New-York tribune., 1883-06-03
BROOKLYNrS HOME RULE A BAR.

NEW-YORK MUST FIRST SEEK REGENERATION--
VIEWS OF S. b. CHITTENDEN.
To The Editor Of The TrtbWne
SIR: have time for but few words, and 10
seems, for other reasons which shall presently ap.
pear, hardly worth while for me to reply to Jour
questions seriatim. I was an advocate for the
union Of the two cities more than ten years ago,
before the towers of the Bridge wero finished.
still confidently believe that New-York and Brook
lyn are destined to be one city and am free tv say
that for a name personally like Brooklyn much
the best. There is, In my judgment at least, moro
of the stun In Brooklyn which the great mctrop-
oils of the future needs for constant than the
average intelligent New-Yorker Tor the average
editorl has ever dreamed Of II this he literally
true the Bridge will assist TO make the fact appar
ent in duo time.
The great cities of the world without exception
have become great by bringing In adjacent popula-
tiops, good and bad. 1t is improbable that any
such city has had the good luck to sweep INTO
its embrace at one swoop as much sound material
as Brooklyn now contains. Our twenty miles of
deep water frontage, 800 miles Of paved and
lighted Streets 6000 900 uncommonly homogeneous
present population fine parks. broad avenues touch
ing the sea, with broad enough area Of high un
improved land soplng seaward to accommodate
healthful, pleasant and inexpensive homes for two
millions moru-a within forty minutes travel of tho
New-York post-office-foreshadow aud predict tho
end Unless the boasted metropolis Of the fnture
depend upon the palaces hotels and millions OF
her railroad builders and manipulators OF stocks,
dispensing at the same time with the citizenship Of
possible majority of her smart active Industrious
and well-to-do people, and still maintain the pres
tge and power which her unauestoned birth
right, the union OF the TWO cities must come.
Sixty years ego Brooklyn might have been
bought up cheap by Now-York with ease and In
profit. About that time Drookyn was
hamlet of ancient landholders and sailors with
sprnkling of hard-working Yankees having signs
up in New York;. all of whom were averse and un-
accustomed to paying taxes. In spite Of limited
means aud very big house, we have lately ac-
quired the virtue and habit of tax paying and have
taxed ourselves to build the major part of the great
est work of human hands. In doing this some
claim. without due reserve, that Brooklyn only
exhibits the aninus which Is in her blood.
The active men whose homes are here. for tho
most part have close business relations with New
York. We cannot boast OF comparative wealth.
but the wealth have We got over there on busi-
ness principles" Just here Is the present bar to
union. Business principles have taken hold OF
our municipal matters, and our great city Is In
double sense lust now set on a hill No intelligent
and honest person will deny that we have now an
honest watcnfui and efficient government. II is
human, necessarily imperfect, heavily handicapped
by mistakes-and worse-of other times but it Is
faithful and true. and the people know 1t. The
government Is strong with the people, But the
politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike. say
that it Cannot stand This class Cf persons Is
usually right in such matters and may be SO in
this case. But government Oh business principles
still exists in Brooklyn, and the end is not yet
While it exists, there is a great chasm between tho
two cities which the genius of Roeblng has not yee
bridged. Brooklyn must backside or New-fork
must repent before the merry marriage bells OF tho
towns shall ring! -
OF course from this point Of view, all present
activities and arguments for union are baseess and
premature We must first have tried and proved
syste for honest aud efficient municipal admins.
tration equal to the requirements OF the grandest
CITY of the whole world. This is fundamental and
of vast import not only to New York and Brooklyn
but to the Nation. Our cities are rapidly gaming
prodipious power. If they au to be governed by
ward politics some of the city boys OF our time may
ye TO see roug times with loaded muskets at street
corners and in all public places.
The man who shall devise and put in force
simple system powerful enough for the good govern
Iuent of cities on honest business principles, with
due regard to those who pay taxes and those who
don't pay taxes, Will supply IN affirmative answer
to nine or ten Of your questions.
BrookIyn June q 1888. S. b. CHIrTENDEN.