New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-18
SNAIL NEw-YORK SWALLOW GGOoELYEi

THE QUESTION or ANNEXATION AGAIN RAISED
NATURE IN FAVOR OF 1T, BUT THE PLOPLb
OF BROOKLYN OPPOSED.
A foreigner visiting this country TOR the hrSt
time and passing up East River would not naturally ask
on which side the metropolis stood. He would at once
conclude that the stream divided the city ana tat o
warehouses; the hand and the dry docks on inc
other con titued only convenient division OF tle
business interests of great city, as B the case with
London Paris Bremen and other commercial cities OF
Europe In tins view. too he would be conHrmed wheh
informed that State llno separated the whar'e'
on the ono hand from those on the other
and that the Government recognized but single
port as existing here To him 1t would be almost
incredible that on either hand stood separate city,
maintaining its city government at considerable eH-
pense and that nothing prevented the union OF the two
into one municipality in accordance with the natural
dictates of good sense except the persistent reiuS Oh
the smaller to become part Of the larger surrendcrng
some portion OF her individuality for the sake OF sharing
in tho existence OF grandcr whole That the twOnithS
of million people constituting the population OF Brook
lyn should be sadded with the expense of separate
establishments" who New-Yorks million are so closely
lated with them, would be a marvel In his eyes,
as il il tho view Of every one not familiar win the
sentiments and hopes Of those who control public opinion
in the city over the river.
The question OF annexation has been quietly clscuS'eo
among Brooklyn people, and its ultimate accomplish
ment is anticipated confidently by those who most
earnestly oppose immediate measures to that end The
building the bridge, 1t ia thought, must ultimately
serve 10 unite the Cities particularly II IL IL 10 cost
Tho untold millions indicated by expenditures already
made Brooklyn never build 1t alone; ana yet IL
must be built and tho only apparent way 10 accomplish
the end is by unon for this purpose at least with her
Weather neigbor But independently OF this, the con-
ycton seems be that the close relations existing be-
tween the Cities when they shall be Increased by
the presence of the bridge or by free ferries will OF them
selves bring about the union which the interests
of each already demand.
OF course there are OF Brookyns people who
would favor anne atOn immediately, but by far the
larger number oppose it, This opposition arises IN part
from local municipal pride which prompts Brooklyn
proper TO cling to the individuality OF the third city IN
the Union But this alone would not serve to counter
balance the evident advantages to be gained by annexa
ton stronger opposition comes from the politicians,
who see the proposition to unite the two cities re-
duction of municipal Offices and consequent reduction
OF their power to control political affairs and 70 keep
their party together by the cohesive power OF public
plumber"
While it would be almost slanderous to suppose that
the politicians at present controlling municipal affairs In
Brooklyn in any way represent or influence puDlc sen
there, In the higher OF the expression Is
nevertheless true that these politicians do WELD ire
mendOus influence OF their own and all this Is brought
to bear against every thing which looks IKE RnneAaOn
But among the more Intelligent and liberalminded OF
Brookyns people, also tlele are many VINO oppt1
union at present. They argue In the hrs place. hat the
Awe the material interests of the lesser just as
the anne XatOn of Wiamsburgh TO Brooklyn senSlDy
retarded the prosperity Of the city which surrendered us
individuality I'm the transaction. Again. they urge that IN
great aggregatons OF population under single govern
ment the people lose sight OF municipal AFFAIRS ana the
management Of politics passes more entirely into the
hands Of interruptions demagogues who manipulate
primaries, etc, in their own interest and expend the
peoples money reckessy and without resp0nsiDlhly
This they claim tossee In their own cry, IN %hci
there was "ring" until the aggregate OF p9pn-
aton became great that the people lost sight OF ar
fairs once subjected to the closest possible scrutiny They
two ctics Brooklyn could WELD little influence in joint
municipal government, by reason OF her mferorty IN
prevent accomplishment of the ends she would see
In making the union. They are generally confident that
before many years Brooklyn viii be the larger CITY Oh
the two IN point Of population and they desire 10 post
pone e1ation until their pTeponderanee 81 numbers
men and TO secure the measures needed ior their con-
! tinued prosperity.
ference in the percentage OF taxation in the two cities
they reply that it is founded on msconcepon OF the
facts While il is true that the average o taxation u
Brooklyn nearly double that OF NewYork the truth is
that no two wards of their city pay precisely at the same
rate. II all only question OF average ana wDe
the addition of Brookyns p wards TO NewYork would
reduce the general average below that now prevailing
in the Lesser city, would not otter the rate existing in
any OF those wards and hence would In no way reduce
the burden at present borne by them AS 10 the mhlnte
nance OF n separate city government. they claim that
| union would save but little IN TINS respect,
and other officers required after as before
| annexation, with the exception or hay"r
amount to very little in the general aggregate OF ex
| pense The police force could not be diminished Inc
cost OF education would be the same The lire depart
ment would admit of no reduction and 10 would be IN
nearly everything else, that the saving effected by
ceasng To maintain separate establishment wUud DC
| comparatively very small. Aud finally, the Brooklyn
people fully convinced that their Ring bad as II L. i
BY no means equal to Tammany in point Ofcorruption,
and they fear To undertake change which would re-
move them from the tolcrable exactons OF their own
! masters 10 the intoerablc ones OF Tammany
Such seem to be Brooklyns chief objections 70 n0n
dictated by the geographical situation and the commit
nifty OF interest existing between the two cities MheDe
they sufficient in themselves 20 justify persistent
refusal the part Of our sister city TO become ono WIN
not they are certainly strong enough 10 produce
disposition to 80 refuse.
! TIE BALTIMORE POIsONING CAsE-ANALlels