New-York tribune., 1872-09-24
MUNICIPAL REFORM.


BRYANT, J. NJ. VAN CoTT, AND OTHERS
The large hall of the Cooper Institute con-
,,Dea At o'clock last night about 500 persons VINO
had gathered In response call issued by the Oounc
pf Political Reform Half hour later the nan was one
,bird hlled This Council is composed OF many in"'
ual citizens and is an outgrowth OF the CommH'ee u
seventv II comprises citizens of all parties VINO iaVoI
honesty in municipal affairs, and the election OF men o
integrity TO positions OF trust in the city ana county a
ninstration Following closely upon fIesluenlai
demonstrations the meeting last night Seemeu eoin
paratiyely small and lacking in enthusiasm put tno
addresses were stirring and the applause although DO.
enthusiastic was timely The audience was 'o"pVS'u
Of persons Of character and influence.
Tho deepest attention was paid TO Mr. Bryant Who
,yss freouently appauded but the reference In Mr'
Neilsons letter TO Gov. Hoffman as one OF the sheV
nebers of .he Rng received with combined nlsses
and applause The ausion TO the corruption OF inc aS'
legislature ELECTED unqualified and unanimous "pIopa
tion The resolutions, which were read by e&-Iuuse
Van Worst were appauded throughout, and those por
tions which spoke Of preventing the Judiciary hereafter
from being composed Of others than persons OF known
integrity and ability met with great favor Ihe Teier
epce in the resolutions to the accountability Oh al
servants of the people received with great
Judge Van Cotts statement that the condition OF luu
nipal affairs was satisfactory to the citizens anu
that Of annual taxes not reshed OS TAX
payers, created decided sensation. Inc auuSonS I"
the need OF a new charter were applauded'
The meeting was called to order about Sis p m Dy
Oswald Ottendorfe who presided in the absence OF the
President OF the Council, Wm II. Nelson MT Nelson
sent a long communication which read, counsenS
renewed efforts toward municipal reform MT Ouen-
dorfer in opening the meeting, said in substance;
SPEECH OF OSWALD OTTENDoRFER.
We have met this evening for the purpose Of conson-
dating all the different Reform organizations in TINS CITY,
IN order TO make determined effort for the reior Vi
our municipal affairs. In the excitement OF the presen.
hour when the public is occupied IN the uscusslon Vi
resons the decision of which may be of the greatest
importance 10 the future OF our whole country "hen
every conscientious citizen is studying the state OF puoc
affairs TO learn in what way he exert his influence
so "A 10 contribute TO the extent OF his aolilty
10 the promotion Of the true interests OF the country
Bnder these circumstances II may at the hrst ssh dP
near preposterous TO ask intelligent citizens OF new
York to lay aside for moment their reiauous WIN
one or the other Of the great political parties ana turn
tber attention TO our municipal affairs regardless OF
The influence that it may have upon the Presidehua
contest l think, however, that little thought wiz
convince every citizen that there will be no Vloiauoh o
party fidelity, neglect OF patriotic duty ID sucn
course but ON the contrary is demanded by all the
considerations that should affect the action OF honest
men in the exercise II their rights and duties as ctzes
From every nook and OF our public service np
toms OF corruption have come TO the surface oucn
state of affairs could arise only through the apathy o
majority OF our citizens. All candidates Tor our lhunlcl
pal Offices should be measured Dy the sIanuA'us VI
ability fidelity and honesty.
After the reading of Mr. Nelson's letter which fol-
lowed Judge Van Worst read series OF resolutions SUD
stantalIy as follows:
TIE RESOLUTIONS. ,..
, rr1rre md our votes the eioy Of the best men to
on DO -s '' am '-t @ tSat are honestly seeking same
src n ,uTouog or opposing Ps w % bre Also 70 sm our
e to secure charter and laws for she Ciiy Of
os .la 20 nd eb %erceay oacers nrsDehed and
and I ' s 19' have 20 rs.s y se edsse 2.S S'd snd
,ir,ughel Of those who arr faithful in ne public ieIYee "a
simulate Tue psot the influence OF those IN the city ana
Slps reform give sotoe 20 all partisan dems
s 'o i Poae, a that S,oS1s s = ,ss '9Tf sS e,e e5s
Ac,Nt poulc ouu ana ul %E >, = @ - ~ % & r,,5tsbe traie
aNesior ccleii to the Guy o. .o,s nS ~ and 10
nalss Is, , , % 5' % 5 tase i. rvees appuss
Rod Tts We public virtue and instructed in.
