capddly explaining. all that has been done
with the public money for the last two years, and OF
making his explanation acceptable to tho people, ne
could indulge any hope OF success. IL seems equaHy
doubtful whether II he should undertake it, and should
thus shoulder the burden OF reproach with wAch our
rulers are already loaded, his great character would
avail to protect him from distrust.
However let the best plan the Tammany leaders can
devise have a fair trial. They must ia any case make
haste, for their time Is short After their repeated
promises all broken made, it has become evil
dent that Mayor Hall and Controller Connolly do not
mean TO publish the accounts Of the City, There is but
possible for this: they dare not do IT, Pot-
oay ruined they by Withholding tho truth, their
ruin would be sweeping yet II they should publish
it. II an honest Independent Controller is now put IN
place by the party clique which seems TO control tho
Mayors official action both Of these gentlemen will
equally disappear from their prominent places in the
public mind and the Controller will be the center
OF observation. He Will have to tell tho whole story OF
the past; and that story proves to be- as 1t surely WILL
one which will excite the Indignation Of the country
against the whole body OF men who have so long ruled
criminal conviction of of them, the Con
troler who should take office under this government
would fall with It, and his very candor would be but the
instrument OF his own overthrow. Who that has any
character, position, prospects, will accept such
riski"
Comments by The Tribune.
Whatever difference of Judgment may exist
as to The Posts premises, there can be none
rs TO its conclusion. Nothing is to be gained
by O change of men without a change of
measures. 1t is the system whereof William NJ.
Tweed is the author and manager which has
broken down, and threatens to bury the credit
and solvency of the City in its ruins. Putting
out this man and putting in another can do
no good if the system is to be adhered to.
new OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES he be Mr.. Sweeny,
Judge Hilton, or some one else-must either
insist on the instant publication of the long
withheld accounts of thirty months expendi-
ture, or he must persist in Withholding and
concealing those accounts. Simply to protect
his own good name, he must give the fullest
publicity to whatever wrong has been done or
suffered by his predecessor, either by himself
OF in connection with the Mayor and "the
" Bossn Not to do this is to take the whole
load upon his own shoulders. No man who
has reputation to lose will undertake this so,
if there has been any idea of changing the
Controller, it has been or will be abandoned.
The first thing in order is the publication Of
the City's accounts for 1869, 10, and the former
half of II; let what will come next, this should
be the starting point.