The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-22
The Voices of the People.

The Voices of the People.
II Mr. HERBERT SPENCER wanted to get
vivid idea OF practical politics in the United
States, he ought to have gone over to Brook
Ign during the past week and attended some
Of the local conventions. The political caul-
dron has been seething in the village across
the river where the Mayor tells the little boys
that it is naughty to build bonflres on cleo
ton day.
One Of the novelties in the Republican City
Convention was the prominence Of clergy
man as q delegate The Rev. JOHN w. CHAD
WICK, the most distinguished young Unita-
rian preacher in the country, proposed tho
name Of the candidate who received the NOM
ination for Comptroller. The Office OF Comp
troller Is the most important to be filled at
the coming election, so far as the municipal
Government is concerned; and we may infer
that nominee who has a minister Of the
Gospel to advocate his fitness is at least
honest.
In the same Convention one OF the dele
gates. in naming his favorite candidate for
the Office OF City Auditor-likewise post OF
much sponsibility-declared: "As for his
Republicanism, he is Republican from stem
to stern; and as for his honesty have moth
ing-to say" This convulsed the house, but
was mild compared to the utterances in the
Democratic City and County Conventions.
The Democrats met in theatre The dele
gates occupied the floor, and the spectators
crowded the galleries. The members OF the
Convention were pleasantly saluted by the
auditors aloft as they came in on the floor.
Red-headed jim" was requested to sit down.
The Chairman was reminded that his pre-
liminary speech was unduly long by
"Give us none Of your CUFF" from the gal
lery. Then the business began. Candidates
were put in nomination AS each name was
proposed it was received with mingled ap-
plause and Kisses. One fat office is enough"
shouted voice In the balcony, when man
now in Office was proposed for renomina-
ton. Get out, you're looking for a clerk
ship" shouted another, when a delegate
spoke Of a candidate as his personal friend.
A vote was next taken A stuffed cat sailed
across the auditorium and fell among the
officers Of the Convention. The result of the
ballot being made known, and one nominee
having been selected, the Convention pro-
ceeded to the next nomination. Flows the
clans 2" exclaimed an inquisitive onlooker
from the gallery. The successive speakers
to US easy" and when some delegate, more
modest than usual, succumbed under these
polite attentions, he was consoled by hear
ing, Guess we've knocked him out" from
the balcony.
This was in the afternoon at the County
Convention. The City Convention met at the
same place two evenings in succession. There
was fierce contest over the nomination of q
successor to Chief Justice NELSON OF the
City Court of Brooklyn The first night, the
friends Of the gentleman who was finally nom
mated wanted to adjourn until the next day.
This did not suit the adhcrents Of his most
formidable opponent. One Of them averred
that the proposition to adjourn was Simply
dastardly." Mr.. p. p. MAHoNEY said he rose
to rcGcho tho sentiment Somebody In the
sky region Of the theatre suggested that
Mr.. MAHoNEY should go home and get
shaved. Mr.. MAHoNEY with great difficulty
was madeto sit down. He kept rising, how
ever. to rcGcho the sentiment. "Sit down,
PETER" howled innumerable voices; but
PETER would not subslde until the Chairman
declared the Convention adjourned.
When the delegates met on the following
evening, they agreed at once on nomina-
ton for Comptroller For City Auditor they
nominated man who was strongly sup
ported by the Hon. DANIEL OREILLY, for
mcrly member Of Congress, on the ground
that he was an honorcd German fellow citi-
zen, who would therefore run well against
the German candidate of the Republicans !;
but Mr.. O'REILLY did not dcign to notice
the inquiry from the gallery, And what do
the Irish gcti" The great fight was over the
nomination for City Judge, One delegate
thought he was doing the handsome thing
toward his candidate by quoting funeral
euogium from SHAKESPEARE This was not
80 bad, after all, since the object Of his praise
. was finally defeated. But the strife waxcd
nercer before the end was reached. The gal
lerics were for the weaker candidate They
alternately howlcd and Missed as the votes
were announced for or against him. Even
the delegates shared the general excitement
"My vote hasn't been tempered with" OK
claimed one, as he answered to his name
while another voted with a heart and a
half" and still another was "movcd by
every fibre" Of his being as he voted.
Something may be learned from the voices
of the people heard in this way, albeit
much they say Is rude and rough. 1t is Won
dcriul, after all, how much good nature there
j. In most uf the uttCrancos on such occa-
L!ons. Scenes Ike those VIC have outlined