Year: 1871

The stale Legislature and the City Govern


The partisan papers are already beginning
to quarrel and fight over the distribution Of
the spoils won in the last election. The first
bone of contention is to be the Presidency Of
the new Board OF Aldermen, and the next the
Speakership Of the Assembly. The former
may turn out to be most important position,


in view Of the probability that the President of
the Board may become the acting Mayor Of
the city for the next twelve months, while on
the latter will devolve the responsible duty of
selecting the standing committees Of the
House. Among the newly elected Aldermen
John Cochrane is pre-eminently qualified
as a presiding officer, and is, moreover,
peculiarly fitted for the position OF
Mayor at such time as the present


He would bring into the latter office
unusual executive capacity, broad political
experience, unquestionable honesty and a
valuable knowledge Of municipal affairs.
What his party views and principles
may be is wholly immaterial. The revolution
that recently swept over the city has disposed
of all oavils as to a reformer's political creed,
and the people who accomplished it have
declared by their emphatic verdict that our
municipal rulers shall henceforth be chosen on
the single test Of honesty and capacity. The
attempt of clique or faction-Custom House
or anti-Custom House, administration or anti
administration-to set up any other standard
in the selection Of city officers is perversion
of the popular judgment and betrayal of the
cause of reform. Not an intelligent citizen
from the Battery to Spuyten Duyvil Creek can
gainsay the pre-eminent qualifications Of John
Cochrane both for the presidency of the Board
of Aldermen and the more responsible position
Of Mayor of the city, and no opposition can
be made to his selection except of partisan
specious pretence Of reform to use the victory
of the people for the advancement of their
own narrow-minded, factional schemes.


The organization of the State Legislature is
important, inasmuch as the Speaker of the
House usually wields considerable influence
in shaping and controlling the legislation of
the session. This year the position is of less
consequence, since almost all the members of
both chambers have been elected upon dis
tinct pledge Of reform, and no standing COM
mittee would have the power to delay or
cripple any measure for the reorganization of
the New York city government. There will,
however, be no lack Of properly qualified
candidates for the Speakership, and no
political considerations should control or in
fuence the Assembly in the selection it may
make. 1t would be nothing but just and
wise concession to the great reform
movement in New York if some member of
the minority closely identified with the politi-
cal revolution at this end of the State should
be chosen for that position. At all events, no
issue should be raised ss to the political opin-
ions Of the man who may possess unquestion-
able qualifications for the Office Of Speaker Of
the Assembly; and the indiscreet journalists
who, in their zeal for the factions they support
or for the factions that support them, are
already arraying themselves against all men,
bers Of an Objectionable party complexion, are
only opening the eyes Of the people to the
fact that the revolution they have accom-
plished is in danger Of being prostituted to the
intrigues Of party instead OF being made tho
instrument of solid reform in our municipal
government