National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-06-07

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TAoH. Proprietor NATIONAL REruBLioAr, wAshing.
top, n. q
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srATBASD MUNICIPAL LGOvRRSsIENT.
One Of the most-in fact, the most---diffl-
cult problems which the people Of the United
states, irrespective Of party, are called upon
to meet and solve at the present time IL that
Of securing better goyoi nnent In State and
municipal, but more particularly In municipal
administration II Is q notorious fact that
with one or two exceptions, the govern
ment Of all our cities Is not only grossly inef-
fcient, but outragcously corrupt and dlshou-
eat. No matter what party obtains power the
story Is the same--tho oppression and plumber
Of tho people for the benefit Of the rings and
politicians. Tho rascals who are turned out
only give place 10 another set equally a. cor
rupt and dlsrcputable. For time there Is
show Of reform and q pretense Of honesty;
but gradually the mask Is dropped, and the
people learn from sad experience that tho
whslo work has to be done over again. and
with, In the end the same result. Reform
parties always prove to be In the end Infinitely
worse than those whom they reformed. The
temptations are so great the opportunities to
make money arc so many, the prospect Cnay
the certainty Of becoming q millionaire In,
as Il were, u night by the stretch Of little
authority or the exercise OF little bold
ness, Is 50 certain that Il Ia not, per-
haps, to be wondered at that to-day
nearly all our large cities are so many
blurs and blots upon the body polite.
Within the last few years our large towns
have grown into imperial proportions, yield
ing vast revenues, incurrlng vast cxpendi-
tures, handling gigantic. enterprises. The
mayor Of New York has more real power and
influence than many Of the petty mouarchs Of
Europe. lie has more Offices In his control
than the ruler Of one Of the fourth-ratc Eu-
ropcau Powers-has larger army Of officials
dependent upon him than q European king.
What Is true of New York is equally true Of
Philadelphia and Boston aud Baltimore and
San Francisco, only In lesser degree.
The application Of proper checks to this
enormous power, how to obtain pure and
honest government for tho people ,aad by
the people ia, as we said, one Of the greatest
political difficulties that presents Itself at the
present time. Constitutional conventions
have been held; municipal charters have been
altered aud amended volumes have been
written on the subject, but the object sought
TO be attained Is apparently as far away as Il
ever was. The new machinery goes into
operation, aud VIC think We sec an improve
mcnt, but In few mouths We. are rudcly
awakened from the comfortable dream that
we had at last agood and faithful govern
mcnt by the morning paper flashing upon US
startling revelations Of corruption and crime.
Among the more recent suggestions for th.
Improvement Of State and municipal govern
mcnt arc those offered by Mr.. Charles Nord-
hOn, formerly the managing editor Of the
New York Post. Mr.. Nordhoif Is man Of
n very high order Of ability, and, as he has
giycu this subject considerable thought and
attention, his observations are entitled 10
great deal Of weight In letter to ex-Gov-
crnor Hayes, of Ohio, he submits some points
for his consideration, In the hope that they
might fall and and lodgment In the consti-
tutional convention now In session In that
State. Mr.. Nordhof believes, first Of all,
that there Is very close relation between de-
fectlvC constitutions ard the corruption Of
States and cities. Tho radical fault In all
our State constitutions Is that they provide
for the election VI entirely too many officers.
About the year 1876, he says, "some de ma
goguc invented this plan and called Il demo-
cratic, and persuaded many good men that
it.was really putting power into the hands Of
the people to make them choose directly and at
the polls all their officers. The result Is that
they must elect not only Governor, but
every member Of tho Governors cabinet; not
al, h,,0 al.
officers; and as people cannot know any thing
about such multitude Of men, most OF them
necessarily obscure, the caucus at once be-
came power, and tho people were put into
the hands Of the lowest and most selfish
political wlrc-pullers."
Tho point made by Mr.. Nordhof Is not
new, but nevertheless IL Is no harm TO roite-
rate 1t, because there can bo no question that
the evil Of which ho complains Is the prolific
source Of one half the ills from which the
country Is suffering. Responsibility Is scat
tered aud divided, and rascallty Is 80 hedged
In and guarded that II Is next TO impossible
10 detect or punish unfaithful officers. The
election by the people of every officer from
the lowest TO the highest begets all manner
OF barters. The worst classes must be con-
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mha'e'eh ior Whatever maybe inc theory of
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Of the opinion that our Institutions and char
80, .ras. ~ .oSo,aI,s,s.' ~ ueu 10 70 'nIow
"a,oIa,s a,,oains vnSy n'n' upon 'ne nlgher
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Nov WI ~ asS Sas y, sIs suDoinusae oincers'
,ncI,s, % .ramoS w - 'is arScuon IN
eIar'or ltanlea lot 'he CITY oy the legis-
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