New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-01
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE DOOMED.

THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE DOOMED
The Brooklyn Bridge is so graceful, airy
and beautiful structure, has cost so much
money, and makes withal so pleasing q feature
in the outlook from THE TRIBUNE Office WIN
dows that we are quite free to say we snaii
part from it with reluctance. In saying thls
we are very we'll aware that we put IN peril
The TRIBUNE Building and the lives OF all It's
occupants, even though we hasten 10 auu 'Ia'
we do not question the stern sense Oh Jus'ioo
which demands that it be blown up with dyha-
mite rather than formally opened on inc
Queens birthday. In the present state OIL leei-
ing against England, among the statesmen
from Ireland who have kindly consented 10
take charge of affairs in this country pending
the result of their efforts to brighten the
British Government into granting the inde-
pendence of their native land, the deterniha-
ton of the bridge trustees to celebrate the
Queens birthday in the manner indicated could
only have been reached through set purpose
to give offence to our Irish fellow-citizens and
rulers. It will of course be claimed that
the trustees In fixing the date did not
consider the question whether it was the birth
day of Queen Victoria or John Kelly, or any
member of the Board Of Aldermen OF the two
cities And it will no doubt be said also that
it would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to
fix upon a day that did not commemorate
something or other unpleasant for Ireland, I'M
less, indeed, they should keep the bridge closed
until next st. Patrick's Day. But this will not
do. 1t has been decided by the dynamite
patriots that the selection of this date Is an
insult to them and they will not abide it,
The trustees will not change the date, con-
sequently the Bridge goes up. The whole
question was discussed on Sunday by the Cen
trail Labor Union in the broad comprehensive,
philosophc and statesmanike manner in which
the Sunday debates of that useful organization
are commonly carried on. The conclusion
reached was that the trustees should be allowed
one more chance to save the Bridge; that com
mittee should be appointed to wait upon them
once moro and ask thom to change the date.
The tone of the debate leaves 1t an easy infer
ence that if the request is not complied with
the Bridge is doomed. The precise manner in
which it shall be done is matter OF detail which
can be arranged hereafter but it seems tous that
the proper persons to touch off the dynamite
would be O'Donovan Rosa for the New York
and Congressman William L. Robinson for the
Brooklyn side. The two towers should, OF
course be exploded simultaneously, and at a
time when the largest number of people were
congregated on the structure itself. A great
many people would be killed on either side by
the explosions, and the chances are that hun
dreds would be drowned when the Bridge fell
This would aid the cause of Irish independ-
ence by sending thrill of alarm through
| Great Britain, under the influence of which Par
| lament would Immediately recognize the Irish
Republic. incidentally it would promote the
| interests of the laboring men represented in
the Central Union. The "oppressors of labor
would no doubt take immediate steps toward q
general increase of wages.
The use of dynamite as civilizer, as pro-
moter of free institutions, as a weapon to be
| used by labor against capital and by the
down-trodden against the oppressor, Is yet IN
| its infancy. We shall miss the Bridge, of
course. rs has been said, but what is little
| thing like that compared with what we shall
gain in position and dignity by blowing it upf
| II would be great lesson to all the efiete
| despotisms of the Old World besides having a
tendency to molify the sensitive feelings Of
| our Irish fellow citizens.