New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-16
1LDERNlNLC ELOOrENCE.

That was a noble sentiment and most
beautifully expressed by the dcep-voiced
Wachner of the Board OF Aldermen, in the
discussion to which President Robcrts's reSolu-
tons on the insanity of Recorder Hackctt gave
rise II would prefer lie said, that the
Alderman should play 4 digniied part
"and let the braying of an ass go unheedcd
on the empty air. There had bcen-thcre
still arc-diffcrenccs between Recorder Hackett
and the fine array of statesmen who leslslate
for the city differences, so to speak, between
the bench and the bench show. The Board
Of Aldermen are confident that the power
of disposing of the streets and sidewalks
Of the city to needy peanut-vendcrs
aud deserving bootblacks resides in
that body. They have consequently, with
the generosity with which Tammany Hall
habitually distributes other peoples property
and privileges, granted various persons per-
mits to put show-windows, ncws-stands and
such like on the sidewalks. They did it in
such n large. loose way, with such reckless
probability, and in spite OF opposition
and protest and veto, that the Re-
corder, fearing lest shortly they would
begin pasturing cattle on the sidewalks and
pigs in the gutter under Aldermanic per-
mils. set the Grand jury on to the
Board to iudict them. Whcrcat the President
OF the Board remarks that Ilackeit must
be out of his head, and that he has received
100000 in eight years for services not
worth more than $4,000 ut the outside. In
view of which he moves the appointment Of
n commission de lRdt'co iHqWrcpdo, and that
the war be carried, rs it We're, into Africa.
On this hint spake Waehner, advising
that the Aldermen preserve their dignity and
''lct the braying of an ass go unheedcd on
1.-The empty air." 1t seems n great pity that
he couldn't have said it INTO a photograph,
so rs to have had the tone preserved. For
there is something very impressive in
Waehner's tone and manner. In State Con-
ventOn he frequently draws tears to the eyes
of rural delegates by the pathos with which
he moves the appointment OF committee OF
one from each judicial district on credentials.
He must have stirred the Board of Aldermen
to its deepest depths when he told them, i'll a
strain of eoquence made all the more impress
sivc by its manifest self-abncgation, to I" let
"thc braying of an ass go unhceded on the empty
"air.r Ii must have been worth at least an hour
Of Forrest or the elder Kean to have heard
NaelnclS uccp DlSS as He JllIcu tHe
"br-r-r-aying," and experienced the sensation
he must have produced as he sank into an
awe-inspring, almost breathlCss whisper, on
1.-The empty AIR." There is probably no states
man now engaged in active politics who
does these things in political meetings
so well as Alderman Waehner. He
can in some respects give that eminent
anti-Tammany statesman Mr.. Ira Shafer points.
II must have been an intellectual delight to
have heard this emulation.
The Board of Aldermen have not yet taken
final action. The resolutions were rejected
on Tuesday, but Immediately called up
for reconsideration and laid over So it
Il not yet decided what effect Alderman
Wachner's appeal to them to vote down the
resolution, and "let the braying of an ass go
"unheedcd on the empty air." will finally
have. And no doubt there are persons who
pretend to be friendly to him, who will point
ont that he has a sure thing; that under the cir
cumstances the Aldermen are obliged to "let the
" Drawing of an ass go UNDECIDED on the empty
carr the only question being-which ass ?
And it does look 50, truly. \ very shrewd
rs well as very eloquent man is Alderman