The New York herald., 1878-11-02

For the Tammany ticket or for the ''combi-
nation" ticket?
The readers of the HERALD know that we
have opposed vigorously and pertnaciously
the one-man power of Tammany. We did
SO in the hope that New York might obtain
an independent Mayor-a man free and
untrammelled and able to serve the city
without respect for or engagements to per-
sonal and partisan influences and Interests.
Unfortunately the candidate OF the "combi-
nation" is not such man. Without doubt
ing his honesty of purpose or even his
ability, it is notorious that he is not an
independent but committed, not an un-
committed but pledged man. So far as
the city government is concerned, 1t Is
formed for him beforehand, and II he
should be elected he would not exercise
any Independent volition in the important
appointments the next Mayor will have to
make, because his slate is made for him
already. Mr.. Cooper for Mayor does not
stand for Mr.. Cooper alone; but Tor Mr.
Cooper plus Mr.. A. II. Green, plus Mr.
Waterbury, plus Mr.. S. J. Tilden, and
so on.
Now, while we, in common with great
mass Of good citizens, would be delighted
to see the city redeemed from the control
of one-man power, such as is represented
by Tammany, it does not follow that we
shall be willing to exchange one master for
half dozen. no better, but, on the con-
trary, not so good. Between Tammany and
Mr.. Bonner, for instance. we should unhes-
itatingly have chosen Mr.. Bonner. but be-
tween Tammany and this combination
ticket there are many and good reasons for
preferring . continuation Of Mr.. Kellys
rule.
About Mr.. Kelly we know something def
mite. 1t is admitted that he means to serve
the city faithfully and honestly; that he
knows what its welfare demands, and that
he has no ulterior views or plans. The rea-
sonable objection to him has been and is
that he rules without that clear response
Of power. If he had himself accepted the
nomination to the Mayoralty he would have
been elected with general applause. But
the ICON bination" has not these merits. It
is coalition of discordant and repellant
elements. formed not with the end of serv.
ing the city, but with the object of placing
in power in the city different faction, no
better than Tammany and not controlled by
any one man as useful or as sincere as Mr..
Kelly. The coordination" we fear, seeks
not the good of the city, but the gratiica-
tion of personal ambitions in the control
of party organizations and party plumber
in the city and in the State at large. It
seeks to make the metropolis tail to the
kite Of State politics, and in this it only
repeats the old time and demoraiizing pol
icy which has brought so much injury to
the city.
Against plans and schemes of this kind
good citizens may and ought to protest.
Between Tammany and an able and inde-
pendent candidate for the Mayoralty we
should at once prefer the latter; but when
our choice is limited and lies between Tam
many and 'comb mbination" less scrupulous
and promising far less good to the city, we
have but one course-to support the best
ticket actually in the field, and that in this
case is Tammanys. Nor is this all. Tam
many, if it's ticket is elected, will come
into power with a definite degree of re-
sponsibility to the people of New York
the coordination" a mongrel body of in
coherent materials, will be as irresponsible
as the wind. If it does wrong, if it fails to
rule wisely and energetically, there will be
no way to fix responsibility on any fac
tion of the coalition. Now, the ability to
hold some one responsible for abuses
is at the bottom of all possible
good and efficient government. Mr..
Cooper and his wicked partners, with one
eye fixed on the State politics and another
on the city loaves and fishes, with dozen
different personal ends to serve, and with
the welfare of the city the last thing in
their thoughts, tell us blandly that they
seek "non-partisan" municipal admin
istration. To be sure A bipartisan
government-that means n body in which
every member will get what he can and do
as little good as possible and no one will be
responsible. New York has surely had
enough OF that kind of thing. We prefer Tam
many Hall that, at any rate, we can hold to
some responsibility. If the Tammany
ticket is chosen the Tammany organiza-
tion--a real, actual, tangible body, with Mr..
Kelly at the head Of it-stands before us
to take the blame of maladministration, if
such there shall be. But with the "combi-
nation" in power where are we to look?
Upon whom shall we fix the responsibility
for misrule? Upon the republicans?
mo- says General Arthur, 1--WE are not
responsible. Mr.. Cooper does not belong
to u.s. We had to take him in order to get
man Of our own into Office" Upon the
Irving Hall democratsp mo-" says Mr..
O'Brien, "Mr Phelps is not our man. We
did not guarantee him, we only voted for
him so as to get slice of pudding for our