The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-25


could be nominated by either political party
or by independent organizations. Augustus
Schell, for instance, as O democrat, Grand
Sachem and high priest of regenerated Tam
many, might with undoubted propriety and
profit head the regular liberal democratic ticket
while, as citizen of wealth, social position,
honor and strict integrity, he would be equally
at home in peoples reform nomination.
Mr.. John Kelly occupies position similar to
that of Mr.. Schell. Colonel Henry G. Steb-
bins, always an honest democrat, is essentially
qualified as the standard-bearer of ON honest
liberal democracy At the same time the
priceless services he rendered year ago in
mend his name above all others to the favor
able consideration of true reformers and re-
form combinations. AS the head of the Com
mittee of Seventy he gave the assistance of his
executive ability, keen business talent and
untiring zeal to the reform movement, and
did moro than any other individual reformer
to secure it's success He would be the most
fitting head of on Independent reform ticket.
But Mr. Stebbins has also been war demo-
crat, loyal man, liberal donor TO the Union
cause and firm supporter of the government,
and hence he is as well entitled to accept
nomination from the regular but broken re-
publican party, which seeks strength from
the honest democracy, as from regener-
ated Tammany or Independent reform.
To either party he would prove a profitable
candidate. Senator James O'Brien is life
long and natural democrat, and without the
slightest inconsistency could make his peace
with his old associates of the regular democ-
racy tomorrow and run on the Tammany
ticket for Mayor. In last years battle against
the corrupt usurpers in the democratic ranks
he fought side by side with the new Tammany
Sachems, Schell, Tilden, Kelly, Fox and their
associates and to-day rival personal interests
alone take them into different political organi-
cations. Yet no one will deny that Senator
James O'Brien might with honor and credit
head the reform movement this year, as
last year he gave it vitality, organized it's
plan Of attack against the apparently i'm
pregnable fortress of the powerful Ring, and
led it's forces to victory in the field. Equally
record and his present avowed preference for
President Grant in a choice between Grant
and Greeley he would make as good a candi-
date for the republicans as for any other party.
Indeed, it is well known that prominent re-
publicans have already been active in negotia-
tons to bring about his nomination by
their organization. Messrs Ottendorfer and
Havemeyer have likewise claims on oil
parties likely to make nominations for
the Mayoralty, and would not be out
of place either on democratic, repub-
lican or independent reform ticket. Mr..
Tammany as its nominee, and as democrat
he would be qualified to receive and to accept
the nomination of the regular democracy. But
he is also a sturdy reformer and on "out-
sider," and hence could be as consistently
nominated by the reform Independents
or the GLORIOUS Apollos." Comptroller
Green would be equally available on either
side but for the fact that his peculiarly
contracted views prevent him from being
available at all. 1t has been fortunate for the
city to have so strictly honest financial
officer as Comptroller Green to keep watch
and ward over the treasury during the last
hours of the corrupt Ring, and our citizens
are, no doubt, under obligations to him for the
fidelity with which he has discharged his trust.
Still, the metropolis could not afford, at this
critical period Of its history, to place its gov
eminent under the control of any Mayor who
would fail to appreciate the Importance
of liberal expenditure on all those
great works upon which the progress
and future wealth of the city so essentially
depend. Itwould be suicidal to bestow the
Mayoralty upon one who struggles against the
magnificent programme of the Dock Commits
sion; who blocks the wheels of the Boulevard
improvements; who believes the city can afford
to be without sufficient police for the sake
Of saving a few patrolmen's salaries; who
deems it the part Of economy to resist just
claims against the city until the heavy expenses
of law are added to the original Indebtedness
and who believes that the duty Of
public officer is to withhold the
wages of laborers until alarm or neces-
sity forces the money from his grasp.
IL Is true, nevertheless, that Comptroller
Green would be o fitting nominee for any
party but for the fact that his peculiarities
of temperament render him unavailable for
all Dock Commissioner Kane is pronounced
democrat and would not be likely to find a
place on regular republican ticket, although
from his well established integrity, his liberal
reform views, his high personal character and
his independent means, he would grace the
head of peoples reform movement Mr..
James s. Thayer, the brilliant orator, whose
ringing wing speeches years ago used to be
the terror of the democracy, is likewise a
fitting candidate either for the democrats or
Independent reformers, with both of whom he
is now closely identified. Mr.. Van Mort, the
Commissioner of Public Works, would, on the