New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-16

in NeW-YOrk during tne Joh' r
people chose delegates to present lae'' y,
reform of the city charters to the Oon'i,yn
Counci, and afterwards voted upon inc
instruments drafted for their choice. ~
was seen lately in the rising OF the peopio
in indignation against the Tammany Jugger-
naut. And It is o remarkable fact for tho
observation of any followers OF Macauiay'
that q sense of indignity was followed w
disgust and anger when the ialninany
Society ransacked the New-York silver
markets to provide, at tho peoples
expense, tawdry glitter for what ought not
to have been political wedding. The many
other displays Of Tammany, the building oi
docks and houses at Greenwich by laDorers
from the Department Of Public WORKS. the
Eruption of real-cstate politicians INTO que.
Nyack, the erection of gilt lamp-posts ana
French stables by the younger men OF tho
New-YOrk Printing Company at Mount 'c''
non, the purchase of hotels furnished like the
Court House-these social mOnstrosities hast
ened the downfall of the politicians, cX-
bounty brokers, and forgers, who had
made it vulgar to appear TO DO
rich. Yet only few enraged people
talked of hanging Tweed and Connolly to
the lamp-pOsts which they had not made strong
enough to bear their weight. The masses with
sobriety and good order, obeyed the very cleo
ton laws which Tammany thought its safe
guard, and they overthrow the political Babylon
in a day. Surely Lord Macaulay's fears 1Or
American democracy would have been put TO
flight. To the social problems that are new
only because they are just beginning 10 DO
discussed, the people are bringing the same
sobriety and earncstness of purpose. Only
| few DAYS ago workingman, who was endeav-
Oripc to raise the voice of his brethren against
a proposed reduction of the Tariff on SIX,
was asked whether, if Congress persisted In
| the error, tho thrOwsters and weayers would,
in their ruin and degradation, become excited
| TO pursue the way of the Commune; and he
replied frankly: eve do not care to know
"what the Commune and its way mean. we
"want nothing but the way to earn our bread"
The mass meeting of workingmen at Cooper
Institute, on Monday night. showed the design
of the laborers to be the obtaining Of the Eight
| Uour law. by organizing to send their own
nominees to the Legislature; and the result OF
such law was stated by the speakers to be:
the opportunity Of living i'll the suburbs, and
OF keeping tnelr CnlluIen III tHc iIcsH an anu
out of the slums; the opportunity of acquiring
education without falling asleep with WEAKNESS
over the book within five minutes after
beginning to read it, and tie facility for
doing a better class Of work. The petition OF
these men is to the Legislature for relief (;
to the Government, asking that it place prac-
teal men on the Labor Commission; and to the
workingmen, for encouragement and assistance,
to elect to Office men who will labor Tor their
interests. A people who proceed by methods
so wise and so regular are in no danger OF
anarchy and of subverting the Government ;
nor is it possible that even tho sternest dis
ciple of Macaulay could take any alarm at the
progress of those whose desire is the proper
education of themselves and their children.
The opportunity to improve their own labor,
the privilege of taking their families Into the
fresh air and healthful comforts of tho near
by country, and the right to be heard, because
| they have the power of voting,-al this is ex-
| pectcd to be accomplished by the passage OF
| an Eight-Hour Law.