Year: 1874

The City Election.


The canvass is now practically closed; only
q single day remains to complete the yet un-
finished details before the battle, and then the
opposing forces meet at the ballot box 10 de-
eide which political party shall control the
State and distribute the rich patronage OF the
city of New York for the next two years. The
dulness Of the first part of the campaign has
been relieved in its later days by the spirited
local contests In the city Congressional and
Assembly districts and by the closeness of the
race for the valuable prize Of the Registership,
which has served to impart an unexpected
interest to the county ticket The large
registration, within three thousand of that at
the Presidential election two years ago, rem
dered it certain that the triangular fight for the
Mayoralty could result only in the election OF
the regular Tammany candidate by decisive
majority. But the feeling manifested against
the Tammany nominee for Register and the
union of independent democrats and
republicans on one opposing candidate
seemed to give promise Of different result
as to that valuable Office and set the friends
of General Jones to work earnestly for his
success.


It is conceded on all sidos that Mr.. Wick
ham will be the next Mayor Of New York.
Mr.. Wickham is yet untried in Office, but he
has good business reputation, and may make
practical, efficient chief magistrate. It will
at least be satisfactory to be relieved of the
present administration with its antics and its
eccentricities. The experiment of a so-called
mo party" city government has proved so
complete failure that people will not regret
the election of Mayor by one or other of the
great political organizations; and as New
York is largely democratic city it is proba-
bly, fair and desirable that the Mayor
should be member of that party. If
he is man of integrity, uprightness
and energy, with proper appreciation OF the
wants of the great metropolis, and with spirit
enough to push forward desirable public i'm
provements with liberal hand, his advent to
power will be welcomed with general satisfac-
ton. The city has suffered enough for the
lack of such qualities in the government for
the past two years, and it is to be hoped that
the advantage of the change will speedily
make itself felt Should the democracy sue
ceed in electing their Governor Mr.. Wickham
will have great power. for he will then be
enabled to remove all heads of departments
against whom cause for removal may exist and
to appoint their successors. Should they lose
the State Mr.. Wickham would have but very
little patronage to dispense during his term Of
Office


The result of the contest for the Register
ship is in doubt, but the Office has no politi-
cal importance, and it is merely question as
to which Of the candidates shall enjoy its large
income. The politicians calculate on o vote
of one hundred and thirty thousand, out of
which they give Mr.. Wickham ten thousand
majority over both his opponents. This
would leave the republican candidate for
Register with only six thousand votes to gain
from the regular democracy in order to give
him the victory. AS there are severe contests
in at least two Congressional districts, both Of
which seem to be likely to result in the
defeat of the regular democracy, it does not
appear lhpIoDaDAe Iiat 'Ao COUNTY ucHec
may be divided, the democrats taking the
Mayor and the republicans the Register. But
it must be borne in mind that the calculations
of politicians often prove as unreliable as
their promises


In the Congressional, Assembly and Alder
manic districts it would be well if the electors
could make up their minds to support the
best candidates, without regard to party con-
siderations. Such names as Frederick w.
Seward, Smith E. Lane and DR.. Alfred A.
Beach are rare in list of New York Assem-
blymen, and when citizens of such q character
consent to accept the unthankful position the
people should see that they are elected.


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