Year: 1871

said nothing about this until the next morn
ing. when tho matter was investigated, and it
was discovered that tho accounts for 1870 had
been carefully singled out and stolen.


1t would be. even to the political opponents
of Mr.. Connolly and to those that think his
administration dishonest and corrupt one,
and who wish to SEQ him dismissed from po-
sitiOn he 80 misuses-it would be even to them
II relief to see the suspicion which Immediately
and universally fell upon him in relation to
this matter, disprOvcd and explained away.
There is something 80 desperately lawlcss and
insane about an act like this committed by the
rulers of tho city, that we would all share III
the inevitable disgrace of it. The effect of 1t
upon the city credit would be disastrous.
There was great feeling in Wall-st. in
tho afternoon, and all the securities in
which the Ring leaders were especially inter
cstcd felt the heavy weight of the public sus-
picion. If this suspicion should become Ger
tainty, it would produce a most sinister state
of feeling. The impression has been growing
for somo time, that the law does hot afford
sufficient guarantees against the cOrruptiOns
preston wo dcplore, and shall not cease to COM
bat. But if anything could give color OF
Justice to such an impulse it would be crime
like that now charged against the Controller.


However it may result there is a profound
significance in the event and the action taken
upon it. If it shall appear that Mr.. Connolly,
on consultation with his associates QOr he
would not take so desperate step alonc), has
committed this felony to screen their frauds,
it would only show how closely they feel the
dogs of retribution baying upon their tracks.
1t is an act of desperation and nothing less.
1t would show that we are nearer the end of
the war against this seemingly irresistible
power than any one had hoped. AS Voltairc
once said of the priests, =" 1t is our crcdulity
which makes their science" 80 we may say OF
the long subjectiOn Of the decent people
of Ncw-York to the sOrdid dcspOtism OF
Tammany, it was our pusillanimty that made
their power They have shown for some time
the most unmistakabe symptoms of anxiety
and alarm. If they are driven to subornation
of burglary their race is certainly near its
close. If on the other hand, what now seems
impossible, it should be proved that this rob-
berry is the work of some one besides the Con-
trOller, the general attributiOn of it to him is
fact of the highest meaning. 1t is true that
he has stronger motive than any one else to
destroy the evidences of his own malfcas-
ancc. 1t is true that there would seem no
temptation to any ordinary thief to steal
what could be of no possible use to him. But
against man of common honesty these sup
positions would have no weight whatever.
While in the case of Connolly, so thoroughly
convinced are the people of this city of his
bad character, and of his completely in the
crimes of his associates in the Ring, that the
unanimous opinion of the town yesterday was
that he had stolen the vouchers. When an
impression like this prevails in city which
less than a year ago gave an overwhelming
majority to continue these men in office, could
anything more clearly prove that the time is
come for them to get out of Office at once and
permanently


We now await, with an interest proper
tionate to the magnitude of the issues in
volved, the result of this irremediable breach
between the magnates of the Ring. Whether
Connolly has been singled out for sacrifice by
his associates, or the Mayor has determined
to make one desperate effort for rehabilitation
among his fellOw-citizens, we shall know to-
day. In either case the situation is full of
hope and cheer. We can see light ahead.
Nothing but the most criminal laundering can
now defeat the evident intention of the hon
est people of New-YOIk to resume the control
of their affairs.