The New York herald., 1876-10-18
The Nfnyoralty.


the Presidential election.
The Mayoralty.
Decided progress has been made in city
politics within the last twenty-four hours.
Mr.. Schell has withdrawn from the field,
Mr.. Kelly has consented to accept my can
can be united, and the Tammany Convention
has given unmistakable indications of its
intention to select one Of the gentlemen
named in the HERALD's excellent list-Mr.
Smith Ely, Jr.-as its nominee. Governor
Tilden yesterday morning expressed his
strong appreciation of Mr.. Ely's qualifca-
tions for the Office Of Mayor. Mr.. Nor
rissey and Mr.. O'Brien accept the same cam
didate as in all respects satisfactory, and
almost every democrat to be met in the
streets or the usual resorts of democratic
politicians says that ticket headed by this
admirable candidate cannot be beaten.
We may perhaps be pardoned for calling
attention to the value of an independent and
impartial press in local contests Had the
HERALD been silent the worthy and respect
able gentleman who withdrew from the con-
test yesterday would undoubtedly have been
nominated by the democratic party as
its candidate for Mayor. But, without
have been fatal to. the success of
the democratic party in this city.
Against him Mr.. Green would have made
strong canvass, backed by the Germans the
republicans and the disaffected democrats
But against the candidate who is to be sub
stituted for Mr.. Schell Mr.. Green will not
have the ghost of chance. His canvass will
be annihilated by the nomination of Mr.. Ely,
who is rs honest as Green without his bear
ishness, who is stronger with the Ger
mans and who would fulfil the great
requirement Of substantially uniting the
democrats. Everything that could be said
in favor of Mr.. Green can be said with
greater truth in favor Of Mr.. Ely. Mr..
Green has been for thirteen or fourteen
years connected with city affairs, but so has
Mr.. Ely. If Mr. Green knows the methods
of the schemers who organize raids on the
city treasury Mr. Ely knows them quite
as well, and is better fitted to foil them be-
cause he is too sensible or too modest to
Extensively assert his own personality. AS
an opponent of Ring rule in this city Mr..
Ely's record dates five years further
back than Mr.. Green's. Mr.. Ely
fought Tweed with bitter vehemence
at the height of his power and
in the flush of his success; Mr.. Green
did not become conspicuous opponent
until the Tweed Ring was tottering to it's
fall. Mr. Green will be nowhere in the city
canvass, now that John Kelly has consented
to keep hands off and permit the city democ-
racy to nominate Mr.. Ely. Mr. Ely's nomi-
nation is cordially indorsed by every section
of the city democracy, including Mr.. John
Morrissey and Mr.. James O'Brien, whose
differences of opinion only few hours ago
seemed to be irreconcilable. Both these
leaders prove the honesty and unselfishncss
of their opposition to the regular democratic
organization by abandoning that opposition
as soon as the evils of which they Justly
complained have been removed, just as they
have proved their zeal in the national demo-
cratic cause by their efforts to bring
about the union which now seems on
the point of contamination. The real
Objectionable points in Mr.. Kelly's
leadership have been his dsinclination to
heed advice, his impatience of opposition
to his own views and Wishes his obstinacy
in persisting in forcing his policy and his
candidates on the party without regard to
the opinions of other democrats, and the
arbitrary manner in which he has treated as
unfaithful democrats those who have only
refused to be subservient followers. No per-
son has questioned his individual honesty
or doubted the purity Of his intentions. But
great many have lacked confidence in his
Judgment, and foreseen that the exercise of
dictatorial powers in political organiza-
ton must necessarily end in fastening
bad government on the city. Now that Mr.
Kelly has resolved to leave the party to Sc
lect candidates on its own responsibility and
in accordance with the wishes of the people,
his usefulness in the organization cannot be
doubted. Besides, we must not forget that
by the voluntary REIMBURSEMENT of his
power as dictator, which he might have sell
fishly retained, he also has proved his
| fidelity to the democratic cause in the nation
| and in the State and aided the democracy in
| securing wholesome, effective union in the
city, and, rs a consequence, full party vote.
Hence Mr. Kelly must share with Mr. Nor
rissey, Mr.. OBrien and tho other anti
| Tammany leaders the credit of having
brought the efforts for democratic union and
harmony to successful termination.
PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS in the army
are always matter of interest. and the list
which we print this morning will not escape
| attention.