New-York tribune., 1878-10-02
THE REYERSToy or FERNANDO WOOD.

| THE REPERSION or FERNANDO UOOD.
Physiologists tell us that even among the
most civilized nations there exists a reversiOn-
! airy tendency toward baTbarism and savagery,
! and that cases are not rare in which 1t is dis
tinctly recognizable. Mr.. Darwin Is of the
| opinion that the occasional appearance in fam
lies of some of the worst dispositions
without any assignable cause, "may perhaps
be reversiOns to a savage state from which
eve are not removed by very many genera
tiOns.n Instances of the relapse to barbarlsm
are much more common in cases where efforts
! have been made to civilze aud educate indl-
viduals of our North American tribes. Here
the reversions are the rule rather than the
exception. And of course the tendency OF
individuals to revert to early associations
which they have later in life endeavOrcd to
shake off, or to bad habits and evil
ways from which they have made honest
efforts to reform, is much more COM
mon These reversiOns are moral rather than
physiological, and are variouslY named as
backsliding," failing from grace" " gong
"back into the world etc. They serve to
show the ineradcable effects of early evil
habits and associations, which, having once
conveyed their taint into the blood, are liable
even after years of suppression and subjuga-
ton, in a moment of excitement OF thought
lessness, to reasscrt their mastery. That en-
inent statesman and polite and courteous gen
tleman, the Hon. Fernando Wood, who recently
hired hall for the purpose of telling his con-
stituents that he did not want their votes
although he was their best friend-wlll excuse
us for saying that he seems to Us 10 have
illustrated OH that occasion both what the
physiologists call the reversionary tendency to
the original type, and what the moral and
religious call "falling from grace"
The Hon. Mr. Wood has been for several
years now. we will not say masquerading in
the character of statesman-that would be
uncharitable and unkind-but rather that he
has been endeavoring really TO be states
man, instead OF a demagOgue. With both
nomination and election reasonably well
assured for each successive term, there was
really no call for such blatant demagogism
as his colleague Mr.. Cox chooses to delight in /;
and no doubt Mr.. Wood honestly preferred
being considered respectable gentleman and
something of a statesman, rather than
a pot-house politician and demagogue. 1t
may be said of him that when he was in the
his class. sticking at nothing in tho carrying
out of his purposes, whether 1t was the
setting Oh foot an armed riot for the illegal
maintenance of his own power or the issuance
of n proclamation recommending the seces-
sion of the city from the Union ana the
establishment of an independent Government
He played boldly, played all the cards.
and as was always said and beheved' let
no opportunity, honest or otherwise, go by
him unused. But since the war MIR. WOOD mas
heen much less conspicuous and more quiet.
Dur;no these twelve years he has been men,
hcr of Congress; and either from disposition
,o reform and make for himself different
and better political record, or through
tbe influence of Congressional associa-
tions-whch are, at least, superior to
| those of TammaDy Hall-has successfully
| endeavOred to establish decent and
respectable character as an intelligent and
faithful representative. That there has been
n very marked improvement in his manners
is patent to all who know him 4; that it has
| extended to his morals as well, let us hope
| He has in this way attained prominence in
his party which was attested by his being
reckoned among the leading candidates for
| speaker, anu luItHcI plONtu ny MS dp-
pointment as Chairman of Ways and
| Means. He was not nominated nor elected
Speaker, to be sure, and he failed lament
ably as Chairman of Ways and Means /;
but that he was named for one place and
appointed to the other proves how great
change ten years had effected in his position
| IN the party.
In an evil hour he hired hall. His avowed
purpose was to show himself to his constitu-
ents and define his position. lie began
| by telling the audience-an uneasy, per-
spring and demOnstrative crOwd-that it
was the right of the people to see
their representative, and his duty to show
himself to them. They did not listen kindly ;
and when he proposed to tell them " what
"part he bore in the great questions which
have affected the liberties and pecuniary
Interests of the country" since he has been
in Congress, they interrupted and jeered at
him, though he told them it was his
meeting, and he had hired the hall. 1t was
quite clear that he was mistaken. 1t was
his hall, but not his meeting. The crowd
was saucy and demonstrative. They cheered
for John Hardy, Mr.. Woods rival for the
nomination, for Denis Kearney and various
other persons, until Mr.. Wood lost his patience
1t was then that he forgot his gloves and
walking stick and white mustache and
good clothes and gentlemanly manners