The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-28

winch COMPROMISED some q the Residents
moment. by an Interpretation OF the Trea.
sury and . sale OF gold from the public
Irish pecuiators which ruled New York city, ana
winch, under their inspiration, plundered IL to the
extent OF many millions sterling, BY charges OF the
the face OF the matter were fraudulent, ana threw
all previous frauds into the shade Al last the re-
ment the j0bbery, the robbery the giganlc system
OF plumber to which they were subjected, ana after
from office and threatened with prosecution. Erie
began to trembie. And JUST at this moment Fisk
cuied, oy means OF his hired iudses Til his Victim
was driven mad; anu with Fisk perlsned the true
strength o. me conspiracy that had done 50 much
been SLOW to follow.
one or which Inc Spectator last week enforced win
good reason, following the line taken by Macmillan
only because New YORK had corruptible judiciary;
and New York mad u corruptible judiciary because
tne Judges were 50 Ill paid mat no successful bar
being elected for short terms, some OF them We're
political partisans and needy adventures, because
they held so low position in social esteem that
they had neither character to lose nor authority to
assert. The miserable stnglness winch the liberal
party has recently displayed In regard TO Judicial
appointment mean anything more than the usual
parsmony OF shortsighted cheeseparers; II there
really be, as the Spectator suggests, wish to lower
the status ana emoluments or the BENCH an idea
that Judicial work might be well as done by null
eatsbe ana legal ursdcon cannot too
early protest against Chls abomtnable Jolly, and
Lemnd the public tnat thus y the very system which
possible and for time customary, for swindlers to
retain Judges exactly as ENGLAND they
is necessary that JUDGES should be raised
above the very suspicion OF compatibility;
should hold so nigh q standing that none would
dare TO bripe them, be so rich that none would
dream or briDing them, so INDEPENDENT that neither
wealth nor rank nor political power can either IN,
this. underpaid men, taken from the lower ranks OF
the bar, never can be or be thought. AS our con-
temporary shrewdly remarks, the bad repufe OF the
New YORK judiciary Will cost the State, III the de-
probation OF Its securities alone, more millions
than 1t thousands the difference between
the highest English and the lowest American rate
OF salaries and such disrepute, III England,
country 1t is Of the nrst Importance that
It's Courts should be above the faintest
suspicion; that not even breath OF SANDER should
talnt the purity OF taeir character the lmparaity
or the authority or their judgmenIs and, to secure
this, we must otter pay and position that will not
those men TO maintain social rank that will COM
mand Difference from the entire society whose lives
Another lesson Is the ineitlciency or democratic
institutions Tor carrying out the will or the true
have an interest IN puollc affairs, and really care
whether they go well or Ill. the power OF party
organisation, OF corruption. OF political dishonesty
OF all kinds, enables gang OF adventurers, once
In power, to hold on for years in defiance OF the
disgust and contempt OF all tnat Is respectable and
honest IN the community subject to their sway.
Though the respectable party seems at last to nave
triumphed, must not forget thar the punishment
to the amount Of more than f3 OoO is extremely
doubtful and that almost to the last honest
men despalred OF victory, and believed that
1t would 6e necessary for the State to deprive the
greatest city America OF It's municipal liberties.
In New York we see universal suffrage as 1t would
be in European city-in q community OF the usual
commercial stamp. with vast wealth. vast masses oil
hopeless poverty, u minority OF wealthy taxpayers
and mn n a ma I'll
pensers. The majority have no interest In economy
but rather in extravagance; the minority have no
are virtually severed, and the result Is "tyranny."
The London Nelos Of the 18th thus comments
y Erie has followed Tammany; the despotism
which held absolute sway over the chief railway
denly as that which possessed and farmed the re-
sources OF the city. IL Is hardly premature to eX-
press the belief that the English shareholders In the
Erie Railway will now come by their own. Our cor.
respondent says mat the new Board revokes the au
thorlty for the issue OF the twenty millions or
bonds. There can be no doubt that the
newly elected Board OF Directors. with General Nc.
Clean at their head mean to do entire Justice TO the
English shareholders. The overthrow OF Mr.. Gould
and his party Is, however, matter OF public con-
graduation, altogether apart from any private
restitution which may be made IL is another step
IN the selI-pur1fyng process through winch public
lie In New YORK has been passing 1t Is another
byword Tor corruption. Every victory thus won
disheartens the dishonest combinations, and gives
evidence of healthy puoc life which is capable Of
the supreme effort needIul to throw or these dis
eased Shumors OF the body polite The struggle Is
severe, but the patient will live.
The London Telegraph comments on the 'Tall''
In this manner:-
Excellent things for the Englishmen who in
vested money IN the Erie Railway have come from
New York. Could the accomplish or FISK In all his
schemes, has been removed from the presidency Of
the company. and General DIX, man Of station
ana character has been appointed In his place, with
lve other new and honest directors, among whom
Is General Mcclellan. We are glad TO see that
this was the reform proposed 0y what Is
called 'rhe English party" for our country
men across the Atlantic nave no object save 10 see
that justice Is done. Thus the blow struck at
the New York ..ring" by the murder of Fisk mas
been followed up BY more peaceful coup; but there
can be no doubt that the removal by pistol shot OF
the man who played the part OF ''frst william" as
the old plays have It, was an essential preliminary to
honest people getting their own SO that speculation
IN New York might be called by satlrist ''robbery
tempered by assassination" In that case the puz-
zcd moralist NAV ask, what is to be done with
Stokes, tile prOtagonlst In the proceedings
whom short-slgnted men have spoken OF as
murderer caught red-handed In the actY
1t to decide; tut certainly 1t Is not the
first time In tine history Of the world that motives OF
private vengeance or lust OF gam have worked out
results or great public good.