The New York herald., 1878-10-27
The True Issue in tho Muntctpai
Contest.

i'm provement in our municipal government
so long as the affairs of this city are made
subordinate to the politics of the State and
the nation. AS one step toward effecting
separation the HERALD has strenuously ad-
vocated for many years the holding OF our
municipal elections in the spring OF the
year, when no other political contests are
pending. Governor Tilden's Municipal Com
mission adopted this, among their other rec
concentrations having the same tendency
but, although aiming in the right direction,
they overshot the mark by recommending
different basis of suffrage in municipal elec-
tions. There can be no question that such
a change would contribute to that divorce
of city politics from general politics which
all enlightened and impartial judges think
necessary, but it was nevertheless blunder
for the Municipal Commission to embody II
in their plan. Their deep sense OF the I'M
portance of the end led them to underrate
the difficulty Of restricting the suffrage,
and this error caused the defeat OF their
whole plan. But how strong must have
been their conviction of the necessity OF
the divorce when they ventured 10
recommend a different rule Of suffrage
as means of separating city from
general politics The failure of their
plan in consequence Of this blunder
has thrown US back into the same condition
in which we stood several years ago when
the HERALD began the agitation for spring
election as a means of rescuing our city
government from the maelstrom of general
politics. Although we have thus far been
rolling the stone OF Sisyphus we shall
never give over our efforts for municipal
regeneration by the only method which can
ever be etfectual, which is separation OF
city from State affairs.
The necessity for such a divorce is so
self-evident that mere statement on
the subject is good as an argument.
The duties of Mayor, City Judge or
Board of Aldermen have no legitimate
connection with questions of State or ma
tional administration. Candidates for mu-
nicipal offices should go before the people
on the sole ground of their personal merits.
The only questions should be, Are they fit !?
Have they the requisite moral and intellec-
tual qualifications Unfortunately candi-
to their integrity and capacity. The ques-
ton is not so much how they would dis
charge the proper duties Of their respective
stations as what effect their election will
have upon the scheming of Senator This
for Governor or Governor That for Presi-
dent, or the control of the Legislature by
this or that political party. As it
is the tendency in such matters to de-
generate more and more our municipal
election has at last sunk into a contest for
the control of the next Democratic State
Convention. AS to candidates tor minor
city offices their merits or dement's are quite
lost sight of in the absorbing contests Of
conspicuous characters who play for higher
stake.
The application Of these remarks to pend
ing controversies in this city as to who
shall be Mayor. City Judge and District At
torney is sufficiently obvious. Look be-
meath the mere surface of this controversy
and what appears? Why, Governor Tilden
on the one side and Comptroller Kelly on
the other, each scheming and striving for
the control of the democratic organiza-
ton of the State, with view to make
it potent force in the Presidential elec-
ton. Whether Mr.. Cooper would make a
better Mayor than Mr.. Schell, or Mr.
Cowing a more impartial judge than Mr.
Bedford, or Mr.. Phelps an ADLER District
Attorney than Mr.. Smythe is not the real
question at all The true issue is seen to
be that Tilden, a self-defeated candidate Tor
the Presidency, is anxious to defeat Kelly,
the autocrat of Tammany, in whatever
Kelly may desire to do, because the defeat
Of Kelly means the control of all the city
power and patronage by Mr.. Tilden
and his supporters for State or
national purposes. Admit that Mr..
Tilden has also the interests of the city
at heart land we desire to be very courteous
and considerate in speaking of Mr.. Tilden),
that will not change the fact that false
issue is put before the people Itmakes little
difference whose puppet the Mayor is if he
is to be puppet. 1t is of no consequence
whether he is labelled Schell or Cooper or
IuncH or Juuy. 1uc seasoHaDie part OF
the public is contemptuously Indifferent
whether Mr.. Kelly pulls the strings
to his Punch or Mr.. Tilden pulls the
strings to his Judy. 1t is equally farce
either way. What the public wants is an
opportunity to vote tor responsible candi-
dates on their personal merits, for candi-
dates who will be really responsible to the
people and bear true allie glance to them, and
not to either Tilden or Kelly
Men who are nominated on q combination
ticket, merely because they are pledged to
use their power in behalf of Mr.. Iiden for
Presid ent, or Mr.. Green for omptroller,
or Mr.. Somebody for Police Commissioner,
are not the sort of candidates our citizens
can ever support with heartiness or enthu-
siasm as against men nominated by Tam