The New York herald., 1874-11-29
Mr. Wiokhsm's Duties and Opportu-
nitios.


realize the hopes of his friends, now is the
time He will come into Office with the gen.
eral acceptance of the people. The canvass
dealt gently with him. No serious assault
was made upon his character. Some opposed
him because he was democrat, Others from
the fear that he would be the simple instru-
ment Of Mr. Kelly and Mr.. Morrissey. No
one questioned his honor, or that he would
if he could be good Mayor. He has told us
in expressive phrase that he is no mans man,
but the man of the people. We are certainly
disposed to believe him and to support his ad-
ministration so far as it will give US good
government We have as high an interest as
Mr.. Wickham himself in his success. 1t was
not the most gratifying thing in the world to
see him lobbying around Coroner's jury in
the interest Of Croker; but we can pardon
even more than that to the spirit of friendship.
1t never does man harm to stand by his
friends, even when they are in Jail. This is a
Scriptural injunction. Mr.. Wickham, how
ever, must remember that he is Mayor OF
New York, and must be jealous OF his public
acts and appearances
Wickham, but we expect great deal He
has everything his own way. The Governor
is with him, and as q citizen Of New York, is
perfectly conversant with the wants Of the
metropolis He has every interest in the
success of the new Mayor, for the city has a
representative political position. Here the
democratic party is in unquestioned power.
<ha Jata h,,f
in which the metropolis is governed how far
that party may be trusted in the govern
ment of the country. The way to the Presi-
dency lies through New York. and if Mr..
Tllden nurses any lofty ambitions he must
make his record here Tammany under
Tweed did as much to defeat the democracy
in 1872 any other influence. Now what
will Tammany under Wickham do to retrieve
that defeatp These are the most serious
questions that Mr. Tilden. who is really re-
sponsible for Mr.. Wickham, can answer. An
honest government liberality and public
spirit economy in the city, mean the same
things in the federal administration. Civil
service here will be . good augury of civil
service in Washington. How could Mr. Tilden
60 before the country as Presidential cand-
date on o civil service issue denouncing Grant
for nepotism, unfit political appointments and
improper removals. with such q shameless
record Of nepotism, disgraceful extravagance
and unftness in appointments as may be seen
in New York city? There has never been so
much corruption in the matter Of patronage
as in the civil service of New York. Lads
have been put on payrolls as men; the worst
elements of ruf6aDism and ignorance have
been given important trusts; clerks, marshals,
aids auditors have been selected from political
adventurers who had no fitness for the work;
efforts have been made to bribe the press by
the appointment of newspaper writer's to sine
cure positions. Men have held their positions
not from fitness, but to please one ''halp' or
another-this ''ring'' or the other. This
must be reformed rigidly and at once, and
Mr. Wickham cannot neglect it without giving
the republicans terrible opportunity to
retrieve all they have lost.
Beginning with an honest efficient civil
service, Mr.. Wickham's future is rich with
splendid opportunities. He enters upon the
administration of the worst governed city in
the world. Behind him is the record OF the
crimes of Tweed and the follies of Havemeyer
and Green The city has been slipping from
one slough to another. Tweed and his gang
robbed it of eight millions; no one knows
how many millions Havemeyer and Green
have frittered away. policy of highway
robbery has been followed by the policy of
suffocation. The one ring threw the city
down and plundered it; the other holds its
heel upon the throat. So we have o city With
out wharves or docks, without easy, comfort
able transit, without paved streets, without
decent public buildings, without drainage.
Diphtheria and typhus have become our
daily guests, hidden here by the city rulers
Our avenues and streets are unsafe and
unsightly. Our new Court House is monu-
ment Of shame in contrast to the new Post
Office al its side which ks the enterprise
and thrift of the general government. Popu-
lation is driven over the rivers into other
States and counties. In the meantime, while
the city has been sinking, taxes have been ris-
ing. Our government grows worse and worse,
and at the same time more and more costly.
Our city debt is said to be from one hundred
and fifty to one hundred and sixty millions of
dollars But this is only an estimate, as no
one really knows what we do owe. Taxation
has been steadily mounting. We pay more
for the follies of Havemeyer than for the
crimes OF Tweed. II the estimate for 1875 is
not reduced the rate will be three per cent In
other words, taxation in New York will be as
large as revenue from consos in England, and,
according to English rates, it would be confis-
cation. In fact, taxation drives rapidly to-
wards confiscation. Although the debt falls
due and we have been renewing our stocks
and bonds for the last three years, we have