The Portland daily press., 1872-04-01
Our New York Letter.
NEW YORK, March 30, 1872.


STATE LEGISLATION AND REFORM. -.
After all, we are not likely to achieve any
substantial results in the way of municipal re-
form from the State Legislature. The Senate
evinces disposition to emasculate the citizen s
charter in the interests of the Lobby, to de-
gree that will make it scarcely worth enacting.
1t is proposed now to legislate Mr.. Green into
the Office of Comptroller, and Mr.. Van Mort
into the Office of Commissioner of Public Works.
Now nobody objects to Mr.. Green's retention.
1t is matter of course that any Mayor elected
under Reform auspices will appoint him to
the post he now fills temporarily. But the very
fact that the Legislature provides for this Of
flee by an Interpolation in the charter, removes
from the Mayoralty canvass one of the most
important elements of successful action. The
new Charter is based upon the theory that the
people are capable of electing their own Off
cials, and yet the State Senate expresses dis
trust of the theory by taking away from the
people all voice in the selection of the chief f.
nancial officer of the city. t a
The retention of Van Mort is still more mex
cusable. He was appointed by Mayor Hall,
was a long while an .unprotesting servant of
Tammany Republican proclivites, and will use
the patronage of his office with far greater re-
gard to the perpetuation of his power and the
benefit of his friends, than for the public
welfare.
q, However, it..was too much to expect that
Legislature sitting in Capital, where twelve
months ago Tweed reigned supreme, and in
which for twelve years money has been the pow
er which made and unmade laws, should rise at
once to comprehension and acceptation of the
New Gospel of honesty which is being every
where preached and in some places practic-
ed. 1t will take at least another year of win
moving to separate the wheat from the chaff
and to bring to the surface enough of intelli-
gence and vii tue to make up Legislature of
which all decent people will not be utterly
ashamed
CORRUPT POLITICAL SYSTEM.
L write on this painful theme with sorrow as
well as in anger. The facts are too palpable
to admit of any extenuation. An assembly
that has tolerated for three months the notori-
GUS Tom Fields, as one of it's members, Sem
ate that patiently accepts the odium of retain
lug in his seat James Wood who weeks ago
was proved to have received $15, 900 from Tweed
and $4,000 from Jay Gould, both of them en-
gineering measures in the Senate upon which
he was to vote-must of necessity be too loose
in their ideas of morals and too callous in re-
spect of public opinion to warrant the belief
that they will sincerely and earnestly promote
any measures looking to the relief our citizens
from the burdens of misrule and peculation.-
The truth is our whole political system has be-
come diseased by the corruptions of the Demo-
cratic party in New York and it will be work
of time, of patience and of patriotic endeavor
to effect cure. rl- "a. 55h esAf .. h
THE QUESTION OF THE PRESIDENCY. u
1t is a pleasant contrast to turn from this
repulsive theme to the Federal Government
and to note with what fidelity its executive du-
ties are administered 1t is not at all matter
of surprise that Gen. Grant is growing in favor
day by day, for it is difficult to conceive how
the Republic could be better governed than it
has been since his advent to to the Presidency.
And the browning glory of all is that while
taxation is steadily diminishing the national
debt is being rapidly reduced With such a
state of things, it is no wonder that apart from
disappointed soffice-seekers and chronic cop
perheads there is no opposition to the re-elec-
ton of Grant, that can be considered in the
least degree formidable. The chances of coali-
ton between disaffected Republicans and the
straight out Democracy are diminishing. The
former have no capital to put into the partner
ship. Indeed, it is extremely doubtful whether
an ex-Republican nominee for the Presidency
would poll, as many votes as an out and out
Democrat. have heard sensible politicians
express the belief that if the contest laid be-
tween Grant and Trumbull or Davis, Grant
would carry New York city. Nor is this an
extravagant proposition for Grant outside of
his Republicanism is popular Even New
Workers don't forget how many times from
Feb. II, 1862 to April 9, 1865 he has made every
loyal heart in this land leap for joy as he swept
along in his triumphal career from Donelson to
Appomatox. YARMOUTH.