New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-01

TIE QUESTION FOR GOOD CITIZENS.
A month ago, with the stencil OF recent ex-
posures of municipal corruption fresh In the
nostrils, there was scarcely reputable bust
ness man in this city who would not have felt
insulted if told that he would support the
County Democracy and Tammany candidate
for Mayor. Now some men of that stamp are
supporting Mr.. Hcw lit, and their excuse is
that the men who have robbed New-York so
long must be helped, in order to defeat Mr..
George. True Mr.. Hewitt's meeting of pre-
tended business men WAS part failure and part
sham, but, though substantial citizens did not
materialize on that occasion, there are enough
of such citizens who do st II favor the candI-
date OF the rings to make the election of the
reformer Roosevelt sure and overwhelming II
they would at once cast their inf lence for him.
Great cities are usually robbed and shame
fully msgoverned. That is not because the
voters are ignorant, or dishonest, or Indifferent
10 the public welfare. 1t is mainly because
the best eli Zrns of great cities rarely d" their
own duty. Some are too selfish to give time
from their money making tn the public safety.
Some snifer blind par,isanship to make them
the tools of the basest public robbers. Others
are 50 wise in their own conceit that they can
never be got 10 agree with the rest OF the good
citizens about the way to get reforms, aud 50
they help the knaves every time As IL rule, II
the taxpayers of great city are plundeied, 1t
is because they deserve to be plundered.
Now and then the opportunity comes TO clean
out the rings and get honest government. The
men who miss that chance when it comes are the
men who cause ring rule and bad government
Such an OPP Ortunity is now at hand, and the
decent citizens of NewYork have but lately
lad their memory sharpened by the xposures of
Squire and Flynn, Thompson and Hedden, and
the indictment of a score of Aldermen. If they
cannot get their votes together for a capable
and true reform candidate, when These events
are fresh in mind and such a candidate has
been nominated, they may expect to be plum
dered without mercy for yeas to come. Not
one of them can put the blame on the poitl-
clans this time. Even the Democratic plum
derers have put up IL IN IN OF honorable repuia-
ton, as they did when they nominated Mr..
Esdon, but one whom they would influence
more efiectually. The Republicans have nomi
mated the man of all others who mas done most
practical work for reform of city government,
and the political workers are resolved that
evety voter they can Influence shall be brought
out this year to support Roosevelt. Their
actions show a determination to prove that
they are both competent and worthy to conduct
the organization; and that they can poll "a
mighty vote when they try the Democrats well
know The one thing in doubt is what the
brown stone front people" will do. If they
stay at home. or vote the wrong way, the best
efforts of the political managers who support
Mr.. Roosevelt may be thwarted. 1t is never of
any use to put up worthy candidate if the
best citizens then take 1t into their heads To
vote for the candidate who is less worthy. If
the good citizens of New York cannot get their
votes together in force enough to cleo, Mr..
Roosevelt this year, they deserve the robbery
at the hands of the rings which they will
surely suffer.