New-York tribune., 1873-02-26
GRAY HEADS IN COUNCIL.

One of the largest. certainly one Of the most
impressive gatherings ever assembled IN Cooper
Institute, united last night in the emphatic
protest which we publish at length in other
columns, against the partisan Charter. 1t was
in many respects q singular audience for New
York City. 1t had none of the characteristics
of political mass meeting during an exciting
canvass. II was the uprising of Seventy
one repeated in moro subdued form
less angry, but not less earnest mood
The demonstration was wholly indoors;
there was no lingering idly outside
every new conner to the hall entered with
out hesitation, "a if for a resolved purpose.
and as though that was the one place In
which to express it. The crowd was less
enthusiastic than earnest more determined
than demOnstrative; and when at inter
walls some striking argument found sklllful
and effective utteTance, the enthusiastic
cheers awakened by its expression generally
ended in something akin to long, angry
growl, as though the admiration of the sentl-
ment we're quickly followed by resentment at
those against whom it was leyeled. The au-
dience was almost wholly made up Of mature
men; looking from the stage, the gray heads
appeared in the majority. That which we yes
terday anticipated was fully indicated-behind
the organized opposition to the Charter, outside
of all party, and superior to all partisan con-
sderatiODs, the great mass OF the taxpayers
and solid men of the city condemn the attempt
of faction to legislato for a great city.
We have designated the meeting elsewhere
as "a City's Protest" 1t was such in every
sense-a dlgniGed, emphatic protest, worthy
great city and an intelligent people There
was little Indulgence in vain and vulgar per-
sonalities; not bad men seeking to usurp
power but bad principles which threaten to
destroy good government, were denounced
The personal differences between the Ring and
the Mayor had for this audience little interest;
the speakers specially disclaimed any share in
such petty quarrels and issues, but insisted
that the security and the welfare of the
city demanded that the Charter shOuld be
framed without regard to personal differ
nces or party exigencies for tho whole
city, and for any and every Administration.
1t would have been well nigh impossible to
find speakers and audience in better accord.
Never were arguments more heartily or
promptly responded to than by this crowd. A
unity of purpose inspired consOnance Of ideas,
anu ItoullCu III pCllCOO uOtVlu VI oO1'i' ~
posi- i've and unanimous meeting has seldom
been held in New York. If, as we are led to
believe, anticipation of such demonstration
induced the managers at Albany to defer con-
sideratiOn of the Charter another day until
New-YOrk had spoken, possibly the emphatic
words uttered last night may warn them to
desist from their purpose.
We ar not without hope that this protest,
so extr AZ rdinary in character, may have some,
however little, wholesome effect on the Legis-
lature. There were spies of the CustOm-hOuse
visible in the audience sagacious politicians
on whom the full meaning of the demonstra-
ton will not be lost-and they will quickly
communicate their views to their masters.
But while these have sagacity enough to hesi-
tate, they have. not honesty enough fully to
accept the warming There will be juggling
in every compromise they make, and every
change they may now grufly concede should be
closely scrutinized. We have INSCRIPTIONS
men to deal with they will bear watching
and 1t must not be forgotten that only con-
slant vigilance and repeated protest can pre-
vent the inhction of partisan government
upon a people who have called for and de-
mand q Charter for their whole city, suitable
to be administered by any party temporarily
in power, and one calculated to gOvem the
city for generations to come, or at least un-
til it has outgrOwn it.