The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-10-09
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honest and efficient administration of the city
government has induced us from time to time
within the past four or Eve months to direct
attention to the Importance of the approach
ing municipal election, to point out the qualif-
cations needed in a candidate for the Mayor
atty and to suggest the names of such
citizens for that and other local positions
as in our judgment would be acceptable
to the people. Two of the ablest of our city
contemporaries have endorsed many Of the
views we have put forth and have seconded
many Of the suggestions we have made in re-
gard to the future Chief Magistrate Of the
metropolis. A third spirited and influential
morning journal has united with US in
urging the Importance of the local ques-
tions. and. although vigorously and.
perseveringly pressing the claims of its
favorite candidate. Alexander 7. Stewart,
In preference to those Of the gentleman we
have last named for the Office, has done SO in
a fair and courteous manner, and has relied
upon legitimate and ingenious argument to
strengthen its case. All have agreed with us
on one point the desirableness of thor
oughly good nomination by the leading politi-
cal organization in the city.
We have sought to secure the selection of
acceptable candidates by Tammany because
we have been disposed TO believe that the party
had been purified in the fire Of last years
revolution, and was prepared to prove
the honesty Of its professions by taking the
lead in the reform movement this year. When
the liberal cause seemed bright and there APP
peared to be a prospect of return of some-
thing like the old strength to the New York
democracy, we rendered number of excellent
names to Tammany from which available Sc
lections might have been made for the
head of powerful ticket. The last sug
! gestion we made was one which could
not fail to command the approval of all sincere
reformers, although we never expected or de-
sired that the nomination should be made or
accepted unless the reform organizations would
dorsement. The action of the Tammany
caucuses few days since disappointed the
general expectation, and implied that the organ
! ization was still under the secret influence of
the men who ruled it 80 unwisely a year ago.
1t seemed as if the lesson Of last November
had been forgotten, and that the old defiance
Of popular sentiment that destroyed the old
leaders was about to be re-enacted. To-day,
however, the situation is greatly changed.
The overwhelming disaster in Pennsylvania
has shaken the strength Of the Tammany and
liberal combination and given confidence to its
opponents The regular democracy now finds
itself, as it were, in the midst of an
enemy's country with its ranks broken by de-
feat. One of the most powerful and sagacious
democratic leaders in the city is in open revolt
against it, and is bent upon making personal
fight against its candidates to the bitter end.
Besides his great popularity among the masses
of the people he lbs an acknowledged position
as a reformer, both on account of his expo
sure of the acts of the old Ring and by reason
Of the steadfastness with which he did bat
tie, almost single-handed, against the corrupt
Erie Railway management in the notorious
Legislature Of last Winter. In addition to this
dangerous foe Tammany has to contend
against a victorious republican party and
against discussions and treachery in its own
ranks
This is no exaggerated picture, and there
is now but ono chance for the regular
democracy TO hold its own in the city
of New York. It may yet succeed by
prompt and decisive action, in making
itself master of the situation, at least in the
municipal election. Its organization is good,
and it has only to prove beyond a doubt that
the reformers who are prominent in its
ranks-Schell, Tilden, Belmont, Kelly and
their assocates-are in truth the leaders it
has only to show by the unquestionable excel
lence of its candidates that it is in reality in
favor of honest government, and it can receive
the cooperation of all true reformers and
carry the city by large majority. 1t can fill
up its judiciary ticket to-day with Wheeler H.
Peckham for Supreme Court Judge, Judge
Bedford for City Judge and Abraham r.
Lawrence for District Attorney, and thus give
assurance Of its sincerity as reformed and
purified party 1t may place on Friday at the
head of its ticket a candidate for Mayor
acceptable to the reform organizations;
If it does this It may command
success in the city. If it blindly refuses to
follow good advice it will be beaten worse
than it was defeated last year under its old
leaders, and will never again be heard of as
political power. We call upon Messrs. Tilden,
Schell, Belmont and Kelly to prove their
power to accomplish this result, or else to ad-
NIT that Tammany is given overto corruption,
and to save themselves from the faint that
must attach to all its members by boldly sever
ing their connection with the society
ANOTHER RUrFANLY ATTACK on THE K1sa on
SPAN.-A special despatch from Madrid, pub
lished in a Paris paper yesterday, announces the
intelligence that on the evening Of the 7th
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