The New York herald., 1874-12-27
Mayor vance's short and brilliant
Admin ntstration.

Itfrcacn 10 our McniclpAl MsatDuuhs W.
tainly, but high compliment 10 the personal
character Of Mayor Vance We can reeoiiect
no instance in which public officer turned
SO slender an opportunity to such splendid
account When the late Mayor was suddenly
taken away and his successor came in by
provision of the charter there was great
deal Of speculation in political circles as to
the use Mayor Vance would make Of his
brief term of power. But none of the
politicians were acute enough to predict or
even to suspect course like that which he
has actually pursued. Among the suggestions
made on his unexpected elevation to the chief
magistracy one was that be would create
vacancies in the city departments for the sake
of filling them with republicans, and
thereby deprive the incoming democratic
Mayor of the opportunity of making appoint
ments. This dishonoring surmise could have
arisen only in minds habituated to the un-
scrupulous sharp practice of party politicians
and totally unacquainted with the character
OF Mr.. Vance He has made no gratuitous
removals on trumped up pretences but only
such as were called tor by causes which
brought them in the clear line of his duty
and would have compelled his successor to
take the same action if he had not been an
ticipated. In making these Justifable re-
movals Mayor Vance took no partisan advan-
tage of the vacancies. Instead of filing them
all with republicans, as he might legally have
done in accordance with the charter, he gave
notice of the removals to the Mayor elect, and
requested him to name the successors Of the
displaced officers. This honorable, high
minded course receives the warm appreciation
of our best citizens without distinction OF
party. 1t is refreshing to find in politics
gentleman of scrupulous honor and perfect
fairness, who scorns to take partisan ad-
vantage and respects the will Of the
people, as declared in the late municipal
election. Mayor Vance could not descend to
anything bearing the remotest resemblance
to trick nor avail himself of the letter of the
charter to defeat its spirit. course SO can
did, equitable and high toned twins golden
opinions from all sorts of men, and gives
Mayor Vance secure place in the esteem and
confidence Of his fellow-citizens. There is no
other instance in our municipal history of
public officer gaining SO enviable reputation
with so brief an opportunity.
Let us hope that Mayor Wickham will
emulate Mr.. Vance's noble con duct and
win equal appreciation and applause during
the first month of his term. We are confident
that he will not give our citizens reason to
regret that the republican, Vance, was not
elected in place of the democrat, Wickham.
The only way for Mayor Wickham to gain
laurels is by surprising, or at least equalling
Mayor Vance in that honorable magma
nimity which rises above the murky az
mosphere of low partisan politics and
looks only to fairness, justice and the
public good 1t requires courage to pursue
such course but there are good reasons
for believing that Mr.. Wickham possesses it.
He took an early opportunity to declare his
independence Of party clques and leaders
and his intention to be nobodys puppet but
the actual Mayor Of the city. If he makes
this declaration good, as we have no reason to
doubt that he will, he will be as popular as
Mayor Vance has suddenly become, and may
even eclipse him with his greater opportuni-
|
bolder and more acceptable things than
pro tempore incumbent Of the Office would be
justified in attempting. If Mr.. Vance were
the elected Mayor, with two full years before
him, there is no doubt that he would make
prompt removal Of Comptroller Green. Even
ruled and thwarted Green's policy of wasteful
litigation in an important instance, and his
constant opposition to him in the Board
Of Apportionment shows how he rates
his fitness for the important Office
he abuses. He has properly enough
refrained from his removal because the Office
is too important part Of the municipal ma
chinery not to be left fully in the hands of
the party who will be responsible for the we'll
working of the city government for the next
two years. The democrats are entitled to the
Comptroller and Mayor Wickham should
have sufficient time to look about him and
deliberately decide whom he will select to fill
SO important place. But his mind should
be made up on this point by the day of his
Inauguration and, while Mr.. Vance has been
considerate in not precipitating upon him the
necessity of making choice before he is pre-
pared, Mr.. Wickham will have no excuse for
delay when he is installed in Office. He ought
to take the first steps for the removal of the
Comptroller on the very day be is sworn in.
1t is the most popular act he could do, and
would be accepted by nineteen-twentieths of
cur citizens as the best guarantee of wise
administration.
Mr.. Green absurdly pretends that the gen.
eral distavor into which he has fallen is
owing to his immaculate honesty, as if he
were being "too bright and good for
human natures daily food" Even if this
were not the hypocritical pretence which