The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-08


ness and violence.
why Should city Politics 10 Deemed
Disr~Putabiss
1t has long been topic of remark and
regret that our best citizens stand aloof
from the politics of the city, as if they
could not come in contact with them with
out sense of deflement This feeling
seems to grow rather than to abate, and our
first citizens are becoming disinclined, not
only to soil their hands by participation in
city politics, but even to accept the highest
offices in the city government. If the May
orally were regarded as the post of
honor which it ought to be there
is no citizen who should not be
position rendered him, and who would not
be willing to make considerable personal
sacrifices to accept from his fellow citizens
such mark of distinction. But our mu-
nicipal affairs have fallen into such disre-
pute that an election to the highest city
Office is not regarded AS an honor worth NC
cepting at even slight cost of private ease
or interference with private business. This
is perhaps q natural consequence of the
degradation into which municipal politics
have fallen since their surrender into the
hands of selfish and ignoble cliques.
It is striking circumstance that even
the managers of these cliques make an un-
city politics too foul to be touched without
reproach by religious men. The very
schemers who are running our city affairs
denounce it as an insult to a man of piety
to suggest that he takes an interest in the
filing of city offices. What n confession Of
the degradation of our city politics by
those who are responsible for their manage
ment! In sound condition of political
morals it would be no reproach to the best
and purest people in the community to
manifest all interest in public affairs The
worst symptom of the times is the separation
of people of standing and social distinction
from our common public life, and their
feeling that it is like pitch which respect
able and especially religious people cannot
touch without being defled. We trust the
time is not distant when such people will
think it their duty to take an active interest
in municipal affairs and try to redeem them
from degradation. Of course the trading
schemers will object. since they wish to re-
tain their ignoble monopoly.
We are sorry that Mr.. Bonner declines to
be the standard bearer in this needed re-
form. To be sure, several other citizens
are talked Of any one of whom, if
elected without too much indebted
ness to a trading clique, would
make an excellent and efficient Mayor. 4
Mr.. William r. Grace has integrity, ability,
suavity and public spirit, and if elected
Mayor without dependence on any other
influence than the people at large would
make useful, and, perhaps, on admirable
public servant Mr.. John Kelly himself, if
he would consent to be a candidate, would
be trumphantly elected, and would bring
to the Office greater force and sagacity and
q ripper knowledge of municipal affairs than
any other citizen who could be chosen. Our
citizens would much prefer him to any Of
his bosom friends, because it would be con-
ducive to good government to have power
and responsibility lodged in the same
hands. Mr.. Samuel d. Babcock, SO we'll
known of late years and so much respected
as president of the Chamber Of Commerce,
could be depended on as We believe, to adj
minister the city government according to
his own judgment, and he would act on
very high standard Of public duty. And
then there are John T. Agnew Shepherd
Knapp and Samuel Conover, all of whom
possess the respect and confidence of the
mercantile community and have large
circle of personal admirers. We have abun-
dance of capable citizens, if they will con-
sent to serve, who would fill the Office ac-
ceptably if they could enter it free from
degrading party trammels.