The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-05
NEW YORK Ian. Cd 1S7l.


The brief term of service of Mr.. Vance in the
Mayoralty brought him great honor. The
quiet, unobtrusive way in which he conducted
the affairs of his Office, his avoidance of every
thing that savored of personal ambition, his
freedom from assumption on tie one hand. his
firmness in meeting responsibilities on the
other, impressed the public with a thorough
conviction that he was a safe man to hold
power, and capable man to execute it. He
returns to his seat in the Board of Aldermen
with large measure of popular respect, con-
fidence and esteem. Some local politicians of
his own party, who are imbued with the no.
ton that patronage" is the "be all and the
end alP' of partisan organizations complain
of him for not exercising his temporary func'
tons in more proscriptive spirit, but his
course in this respect meets with such general
appreciation, that he can have no possible oc-
casion for regret that he has pursued an in
dependent end conciliatory policy. A little re-
Election will suffice to convince any reasonable
mind that it is wise for retiring chief magis-
trate to leave behind him marked example of
magnanipity and courtesy.
Mr.. Wckham will pronounce his inaugural
tomorrow That is will prove a vigorous,
healthful and pertinent document may be
safely predicted. l have already given your
readers a sketch of the character and qualities
of the new Mayor. Aside from his political
predictions, he is admirably qualified for
municipal rule. He Is prompt IN action and
steadfast Of purpose. He has such force OF
will that he is certain to be master of the sit
uation Hitherto the vice of our system was
this, that each department of the city govern
ment has been principality by itself without
subordinaton to, or cooperation with, any
,,-,ther. Now, the Executive will maintain con-
~ --a:-;s or III tho tho divisions
troll and supervision Us--eI
of the local machinery, plan that cannot fail
to result in the greater efficiency and useful
ness of every one of them, without detractiog
from their dignity or just prerogatives. The
Mayor is by virtue of his office the supreme
head of the corporation, and the assertion aud
recognition of his authority as such will OBJ
viate many of the evils which have grown out
of diversified counsels and duties. Mr.. Wick
hams administration opens under extremely
favorable auspices. Elected by an overwhelm.
ing majority, enjoying the good will of those
who opposed as well as of those who sup
ported him, in the full vigor of primal man
hood, "native and to the manor born of
pleasing address. and comey person, he has
grand opportunity of winning enduring
fame, within the two years of official station
which lie before him.
His selection of Burton N Harrison as his
private Secretary is an evidence that he is not
disposed to sacrifice his individual preferences
in Difference to mere prejudice. Mr.. Harrison
was once the Secretary Of Jefferson
Davis OF late years he has practiced
law in New York. He was one of
the Commissioners of the SANTANA Bay
Company to locate and utilize the property in
ST. Domingo acquired under their negotiation
with Baez. He is quite youthful in appear
ance, unusually good looking, very courteous in
his bearing, and will make an exceedingly
graceful and affable attache of the Mayors Of
flee. 1t is natural that this appointment should
be a subject of some censorious criticism. Pre-
csely what relations if any, now exist between
Mr.. Harrison and the ex-chief Of the eonfed-
crates, 1 have no means of ascertaining, bat il
is fair to assume, that they are not dangerously
intimate in view of the fact that decade has
intervened since their paths diverged so widely.
Mr.. Harrison has borne himself with perfect
proprety during his residence here and has
found many friends among all parties. His
new position will give scope to the culture and
refinement which have already made him So
cal fayorite. As an indication that the lines
which mark the late civil strict are gradually
fading out, Mr.. Wiekham's choice of Secreta-
nv. will be acceptable to the increasing multi
tude who are strongly disposed to coneihate
and fraternlze with our brethren in the states
which were engulfed in the terrible rebellion.
The Pacific Mail investigation has brought to
light enough of the secrets of lobbying to in
tensify the public disgust concerning that most
dsgraceful form Of special legislation, the
granting of subsidies.
AS usual in such cases the money can be
traced to the iobbers who swarm around the
Capitol, but not to any of the parties whose
votes were supposed to have been procured by
its distribution. If any members were bribed, 1t
is the interest of the agents through whom the
bribery was bargained for, to conceal the facts
The chances Of future operations of similar
nature would be materially lessened by any
practical illustration of the dangers OF detec-
ton. But 1 cannot bring myself to believe
that any considerable numbers of the national