New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-21

us we nope IL VIII, we nave great CODhucnN0 'N'
the Police will be freed from the curse Of partisan
ship, and a most salutary reform effected. Mean
time is il not reasonable that the acts OF the Legs
lature shall be generally respected as laws un'H
tbsCOuIts pronounce on their validity or shall
they be secuted as void while the question OF their
validity is pending? This is the first question In
order. Let good citizens answer it.
Whatever may be the issue of the discussion
which Dr. Bellows has ntiated-and We do not
anticipate that any essential change will thereby be
effected in the relative numbers of the friends and
adyersaries of the Drama as it actually exists among
us-theIe is one proposition brought more distinctly
into view by bis Address which cannot be suffered
to fall into oblivion That proposition afirms that
good men have a duty to perform with respect to
Public RecreatOns and that this duty has been
and is grievously neglected in our City.
That popular recrestions form very important
part of the education of the masses, especially in
cities-thst they may be Of such a nature as to In
struct refIe and elevate, or Of such as to debsse,
corrupt and demoralize-no one will seriously dis
pute. Between great National Gallery of Paint
iDgs and Statuary like that of the Louvre and
representation Of Model Artists or q bull-fght,
there is nearly as great moral distance as be-
tween Sunday school and gambling GROCERY.
Each is, in certain sense, a popular resort-a
place of entertainment; but one is calculated to
exalt and eDnoble its visitors while the other can
scarcely fail to pollute and degrade them.
On whom, then--and we ask the question in deep
earne stness-is devolyed the immense responsible
ity of providing amusements for this vast cOmmu-
nity-of choosing and presenting those calculated
to exert salutary influence and REFRESHING those
of contrary tendency How are they selected
or trained for this high function BY what sacri-
fees of private interest to public good, by what
contempt of personal advantage or heroic resist
aDce to sensual alurement, have they shown them
selves worthy to discharge the high trust of cater
ers for that innocent yet perous desire for recrea-
ton Inherent in all men, but most imperatively felt
by the ignorant the thoughtless, the easily led
astrayl
Without further pressing this inquiry, or Analysing
the motives the impulses, which have filled and are
still recruiting the ranks of our caterers for tue
amusement of the public, we may barely ask, How
are our social magDates fulfilling their responsibility
in this regard Our men Of wealth, Of elegant
and varied culture of social standing and influence
what are they doing to provide wholesome recrea
ton for their less fortunate fellow citizens, and
shield them from those essentially corrupting and
vicious7 We know what one man is doing in this
directions long may the Cooper Institute survive to
attest his wise and generous public spirit; we
accord due credit to the subscribers whose money
built the Academy of Music; we hope our grand
children may derive some benefit from the Central
Park; but where are the galleries, the museums
the repositories of designs and inventions, which
befit great commercial metropolis like this, boast
ing its thousands of afiluent and hundreds of very
wealthy citizens most Of whom have been enriched
BY the rapid growth and marvellous thrift Of our
City, Why should capitals of third-rate kingdoms
like Saxony or sub-kingdoms like Tuscany, boast
galleries UNNECESSARILY superior to anything that
New York can show! Why should our one capa-
cious and creditabe edifce (the Crystal Palace
stand dismantled and desolate, begging some 30
buyit Cor tho amount of its debts or its value as
old iron Is there in the civilized world another
City so populous and wealthy as New. York which
is so meagerly provided as she is with places of
popular resort which appeal effectively and benef
Gently to the intellectual and moral nature of their
visitors
These questions suggest answers. If it shall be
found fifty years hence, that our City population
is debauched and mbruted by hcentious indulgences
and habits--if grog-shops shall glare on every
corner and gaming houses crouch in every street
IL popular education shall anguish i'll spite of prod
iga expenditure for its support, and thousands of
children grow up in ignorance, ideness, profgacy
and crme-if our polls shall be surrounded and
our elections carried by frcnzied, reckless,
drunken mob, voting for whichever party promises
the freest rein to debauchery, the fullest impunity
TO yice-f the freedom of speech shall be sacrificed
10 the fury Of rsscas and mscreants resolved that
their sins shall not be reproved nor their robberes
exposod-if murder shall here be Of nightly occur
renee while robbery and arson deprive the rich OF
any security or comfort in their possessions, and
cxorbitant taxation combine with these to diyest
property of half its yalue-the blame will rest,
where the loss falls on selfish and shortslghted
capitalists of to-day who, in pushing to their
utmost limit the advantages OF their position, ig-
nored its responsibilities and neglected its duties.
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The gratitude of the stakeholder always manifests
itself in a coarse form, ranging from friendly
drink" to service of plate. OF that delicate and
generous appreciation of public services which
shows itself in the general gratitude and affection
Of neonle the South seems To be incapable; Of