Year: 1878

IL is asserted by some OF Mr.. Edward
Cooper's supporters that he will come into
office in January untrammellei by any per-
sonal or political pledges made during the
canvass, and that he is perfectly tree to make
all his appointments with sole refer
ence to the purity and efficiency OF
his administration. We have 10 means
of knowing whether this averment Is
display OF fawniDg subserviency
or whether the successful coalition candi-
date for Mayor has really preserved his


liberty OF action in a canvass which must
have been great trial to his political yir-
tue. We would fain believe that Mr..
Cooper is as free from improper pledges as
the volunteer guardians Of his honor assert
that he is. If what they tell us is true; il,
in point of fact, Mr. Cooper will come into
office entirely untrammelled by promises or
understandings made during the canvass;
il, rs is so confidently asserted, he is Mt iuil
liberty to disregard in his appointments
every consideration outside the fitness OF
his nominees 10 serve the city, lie has
splendid opportunity for making better
administration than we have had within the
last twenty years. But lie must pardon us
if we are not sanguine. We have had SO
constant an experience in the city govern
ment of high profession followed by
from bestowing any confidence in advance.
We distrust the entangling alliance by
which Mr. Cooper was brought forward as
a candidate, and although we are disposed
to give the incoming Mayor fair trial we
must withhold any approval of his meas
ures until we have an opportunity to soc
what they are. We sincerely hope that
events may prove he is as free and un-
pledged as his supporters represent.


Assuming as mere hypothesis (for it
would be absurd at this stage to accept it as
n fact) that Mr. Cooper is fettered by no
explicit or tacit understandings with Mr..
Tilden's friends or anybody's friends, and
that he will look to nothing but the true
interests of the city, his duties as Mayor
are almost too plain for discussion. 1t
would be violation of political and
personal honor for gentleman
elected by republican and democratic
votes, and by larger proportion of
republican than Of democratic votes,
to pervert his Office and its patronage to the
upbuilding of any faction of the democratic
party In the discharge Of his duties as
Mayor he has no right to act as a democrat
or as republican, but only as non-parti-
san representative of municipal interests
III Mr. Tilden's friends undertake to cap
tnre or to reorganize Tammany Mayor
Cooper can give them no assistance without
betraying the republican voters who con-
tributed to his election. He cannot main
tain his honor clear without keeping aloof
from all such schemes. IL lie lets the Ill
den interest capture him he is lost. If
he assists in any project ior humiliating
Mr.. Kelly beyond the inevitable humilia-
ton which attends Kelly's recent defeat he
will be chargeable with manifest breach
of trust. Mr. Cooper must leave the Kelly
faction and the Tiden faction of the demo-
cratic party to fight out their battle without
his interference. Mr.. Cooper Gf what is
said Of him by his friends is correcD is
bound to look only to the material interests
of this city and to abstain from partisan con-
tests. If he is really untrammelled by
pledges, if he has sufficient eleva-
ton of view to make municipal in
terests paramount if he has sut-
ficient strength of character to swerve
neither to the right hand nor to the left in
the pursuit Of partisan objects he may
make not merely tolerable but an excel
lent Mayor But, aside from his personal
energy and sagacty, which still remain to
asserted freedom from entang clements is a
fact or fraud. If he has really preserved
his independence he may be the most use-
iul Mayor we have had in many years. We
have doubts both as 10 his strength OF char
acter and his freedom. He alone can re-
Office shall prove that they are un-
founded all impartial citizens will respect
his motives and do him justice. What the
people have a right to demand Of him is
that he will altogether ignore politics and
devote himself entirely TO the material in
terests of the city. If he does this with
sagacity and vigor he will secure the solid
appreciation Of citizens of all parties.
There is nothing which the majority of our
property holders so much desire as the
complete emancipation of the city govern
ment from party politics.


If Mayor Cooper has the breadth of view
and foresight which befit his position he will
not favor mean ana niggardly economy
in city expenditures. Public improvements
must not stop, unless We are willing to see
the city lose the advantages of its peerless
position. In order to maintain our place as
the commercial and social metropolis Of the
Western Continent we must continue to
spend money in improvements, and no man
is tit to be Mayor who does not recognize
this necessity. 1t is right to insist on