New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-24

| the svo.d ~ IN n National arena and anticipated
| the msrtial music of victory; but they knew
that he had only blurted ont their secret
Thoughts and they heartily approved OF the IDEA
of making the Brooklyn municipal election the
opening contest in the Presidential campaign.
They had reasoned it out in this way: the
Democrats must carry this State in order to
elect the next Presidents they must have an
old fashioned majority in Kings County III
order TO do that and to be sure of that major
ity they must have Mayor who will serve the
interests of the party and make use of the pub
lie patronage to that end That is the sense in
which the party managers and their candidate
regard this election as an incident OF the next
National campaign.
There is, however, higher level than that OF
debased partisanship from which this local con-
test may be viewed as an event OF National sig
nifcance. Every one who has seriously re-
hected upon the subject knows that the weak
est point in the American system is the govern
ment of cities The National debt has been
reduced with marvellous rapidity; the depart
ments Of Federal administration, such as the
customs and the post-Ofiice, are efficiently ana
economically conducted; the States are grad
ualy paying off their Indebtedness ;Eeverywhere
save in the cities Americans know how to gov
ern wisely and well This is the one respect III
which their system has not been conspicuously
successful. The aggregate of municipal indebt-
eduess is simnly appalling, and there are few
signs of retrenchment and economical admins
tration. There are few, if any, large cities In
this country which can truthfully be SAID TO DE
thoroughly well governed; nor is it difhcnlt 10
understand why this Is so. In the cities there
are large masses of imported ignorance, when
are easily manipulated; the taxpayers system
atically neglect their own interests and allow
politicians to manage the municipal depart
ments so rs TO give employment to their follow
ers and to promote the ends of party; and so,
with frequent scandals and with unending ex-
trayagance and neniciency, the municipalities
stapper along. ovorburdcned with debt and par
olyzed in their civic action. The gravity OF this
problem of the government of largccities is rec
ognized throughout the United States Brook
lyn at the present time holds conspicuous
position as a city which is striving to work ont
its own salvation by the efforts of its own citi-
zens The experiment which has been max
ing there Is watched with interest by
right-minded citizens of other cities. Tho re-
BROOKLYN a deliverance from the evils Of par
tisanship in local administration, but 1t will give
a powerful impulse to the cause of municipal
reform throughout the country.
Ii is fortunate that the issue in the Brooklyn
election is 50 sharply drawn that the dullest
citizen can understand il. Mr. Hendrix does
not stand for any principle of municipal re-
form. He has been nominated because Mr..
MCLAUGHLIN considered it necessary to have "a
Young nobody" without experience or qualiii-
cations for the Office. He is supported by the
party managers because they know that they
can use him for their own purposes in securing
control OF the municipal patronage and in open
ing the way for large Democratic majority IN
the Presidential election. On the other hand,
Mayor Low stands for the principle OF respon-
sible home rule, for non partisan appointments,
for n bnSinesS-like administration of the city's
affairs without reference to partisan needs or
advantages, for the highest purcst and most
practical idea, Of municipal reform. Tho cti-
Gems of Brooklyn are under the strongest obi
cations. not only to themselves but 20 the entire
country to make wise, patriotic and emphatic
choice between these candidates. They can do
the Nation a most useful service by rc-electing
Mayor Low by large majority.