The New York herald., 1871-02-08

such excuse in the summer Of 1S71 and yet
we shall not be surprised to find the Ice CON-
panies attempting to keep up the price on some
pretext or another. Great monopolies do moi
J lks 70 r0lqgui4A i Ilsl: ;.r o. - -.s. y..yss
when once tney succeed in running tnsM up:
Meantime we rejoice to see the fine promise ol
plenty in this greatest of all summer luxuries.
4
TIE Danger and the Safety Of Tam
We hare stood by Tammany Hall in several
critical local emergencies. Our defence OF
the ''Old Wigwam," when there were fears that
the power Of the municipal government would
fall into the hands OF dangerous people, was
especially conspicuous aud successful. We
sustained the new City Charter with all
the influence at our command. for
we believed 1t contained many pro-
visions calculated to benefit the city
and guard the people from onerous
exactions and corrupt domination. We are
still ready to sustain the Tammany democracy
In their administration Of the affairs of the
olty provided they exercise wisdom, economy
and probity In the discharge OF their duties.
We do not intend to impugn their motives or
actions unnecessarily, nor, on The other hard,
do we intend to whitswash their shortcomings
or conceal their official derelictions.
Now how does the case stand? We fear
there are grounds for grave apprehensions
that everything is not open and above board
In regard to the legislation at Albany about
our city. At any rate the republican or anti
Tammany press have seized the present occa-
sion to stir up agitation which will, sooner or
later, compel the Tammany leaders to come
before the public in some unmistakable man
ner and show that their hands are unpo-
luted by official corruption. 1t is boldly
declared that the Broadway widening move
ment was . job that would not bear the cruci-
BILE of rigid scrutiny in thc Auditors Office, and
although only nine millions were alleged 10 be
involved the bill authorizing said widening
was hastily presented and it's passage hurried
through its principal stages under the Tam
many spur. The proposition to invest in the
hands OF parties already in the possession Of
vast civic powers the responsibility Of levying
our city taxes and in fixing the standard of
values upon the property Of our citizens
Is open to serious criticism from a variety
OF reasons, not the least Of which is
that ii is undemocratic If not clearly uncon-
stitutonal, and is calculated TO provoke dis
sension il not lead ultimately TO division in
the democratic party Itself. The latter con-
sideration is of course Of not 80 much mo-
ment to The people at large as it is to the
democratic politicians themselves. Hence it
Is the part of prudence and discretion, for
be not unduy pressed upon the people of this
city. Again, the bill giving single person
the right to purchase the fountainheads of the
Croton Aqueduct-from which the water sup
ply for our immense population Is received
to erect dams, to build highways and bridges
and perform other things in the same con-
nection, is conferring lease Of authority
which may be stretched to any length,
and is liable to great abuse, no matter what
safeguards the Legislature may throw around
the pressnt amount of expenditures asked for.
..-4---~- =. Ty ,-----
The sale OF the public markets, n0weYer de-
sirabIe, should be conducted upon plan that
will lift the whole operation far above any
faint of bribery or corruption that can by any
possibility be attached to it, We are pleased
to notice that the Commissioners Of the Sinking
Fund have taken some measures to give the
people chance of being heard on this in
teresting matter. There are other measures
that demand the earnest and candid attention
of the Tammany leaders, most of which are,
no doubt, familiar to our readers.
We do not believe that Mr.. Sweeny would,
knowingly, sanction any scheme not strictly
upright and honorable. But he may not be,
sagacious as he is, aware Of all the secret
jobbing movements that are going on around
him. To be s'forewarned is to be fore
armed" and in that spirit Of good
will which has prompted us in former
times to warn Tammany of dangers
that ineuaced her and pointed out the way to
safety, so we now caution her to be wary
how she conducts herself in the present
emergency. She must remember that not
since the dark days Of 1SS0-61 have the
democracy had so brilliant q chance to regain
their hold upon the national government.
This is the first time they have showed their
heads above water since the tremendous
political Deluge of that period. Tammany
Hall has always been true to the Union
and the country, and with the power
FIJI organization she has now ut COM
mand she may lead the democratic
hosts to splendid triumph ia 1872.
Why, then, endanger so bright prospect for
a grand national future merely for the sake of
q few crumbs of patronage, and, through q
species of legislation affecting popular rights,
furnish the enemies of the democracy the
ammunition ,uh ore viii, TO 90 lhrnunh tle nexL