Year: 1872

wMs sasm Ds the Uext Mayor OF Now


Work s-The Question solved.


No good citizen can be indifferent to the
character of the national and State admins
trations. The prosperity of the country de-
ponds in great measure upon the honesty
and efficiency Of the government, aud national
pride as we'll as self-interest renders every in
tslligent American anxious to 500 our credit
maintained, our progress assured and our po-
sition as one Of the leading nations Of the
world securely established. But the manage
ment Of tho municipal affairs Of great city
like New York comes yet more closely home
to its residents, and Ia, in reality, more inn
portant to tho majority Of them than is the
administration of any other public trust. For
this reason the HERALD has for tho last two
or three months been directing attention
to the approaching Mayorelty election.
and urging upon the political parties
who generally put candidates forward for
ONCE the necessity Of nominating thor
oushly acceptable citizen for that respoasibie
position. We have regretted tho violence and
personality Of the Presidential contest because
we could foreaes chat they warS nAiculated to
divert the public mind from our home affairs
and to promote the schemes Of those Ambi-
tous politicians who are hopeful Of using tho
greater issue Aa means, Of striking bargains
and forming combinations looking 70 the con-
troll of the municipal government. While
most Of the partisan journals have been drag
ging forward the dead records of men who are
not before the people for any Office. and viii
flying and slandering every citizen who may
happen to be found in the ranks Of the oppo-
site party, we have taken occasion 10 bring the
charter election into prominence and to do
our best to guard against the danger Of an
eleventh hour nomination, by which the
electors would be left at the mercy Of the poll
ticians.


A year ago. when the people were reused
into indignation by the unfaithfulness Of those
whom they had honored and trusted, II was ON
easy matter for political sohemers to take ad-
vantage Of the popular excitement, and, by
joining in the cry Of reform. to accomplish


their own selfish purposes. By this means the
infamous Legislature of last Winter was fas-
teued upon the State, and the victory won by
the people was stripped of its choicest fruits.


The misfortune could not then be averted.
One Of the great political parties was held in
the hands of the corrupt men against
whom the people were arrayed, and
its nominations could not, therefore,
ba acceptable. Indeed, the infatuated
rulers confident in their strength, made no
effort to render them SO. The people could
therefore look only to the republican party
for candidates, and as all the members of
that organization, as matter Of policy If not
from principle, joined in the cry for reform,
and as the party itself stood pledged to the
thorough prosecution Of the work of purifca-
everywhere successful. The Legislature,
which was justly regarded as the citadel of
reform, was given wholly into the hands of
that party, with majority greater than ever
before enjoyed by any political organizations
In this city the powerful corruptionists were
utterly routed and the republicans, although
in hopeless political minority, gathered
the substantial profits Of the victory
The people cared nothing for the political
complexion Of the candidates, and as they had
but one party to choose from they voted
cheerfully for its nominees. The honest
democrats, who had led the reform move
ment, and to whose efforts the result was
mainly due, generously renounced all their
former associations and proved their sin
cerity in the cause by electing their political
opponents to Office. 1t was not the peoples
fault that in endeavoring to scatter one band
of corruptionists they fastened another upon
the State. It was because having only one
organized party to rely upon they were
driven to accept its candidates on the strength
of their professions. The situation is now
changed. The democracy is under other
and better leadership. The Tammany
organization shared in the publication
secured through the overthrow Of the
old Ring, and passed into the hands of
the champions Of reform. The people can to-
day look to two great political parties for
acceptable nominations. Tammany has the
advantage in being the strongest, and hence
the most likely to secure success, as well as in
being free from responsibility for the betrayal
Of the cause of reform by the Legislature
elected as its especial guardian. But both
will be interested now in selecting good men
for Office and if the Mayoralty candidate OF
the most powerful organization should be en-
tirely acceptable it will, Of course be the pol
icy Of the sincere reformers to endorse and
support him.


We have already suggested several persons
for that position whose qualifications are of
high character and whose Identification with
the good work Of last November renders them
available candidates. Any one Of them would
make an efficient and honest Mayor. We now
desire to place before the citizens of New York
a name which cannot fail to commend itself