Year: 1873

When Mr.. Greeley was told at a late hour
of the night of November 7. 1871, that Reform
had swept the City of New-York, utterly
overwhelming corrupted Tammany, he ex-
claimed, "This is a great people when they get
mad" Time has proved further that they are
persistent in their righteous rage, for the Re-
form, which they had Indignantly inaugur-
ated on that day, has gone steadfastly
forward until yesterday may be said
to have fully accomplished it. Numerous
individual schemes have been frustrated !;
parties have been disappointed and beaten in
temporary expedients to secure Reform; but
the people have never faltered or failed, and
their cause has at last succeeded. Not only is
the old Ring hopelessly broken, but the new
City Government, which yesterdays cOnfrma-
ton virtually consolidates, is constituted Of
such diverse and incongruous political ele-
ments that no more difficult work than the
formation of new Ring can well be imagined.


In the Mayors chair is a Republican who is
at variance with the faction that claims to have
elected but cannot control him. The Board of
Aldermen, in which the confirming power is
lodged, is composed of the representatives of
four different political organizations, so divided
in policy and sentiment that they cannot COM
bine to oppose any good and sensible nomiDa-
ton which the Mayor may make. Fast and
firm in the Controllers office is financier
whose experience in public affairs for nearly
score of years confirms him in the
confidence Of the public as safe, sure and
methOdical while associated with him in the
Chamberlain's Office (bappily no longer antag-
Onistic to the Controller, as his predecessor
was) is an official who brings to his important
duties of checking and watching the city's
public expenditures, the highest character for
honesty and ability. Politicians have been
almost wholly banished from most of
the minor departments. Where it has
been found needful to retain experienced
members of the old Commissions, generally
those most independent of political influences
have been selected. The Board of Health has
been chosen solely with view to its sanitary
efficiency. The new Board of Taxes and AS
sessments commands undisputed confidence


The new Fire Commissioners are men of ex-
perience, less known in politics than
in their professions and business
The Dock Commissioners are worthy
to succeed those depOsed (and this is not
light praise) and in brief, the new Govern
ment in its personnel will command the full
est confidence. Mr.. Havemeyer has given us
an eminently respectable government, and we
doubt not it will prove an efficient one.


We must not fail, however, to except from
this general approval the new Police Board.
We have already commented on the blunders
which have been committed in the nomination
of two active politicians and the retention of
another in this Commission, which, moue than
all others, should be freest from political COM
plications. The more we contemplate the pos
sible effects of these the more we are con-
yinced that the nominations of Mr.. Cbarlick
and Mr.. Gardner were unwise. 1t is
no satisfaction to know that party claims are
equally satisfied, and that tho political divi-
sions of the Board render it improbable that
the Police force can pe used in tho direct