S & So S @ 'S d5 q c % Goy,Sut & SSS sud s . 5co9
participate in this public enlightenment IA regard l" our P
AS la part memeps! g9yeii rso the dutle,
Ra Ita The tes e many 81 our ettP 70 pso 1S VIs es
od psrsa pirates deeye vena s
portion population has been the essential cause OF the
io,oSf fbst ali PaTty seon BY principles aud rre
enicl O" tLe pe through irlai puon9 o., VIII icon % 1
b, peP. ana paTy LEADERS into mere OO0sr' In IuOA'
The following s, OF VicePresidents aud Secretaries
vas reads
II. C. Var VnF. FftuOs T. Mafbafy, Samuel A. Lewis
W. A. Bco,l Jcin C. Green, Wm A. Helieu.
tS',' s, % S c,,.r % TS sct%ss fanS Ea6aa BISHOP
f.r.tian Sf.r..f Saurr, + c. Fostef
JOSIAH So,b,rll, Edeald $ JaGray J. b Jones
Va DosT J. /! H,fs3 ,Ens,,n., " M"; Go,9oa' Rarr
sd& fs SS 6au,s I1 4, GisSioiGN Psise ysa #luke
is.cC Sl'iiol WIN. J. Baker Il. {. Cornell,
wm. A. Aprcoa Hyurr b. Davies, u. W kgght.
Fletcher Hau,pf EdwsrIs Fferrepcat Nm A. Fogg.
cI6siip >chs'r'D u. N. Aleranier, MsrHs X; Jeap,
Tsrr G,sey D. Ifsoels Lebs J. NJ. Baniy
Join ,. Persons RcydPlsps, samuel sloan
JOHN b vauun. Ciaorl z. Hs1J ThcG W. Clelke
'Bc several others .,.,
wHHMoore Js+ 81 BsIaun, Lewis wachler
AoglNus Co-tvan solomon T. Streeter, Jas ". H1Ws,
Tiss l. Comeii G. II. stevens {. ". Lsureuee,
,Dl others
Mr. VIM Cullen BRYANT who was then introduced, said
in the course OF his remarks;
srEEcH OF wN. CULLEN BRYANT.
lam glad ny fellowcitizen TO that this occasion
has brought SO many Of you together 1t not for any
narrow party purpose that we are assemblies II is not
mat we may consult how advance the interests of
popular fayorte and his associates ii s not to pull
down his rival and the set Of men by whom his rival is
nppOrted II is by higher and nOber motive that you
arc animated. IN which all honest men necessarily
smaller communities Of which the State IL made up the
benefits Of just honest, economical ana III All respects
wise administration OF pubc anahs lOu couIq har1y
come together Tor more worthy PURPOSE, II i tuc
great WHO suffer when raaclous ana knayish men
obtain authority and power The robbers are lew; the
robbed are Tie many II the many MOuG Ohiy eolG ~
Il mutual understanding aud act together tue IODDels
one alter another the throat ana stranges them by
detail An army scattered 10 army defeated 1t has
us as true tnaf In division there is weakness, and there
are none who this better than the rogues who en-
rich themselves by plundering the public
iorty the people OF this city were very
much dissatisfied with their Common Council They |
suspected them Of maieasauce 60 the people went 10
work aud elected Council OF honest men, consisting OF
Myudert Van Schack, DT. McNevin, DR.. Augustus |
El1tr. aud Stephen Allen, whose integrity and
ability were undIsputed. Then we were proud Of our
Council This was what did forty years ago; and
something Ike Js II 10y the blessing Of God can act
heartily and vigorously In concert, may do now.
Au abstract OF the Hon. j. NJ Van C0tts remaIksis
appended;
sFELCH OF J. NJ. VAN CoTI.
FFIIOw.C CIIIZLNs: regard IL q sIngnlar compll