Year: 1871

Necessity Of Thorough Municipal Reform.


The revolution that swept over New York


on Tuesday last was made by the people, and


not by the politicians. 1t was intended to


accomplish two objects-ihe rebuke of official
corruption and the overthrow of the oligarchy


by which we have been ruled for the last i've
or six years. The result of the election was
In reality accomplished by the citizens who
seldom vote or take any interest in politics.
They determined to prove the strength that


lies behind political organizations and they
most effectually succeeded. The politicians
were, of course, active in ths movement.
The republicans naturally united in any COM
| bination that could break down the democratic
preponderance in the city. The outside
democrats put forth their favorits candidate
| and worked with ardor in the cause. But the
republicans proper could not have raised over
forty thousand votes, and twenty thousand is
the outside strength of the Young Democracy.
The remaining twenty thousand votes by which
the defeat of the Tammany candidates was
secured came from the non-politicians, who
gave themselves up for one day to the cause
of honest government and political regencra-
ton. Their action is as encouraging to the
hopes OF those who sincerely desire
municipal reform rs it is promising to
the future Of the republic II proves
that there is latent power in the
people which, on great occasions, can
spring forth into light and accomplish mighty
works. It shows that while the great mass of
business men are willing, in ordinary times,
to leave the machinery of political action to
those who make business of politics, they
are, nevertheless, ready, when the necessity
arises, to vindcate their own rights, and able,
when thoroughly aroused, to overthrow the
plans of the shrewdest of politicians.


Nevertheless the political revolution made
by the recent election is thorough and sweep
ing, and its effects will long be felt in New
York. 1t has broken down old lines, and
utterly destroyed the great preponderance of
one political party at this end Of the
| State. The enormous democratic vote
cast in this city for the past six or eight years
has frequently swept away the repub-
lican majorities in other parts Of the
State and has been the terror of that
| organization. Metropolitan commissions, reg
istry laws and all sorts of schemes have
been year after year concocted by the
State Legislature, with the object of breaking
the power of the dem mocracy in their strong
hold but they all resulted in failure, and 1t
has been left for the unscrupuousness, ava
rice and dishonesty of democrats themselves
to accomplish the end for which their political
opponents have so long labored in vain. The
political portion Of the republicans entered
upon this crusade for city reform for the pur-
poss OF securing great artisan advantage
the disruption of the New York democracy.
This is now effected, and, moreover, Legisla-
ture is chosen in which the republicans have
sufficient strength to frame just such law as
they may please for the government of New
York. The victory in this city, however, be-
longs to the reformers, and not to the republi-
cans alone; and nothing is more certain than
that they will take advantage Of the power
they have won and will accomplish COM
plete reorganization and reformation of the
municipal government. The people have
grown SO heartily tired of msrule, and 80 dis
gusted with the bold corruptions of Office
holders, that they are prepared to receive
with favor any change : that promises
to rescue them from the hands of political


huckstsrs. They will not be content simply
with q transfer from one set of scheming
partisans to another. The reform they de-
mand is one that will give them honest,
intelligent public officers, without regard to
politics and Independent of all party obliga-


tions and intrigues. This they are determined
to secure as the result of their recent victory,


and this must not be denied them by the sue


cessful reformers.


The old political leaders who have been


should accept the situation and not endeavor


foolishly to fight against fate. Those public
| officers who have been convicted before the


people Of corruption and unfaithfulness to the
| trust conided to them must, Of course, stand


on one side and give up all thought Of again


acquiring influence and prominence in
any party. But the partisans who
are not implicated in official mis-


conduct, and who yet, for old associations


and from pride or fancied principle, still cling
to the Tammany organization, may as well


give up the ship, and do the best they
can to assist in lifting the city government


out of the mire Of politics and putting
honest men in Office. There must neces-
sarily be an interregnum of from two to
three months duration between this time
and the organization Of the State Legislature
before any decided change can be made
in the municipal government through the
means of new charter or by amendments to
the present law. Several prominent officers
have already resigned their positions, and
the retirement Of Tweed is only question Of
| q few hours IL Mayor Hall will read the Lesson