The New York herald., 1875-12-29

eouu nave ocen secured had the society attempted
10 reduce debt ana taxation In this suggestion there
is much pausibility and some truth.
But against 1t there fatal objections. The mere
protecton OF property Is not the highest object OF gov
ernment are the men Of property those who most
need protection That feeling general TO be
10 influence the majority which would brand society
as merely selfish OF which the real and avowed aim
was 70 reduce taxes In order Increase the income
accumulatons, would not be wholly unfounded and
ITS measure Of justice would be sufficient to mpart
most iormlaaue strength 20 the partisan and mer
cenary demagogusm OF the city, which Is sure 10 be
hostile % society like this. Besides, cannot
duce debts and taxes simply by refusing carry the
government Of the city; and the controlling reasons
why that government Is needessy expensive are
TO be found, broad and deep In bad laws old and new
IN false theories and dsgraeeiul neglect OF
the duties OF citizenship; in methods Of admnisra-
ton complicated and costly; in the habits Of paying
hlsh Salaries, and of employing needless number Of
aooreis ~ excessive rates. IN practising the perncous
and partisan method of governing CITY through which
Inferior officers and laborers. and heavy burdens in
many ways, are Imposed upon IL more in reference
filling the treasures of parties and the pockets Of
their managers than Tor any regard for honest
economical administration. In short, while here and
there
CONSIDERABLE REDUCTIONS IL TAXATION
can be made through Isolated economies, a really
economical honest and vigorous administration is i'm
possible, except through radical Of reform as
pervading and cooperative in their effects the mer-
cenary and partisan interests which now prosper by
reason Of bad administration.
The only basis, therefore, as are persuaded on
which the society can stand, or ought TO attempt 10
stand, Is not that OF property that OF of
common oppression from taxation, but that Of the
common duty and interest OF all good citizens and the
common peril from costly and corrupt administration
II men OF thought and of means and men of NOR
ais desire 10 leadto command confidence aud to have
the strength OF the great mass of honest voters with
them-they must never sanction the falacious theory
that honest men who rich and honest men who
are not rich have not common interest in public
economy, and in having able faithful public officers
and agents.
1t would certainly be but fair that those who pay
salaries and taxes should have the power of xng their
limits; but no such reform even, can be brought
about until rejecting minds who can demonstrate It's
justice have made great contribution TO public intel
ligence on the sublect-a contribution which shall
IT TO be better appreciated that honest voters who
pay taxes and honest voters who do not have com
mon interest In that reform.
OTHER QUESTIONS.
But there were other questions. Should the society
be representative in the popular sensehat is, should
IT have popular constituency, by whom its future
members should be elected, or should 1t be organ
zed to be direct reflection of every grade inter
est and opinion in the community? II was decided TO
make the society-and we believe IL has been to
reasonable extent made--so far representative
that neither PARTISAN IN special
sympathy with any particular occupation, interest or
condition in life; bat 1t is not representative in the
sense that it will respond to any temporary change
Of popular opinion, or that it will treat anything as
right wrong because the majority treat IT, or
make any appeal for support or claim any au-
thority simply because large numbers directly
represented by it The representation to which
the society aspires and the views and in
terests which, ii faithful, 1t will endeavor
TO promote viii be those consistent with good
morals and good administration and no other The
society WILL therefore, expect only the influence which
such policy and its own demonstrated fidelity and
usefulness may be able to command. In other words
the character of Its n,embers and the public utility of
its work must be its sole claim upon public confidence
and support.
EVILS or A PARTISAN GOVERNMENT
In choosing to rely upon this basis and rejecting the
party theory of the representations of numbers
have not supposed we have surrendered any great
enduring element OF power to objects The
people of this city have fallen into their corrupt
practices and extravagant expenditures, under the
partisan system Of city government which is based on
tIn
majority as the political law Of right and duty. We
have descended in the scale of honesty and prudence
in our municipal affairs just in proportion have
tamely submitted to the leaders Of the majority and
have neglected TO consider ana TO insist upon what
wisdom and justice and sound principles required to be
done
There is now an awakening reaction against this
suicidal folly which has brought this city to the brink
of ruin and every hand the question is What ought
be doneY What the method securing faithful
officers and economical administration This is the
significant cause Of the present popularity of reform
measures-of tho late triumph in the city and In the
state OF the candidates or policy which the people
thought most honest or wise-over mere numbers in
afiliatlon with either party
II shows that the body of the people intelligent
and honest enough when properly addressed to judge
measures and men according to their worth, and that
the largest and best constituency which
for reform have behind it is the personal character
of its members and the wisdom of its policy 1t was in
the light of these truths that the greatest reforms ever
accomplished in this city such the Board of Health
the paid Fire Department and the Police Justices
law we're accomplished And IN Boston, the citizens
ion have just elected Mayor over q candidate regu
larly
NOMINATED ny BoTH THE GREAT PARTIES
1t is true that this theory OF exertng influence tacity
assumes that the partisan method OF governing city
Is false and perncous and such is the opinion of the
society.
This is not the time TO discuss so broad a subject;
but unless such Is the true view of the IL would
seem TO the supreme duty all good citizens to de-
vote themselves TO the city caucuses and to act only
through and To support only the methods of parties
improving city administration. While the society be-
lfava ~ ha hattt nF Joftf
their influence to good nominations and vote
for city officers under the party system of city govern
ment while we have il, they yet believe that municipal
administration is rather mass of business be done
on business principles than of politics TO be managed
by party leaders, and that economy and efficiency will
be attained in municipal affairs
until the party system Is abandoned and a
method OF voting and appointing officers and agents
adopted upon basis which shall deny the right and
limit the opportunities of party organizations control
aud make gain In such affairs The great issues about
which parties gather, and as to which
THEIR INFLUENCE sALUTARY,
mainly national and they in no respect munich
pal Party action in regard to city administration Is
almost never based on any political principle aad hence
is generally corrupt SO far as 1t is not wholly subser
Went to external policy and interests
Our Revolution lett the then existing English system
of municipal government almost untouched We have
not yet created municipal system based republican
principles and do is of the most pressing and
difficult problems Of craftsmanship So far later
times have changed the old system il has been done in
the interests of political parties and not Of honest in
dustrous people, 1t ought to be matter OF indiner-
ence what view municipal oihcer may take OF the
tariff of the Indians, Of other questions OF national
politics.
Unfortunately the evidence but too clear that New
York needs greater exertons the part of best
citizens to make its local government what II should be
or even much longer endurable Ii s not merely true
that runously expensive and that Is generally
believed to be in most parts inefficient and some
parts corrupt but there is almost universal convic
ton among intelligent citizens that the city govern
ment, though having some good officers Is whole,
not only unworthy Of the city and the nation, but
positive source of corruption And, more and more,
business is being driven from the city, and the
mercia supremacy OF New York be in danger.
To some extent that conviction is perhaps, unfounded
yet there PLAIN, ndsputable facts which give il an
alarming basis Of truth. New York. with streets less
ceany, worse paved, and certainly not better lighted
than those OF London and Paris yearly expends
money per mile OF street for Lighting paving clean.
ing than either of those cities. New YORK, a sani-
ary position naturally far superior either OF those
cities and despite the efforts OF its Board of Health has
AN ANNUAL DEATH RATE
OF more than 2S per 1 900 each year while the annual
death rate of London is less than IS and that of Paris
less than "A per 900. Good government has lately
duced the death rate OF even Bombay below that Of
New York New York. with poor population more
dangerously crowded into dark, damp and dismal
apartments than that Of any other great city among the