New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-31

MR. JOHN RELLY And the ANkNDNFNTS
We regret to observe that the Democratic
voters of this city are laboring under grave
misapurehension as to tho policy of no less
person than Mr.. John Kelly. 1t is commonly
supposed among them that Tammany Hall,
Guided in this as in all other things by Mr. Kelly,
is inllexibly opposed to the submission OF the
amendments to the people. The fact Is quite
otherwise Mr.. Kelly has declared, IN pub
lie letter, that he il in favor of this snbmls-
sion. lie was invited Last April to participate
in the meeting called at Chckerng Hall, un-
der the auspices of the Municipal Reform
Society, TO advocate the adoption OF
tLe Constitutional Amendments and of the
charter-reform measuresJ hen pending IN the
LEGISLATURE. In reply 70 this invitation. he
wrote that he did not approve OF some OF tho
so-called reform bills, but he did fnlly APP
Grove of the proposed preliminary legislation
necessary for placing the amendments before
the people. leaving the details TO be afterwards
discussed by those who were qualified Tor thc
considerations of such topics. mat there may
he no mistake, we quote from Mr.. kelly's let
ter. as It was published in the newspapers OF
April g:
Tv, distinct objects are propo sed in the call for the
public meeting: 1st For the purporr ~ giving cAprs-
sion to such tend Ia strengthen the re'o
luon ~ :Lc members Of the rgsAiure, Whp ARE u'ih'
their Influence the interest Of ocuinE the paSsaGcOf
the Cor stItuticnl amendments recommended oy the
v,niclpq Comni., lion; and I'd, Fo the further purpose
% uring the passage Of the several reform acts no"
pcpdng fully approve of the hts OBJECT III 80 rif a'
IL viii effect the preliminary LEGISLATION necessary 10
initiate municipal rrlolm which will establish good Local
government in our cry upon firm and stable basis
tufI real.
against nernic0us laws and perpetual On tcr
tinhsrug Tho details and specific PROVISIONS oI tue
Con, titut.onal amendments. which should be adopted
ere proper subjects for mature consideration ny tn"e
who can hiring to the discussion of them an Intelligent
comrreheucon Of the true principle Of municipal govern
meDt ana practical experience OF lne auhi'i''ioA "
local ruDic affairs.
Now this preliminary legislation ia just
what we ask for to-day. Only this, aud moth
ing more. There is no question at present OF
adopting the amendments. The next Legis-
lature Is asked to submit them 70 popular
vote. that the people themselves may decide
whether they shall be adopted or not. No
man who trusts the people can consistently
refuse Iii. assent To this proposal, ana
as Mr.. Kelly is not only Democrat
but democratic (Which is very different
thine), we cannot wonder that he should
have expressed hims IF III tho frank and senS-
bic terms we have cited above. Of course, he
cannot object to take The sense of the pubic
Oh any issue that touches the public welfare
nor do VIC SEQ how anybody can 90 so who
really believes in popular sovereignty and uni
vcrsal suffrage 1t is unfortunate that the mis-
apprehension respecting his views should have
lasted so long, bat now that his own hand has
cleared it up, tie Tammany Democracy need
have no hesitation in sustaining these radically
democratic propositions Of the Municipal Com
mission