Year: 1871

City ncform-DIovemen,s of Parties nnd


Tnmmany's Opportunity.


The election is close upon us. In two weeks
from next Tuesday the people of New York
will be called upon to vote for Slate officers,
except Governor aud Lieutenant Governor,
for Justice of the Supreme Court, Senators
and county officers, including members of
Assembly, two Justices Of the Superior Court
a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and a
Judge Of the Marine Court The only valu-
able county office to be filled outside OF the
judiciary is that of Register, and as this snug
berth is worth about seventy thousand dollars
year, clear, to the fortunate possessor, It Is
of course prize eagerly sought after BY the
tisinterested patriots who make business OF
| politics. Under the impetus Of the city
reform agitation, with its accompaniment OF
injunctions, indictments, ordinations, re-
ordinations, stump speeches, partisan
abuse hard swearing, hard drinking,
voucher stealing and general commotion, it
has been supposed that we were destined to
have an excited and tempestuons time at the
polls this year; aud those who have followed
the newspaper Bohemians and political ad-
venturcrs in their efforts to persuade the
people to allow them to run the reform move
ment after their own fashion, have been pre-
pared to see the municipal government over
thrown, the city bristling with bayonets, the
civil courts superseded by drum-head courts
martial, and grim warrior, brilliant in
militia uniform, installed in the City Hall long
before the arrival Of the day of election. 1t
seems, however, both from the to -timony of
the Governor of the State and from general
indications, that we arc to have a very quiet,
peaceablc time at the approaching election;


that the blood shed on that day is to be
drawn from the nose, and is not to flow in


greater than ordinary quantties-in short


that, despite the frantic efforts Of stump ora


tors, penny-a-liaers ard political jeremy


Didilers, no more than the usual amount Of


excitement attendant upon State elections is


anticipated in New York on the 7th of Novem-


ber next.


| The explanation of this is to be found in the


fact that the officers to be elected this fall,
|
| do with the important matter of municipal
| reform, upon which the minds of all our
citizens are bent 1t is true that among the
State officials the Attorney General may, in
certain contingencies, exercise some Influence
over our local affairs. Should it be found
desirable to take legal proceedings, with
view Of trying the charges of fraud and cor
ruption so literally made against corporation
officers and contractors, either for the punish
ment Of offenders or the recovery Of the
plumber, it is, of course, desirable that the
Office Of Attorney General should be filed by
one who would exhaust the law in the effort


70 DO full justice to all parties in interest, aud


who would not be likely to suffer political
| considerations to control his action on one


side or the other. The remainder of the State


officers, outside the Attorney General, have


no direct influence on the New York city


troubles, and the electors can vote as their in


c.inations or interests dictate-for republicans
! or democrats. The actions of the State con-


ventions are before the people, and they will
Judge for themselves which party is
the most deserving of support. The
office holders and friends of the present
national administration, who controlled the
Syracuse Convention, desire earnestly the
success of their State ticket, because its cleo
ton will secure to them the rich federal
patronage in New York for the balance of
General Grants present term, and for four
years longer in the event Of his denomination
and reelection. To this end they are turning
the New York troubles to account by striving
to make combinations on Senators, Assembly
men, Judges and Register with the outside
democratic factions, to aid their State ticket
The anti-Grant republicans. although bold as
lions at their party convention, do not display
the courage necessary for a square fight, and
although they would gladly beat the State
ticket by secret treachery they hesitate to
take an open stand against it, and pretend
TO give it their support. On the democratic


side The Tammany leaders would rejoice in
the defeat of the nominees of the Rochester
Convention but for the fact that they find it
10 be matter of life and death with them to
give their State candidates large vote in
The city, and hence they will swallow the


nauseous dose prepared for them, and will,
no doubt. endeavor to make such counter
combinations with the Fenton anti-Grant
republicans as will aid both their State and
I, local nominations and prove set-off against
any bargains that may b. concluded between
the in-ofice republicans and the out-of-offce
democracy. In this way we are likely to
have State election considerably mixed up


ard very uncertain as to its final result


There is likely to be more than ordinarily
severe struggle in the Senatorial districts of
the State, including the five in New York,
| growing out of the bitter feud between the


Fenton and Conkling factions, the former of