New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-24
THE QUESTION OF DUTY.


political campaign, the voice of duty should be
heard. 1t is by all admitted that the govern
ment of this city is not what it should be-
There are three candid ,tes for Mayor. The
supporters of each declare. and the three candl-
dates declare, that reform in city government
isl Crying neces >ity. Mr.. George says 1t can
be secured by electing him, man who would
BE- without the support OF any party IN the
| Board of Aldermen, in other branches OF the
| city gOVernment, or in the Stats ;-oracticaily,
| by entrusting the executive offices of this great
| city to body of wOrkngmen VINO have shown
| Indifference TO the rights OF other working
| men, and ignorance of the laws which they
| have disregardea and the machinery of govern
| llent which they try to seize. That such a
body of men would rightly and wisely guide
Nj. George himself man who has shown in
his lett tets and speeches slngul TT msintorma-
ton about the powers an duties of different
branches OF the city government, and who is
entirely without experience in any pablo
tIust. is not to be expected. Ienorantly they
wonld demand from MIN the widest thing.
Either he would ignOrintlv consent. and
plunge into a ceaseless wrangle with every
other branch of govern nent, involving all
interests in peril or he wOuld see the folly OF
such demands, resist his supporters and come
to stand alone and helpless in place for which
he has no training or known qualifications
while his ma idened followers raise the red hag
of civil disorder.
Mr.. Hewitt saws that evil can be averted only
by his election. But tn 1t is setting the worst
gangs of politicians in the city to reform the
government which they have made what ii Is
For Mr. Hewitt is the one man upon whom
these warning gangs OF plundcrers have been
able to unite. All of the thak they can get
something out Of him, and there is not bit of
doubt thai, If he were elected as the can lidate
of the party they conrol, HIS we ikness would
make him their instrument OF the city
government he knows little, bat of questions
pending in Congress m 1ch. Yet he has never
been able to carr his opposition to the worst
measures Of his party in Congress to the point
of successful resistance. There he has been
the voting instrument Of the MOrrisOns and
the Warmers, because he has helped to place
their candid tie for Speaker in the chair, and to
give them the organic itiOn Of committees; in
The city government he would be the instru-
ment of the men who make the Democratic
party what it ia in this disgraced, plundered
and outraged city.
his election w,ull bring a real and trae re-
form. 1t is the duty of every voter, duty
which he owes to other citizens, tn his country,
md to those who To come after him, to
consider seriously whether this is not true.
Here is a man who has ALREADY shown that he
does know something ab ,ut the method, and
needs of government in this city. for the larger
powers which ii Mayor will have are derived
f,.o ha I'D in ha I.pC Slt
under Mr. Roosevelts leadership. TIE good
citizens of both parties " no gave him deserved
honor, in no stinted measure. FIR thos, serv ic,S
in laying the foundation of genuine reform,
cannot fail to realize that he is of all men
peculiarly qualified to build upon the foundation
thus laid The spirit and determination to
reform afflirs, whether it hnrts or helps
party, he has shown already by his course in
the Legislature. rhe practical vision, and |
the faculty of adapting means to ends, without
which no work of reform can be made success
ful, he displayed in pushing that measure to
success in spite of great opposition. Behind |
him there will be an organized party, represent |
ing, as all intelligent citizens are aware,
large share of the most intelligent and sub
stantial citizens of New-York, an having also
control IN the State Legislature. La both
parties Shere mon who are unworthy. But
It is fact perfectly Well known that, as Mr..
X ,osevelt was supported in Carrying wise
measure of reform in the Legislature BY an
majority of his party so he has
been supported for the nomination, and wOnd
be supported in carrying out reform rs Mayor
by the large majority of his party. AMI il the
work of reform should disclose the need Of
changes in the laws under such Mayor, snp-
ported by such party, there Won be reason
TO believe that needed changes could be
made. Is ii possible for fair minded
,itz ms, who seriously consider their duty 70
he city, to doubt under which of the three
,andid ties practical reform OF the city govern
nent would be most likely to be attained?