The New York herald., 1872-11-04

stroy all the influence the CommiJtss a
Seventy might have exercised over the
municipal election had they carried out In
good faith the intention of the reform move
ment of last year, and viii induce the people
to form their own Judgment as to the qualiA-
cations and merits Of the candidates IF we
may judge from the experience Of last year, it
viii be better for the interests of the city that
intelligent electors should choose their own
candidates than that they should rely ON
seventy respectable wirepullers to decide how
they shall vote. As the HERALD is indepen-
desires to bring the intrigues and plots that
are going on to defraud people out of their
votes to the knowledge of the citizens so that
they may guard against them if they desire TO
do 80. We have confidence in the popular
verdict and if it is honestly recorded we are
Indifferent as to the result. We believe that
those who may choose to support Mr.. Have
meyer will do so entirely independent of the
action or recommendation of the Committee of
Seventy; but it will be necessary that they
should read their ballots and see that Mr..
Havemeyer's name is in the list of those on
the General Ticket No. 2, or they will be very
likely to put in vote for some other
candidate. Besides, if the contem-
plated sacrifice of Mr.. Havemeyer is
carried out successfully y-and shrewd political
jugglers are at work at it-an votes cast for
that venerable citizen viii be cast in reality in
aid of OBrien. 1t is more desirable that all
intelligent men should vote with their eyes
open, and should support whichever of the
three candidates they may select-Lawrence
Havemeyer or o. 'Brien-than that they should
be made the victims Of political trick, no
matter whom it may benefit or whom it may
injure.
We believe the qualifications of the
respective candidates are now we'll un-
derstood They are personally known
to many of our citizens and the speeches and
newspaper comments have supplied all the in
formation needed. It is to be hoped that the
votes may be cast dispassionately, intelligently,
honestly and without prejudice in regard to
outside issues. One thing, however, may be
properly said in advance of the contest The
Committee of Seventy, claiming to speak in
the cause Of reform, have chosen to assail one
of the candidates, James O'Brien, as
''unfit for the exalted Office to which he
aspires and into which he is being pressed by
all the dangerous elements of society" They
have declared that his election would be q
disgrace and calamity But by nomi-
mating Mr.. Havemeyer and dividing the re-
form vote they have risked the triumph Of sall
the dangerous elements Of society" and have
done their best to entail this s'disgrace and
calamity upon the city. The withdrawal Of
their candidate alone can atone for this
treachery to reform, for should he continue in
the field they would be directly responsible for
James O Brien's election and for all the acts
ofhis administration, good or bad The republi-
can politicians, who, having named Havemeyer,
will cheat him and vote for O. O'Brien, would of
course share the responsibility but the new
city ring, under the 'boss-ship'' Of Tom MUIR
ply, would be Indifferent to this They would
share the profits and the honor with equal
satisfaction. The Committee of Seventy, how
ever, profess regard for the honor of the city.
How are they satisfied with the position into
which political intrigue and personal ambition
have enticed them?