Year: 1872

politics and controlled only by the interests of
the city is easy of fulflment. 1t is to watch
the action of political parties, and wherever
improper nominations are made to unite in
opposition TO them at the polls. If unexcep-
tionablo nominees should be put forward on
all sides the responsibility of the true reformer
is at an end, and he cannot interfere between
political candidates of equal qualifications
without subjecting himself to the censure OF
intrigue and insincerity. The Committee OF
Seventy and other self-constituted reform
associations are charged not only with politi-
cal bargain and intrigue this year, but with
having endangered the cause of real reform
by factious opposition to unassailable candi-
dates on political and personal considerations.
The people would not probably object to
monopoly of the most valuable Offices by the
members of the Committee of Seventy. These
reformers might have made themselves Judges
Attorney Generals, Governors, Mayors, SEN
ators, Assemblymen, Congressman, Aldermen,
Registers, Comptrollers, Commissioners and
what not without objection, provided they
were competent to fill the positions they COW
eted with satisfaction to the public. But
while assuming to speak in the name of honest
reform they have no right to plunge into
ical intrigue and TO trade and
b Sin for favorite candidate taken
from their own body, to the danger of the
cause they profess to uphold Politicians are
justified in endeavoring to excite popular sem
timent against their political rivals and to
cajole the people into the belief that all the
honesty and integrity Of the city is on their
own side. It is their province to hoodwink
the credulous and to secure the spoils by every
artifce at the command of experienced wire
pullers and ward organizers. Their object is
known to be the substitution Of ''rings' Of
their own in place Of the rings Of their political
opponents, and if they succeed the fault lies
with the people, The masses of our citizens are
too easily gulled by designing men-too apt to
receive as facts whatever they may find printed
in the columns of a public journal. They are
too busy OF too careless-too much occupied
with the ceaseless whirl of American life or
too Indifferent to their political interests and
duties to reflect seriously for themselves and
to form thei. own Independent judgment on


the questions OF the hour The obstinate
Englishman settles back naturally against the
opinions advanced in his daily paper and feels
satisfaction in his opposition the New Yorker
glances over his morning journal, rapidly
takes in its idas and accepts them as truths.
II is this well-known Characteristic of their
readers that enables the political organs to
befog and mystify the real issues Of CAM
paign, and their calling and interests prompt
them to the effort. A reform association is in
different position. If honest it should look
only at the character and competency Of can
didates for Office judging impartially between
all political parties. The instant it lends itself
to political intrigue or seeks to accomplish
personal ends it betrays the cause of reform
and becomes its most dangerouo enemy.


The democratic municipal candidates were
the first put in nomination this Fall AS a
matter of course they were met by donuncia-
ton on the part Of their political rivals. This
was mere matter Of party tactics. Mr.. Law
renee was named for Mayor backed by a
thoroughly good judicial ticket, and the
nominees were admitted to be acceptable
to oil sincere reformers. The Committee
of Seventy themselves endorsed Mr.. Law
renee by rendering him place on their
ticket but they coveted the Mayoralty for
one of their own number, and had bargained
with the republican party, to which their asso-
ciate belongs, for his nomination. They
could not endorse Mr.. Lawrence, not because
he would not be an honest, competent officer,
but because they wanted Mr.. Havemeyer
Apollo Hall next put forward James
O'Brien as its candidate, and the Committee
of Seventy professed to be shocked at the
nomination. Here, then, was an opportunity
to faithfully discharge the duty they had
voluntarily taken upon themselves. Two
tickets were in the field If they regarded
James O'Brien as person unfit to be Mayor
of New York, their endorsement Of candi-
date Of unquestionable honor, honesty and
capacity would have rendered his defeat
certain They betrayed their trust and placed
third candidate-Mr. Havemeyer-before
the people, rendering the result doubtful and
risking the success Of the nominee whose
election they professed to regard as disgrace
and calamity. The republican party aided
and encouraged the intrigue, for their own OBJ
jects, and endorsed Mr.. Havemeyer but that
venerable citizen will find that the ways of
politicians are darker and more intricate now
than they were a quarter of century ago.
Already everybody but himself can see that he
is to be sacrificed by the managers, and that
James OBrien is to be ''run OUT of the re-
! publican boxes in return for a similar favor
from Apollo Hall for the republican Presiden-
tial and State tickets. Reformers who may
support Mr.. Havemeyer in good faith may
discover when too late that they have thrown
away their votes to help to power q new city
/ ring. whose s.hossn if wa nra "a a.al;4 A.