New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-04
SELECTIONS FROM THE MALL
REMOVING THE MENAGERIE.


Interest the public and command certain measure OF
fair attention Up to the present time the press has
seemed disposed 10 look at but one side OF the con-
trOversy and to regard those who advocated the other
necessarily inspired by bad motives and as seeking
unworthy ends. II there be anything In the facts 70
warrant such imputatlOns, Of course they must pe
submitted TO- II there no inculpatOry facs' ana
the advocacy Of removal to the selected place
be in itself not inculpatOry, then submit that IL
the duty Of the press TO acknowledge the wrong ~
has done. and to atone for 1t so far as possible py
the fullest and frankest retracon. There Is no moro
important element In free institutions than the oe-
nuncaton by the press Of the wrongful acts OF puoAc
officers and OF public men To be effective, however,
denuncstion must be controlled by discrimination.
Error must be acknowledged, and no man should DC
ploried as base because In the honest discharge OF
his public duties lie may advocate course WHICH
challenges and meets with opposition.
In order to Judge of the merit, Of the Menagere
controversy the facts must first be understOou suo
may BE- briefly stated:
Flrst-The Menagerie is, and has been for many
years. located In the Park.
SccOnd-lts present location Is most undesirable
Thore is none more conspicuous. There Is none 'opo
graphically unit. The available area Is far 700
small and cannot be extended in any direction.
Thrd- IT Is tO be In the Park, 1t Is on all accounts
desiraO.3 that It's location should be changed
Fourth-Thc Legislature has twice passed bill pro-
yiding for the change the first bill failing for want OF
the Governors approval and the last bill becoming
Il law.
bill to remove the collection out Of the Park has
as many times failed to pass the Legislature
Fifth nder the law, the Park Board have pro-
cecdcd to prAidc "a new and the most dcsiiaDic s'c
possible for the collection.
There has never been any difference OF opinion as 10
the proprety OF moving the Mcna4'rie from It's pres
cnt site. Opinions have differed a. To ltH proper as
position. some indicating "a site outside OF the farA
altogether but that ii should be moved il pni!iDe.
The Park Comm, ,loncrs have had no difference OF
opinion this point. The pres, has never expressed
all opinion hostile to this view. The Mcnagcric certainly
should bc moved. But authority exists for re-
moving 1t from the Park. Therefore, under the Ia"
a, it stands il follows that If moved at all. II must
be to some site In the Park.
The question then arises, to what place III the larR
should the Mcnagcric be moved! The press has per
si.ently aeunlcd that the site contemplated IS what
is known as the North Meadow. Thl, Is error. AND
error too without the slightest fouidation 1t Has
never been PROPOSED by the oard or any commissioner
to fix the Site Oh w; is known Il, tile North MEADOW
The North MEADOW has never once been mentioned or
Thought Of By any member Of the Board locstion
for this purpose Inc contemplated and the Only
contemplated site ever considered except that KNOW"
a. the Eighthave. scJ Is the tract of land north OK
the reservoir and south IT the transverse road ana
corpIctcly separated from the North Meadow bv the
rad Indicated many feet under grade and across "h
IL is impossible 10 pa. ~ rolS"rihoie P"''"' Va
this tract Is at present and always has been hhhscn al"
far useless In location II l. ~ near a. P'>'"''
central In the Pari east and west a" We'll A. '"'h ai
south Attending thus the greatest possible ''N'''c''
and Accessibility ~ visitor, from section OF III"
city being approximately convenient and a'"S'lb' !"
all alike. The space contained In 1t l. more ''' Univ"
times the area now occupied iy tie IvIl"SirAl "a'''
Topograp .cally the site Suggested J. hN"'i '''"r"''
the lest within tic limit, f III" l'rh In tc h'"
Of incons pcuoIsnr>> far d. tie bH'lnfN ac on
cerncd. the Ste Offer, advantages that 'AIH"t
he found ,lsew here III the farh Inc alpi'"' "o'
would be under grade with reference to'c main drives
r. s,c not visible from the East Drive and from VI"
v.,, can be esily and effectively planted o =" NAV
visitors to the Park. either riding dfNihs OF ""'n'e'
would never know from observation In passing thh'
WAS in the Park at all. Thus. hy the removal o' inc
Mefagcrc a contemplated Il n"'' '"h>p" nous ''''
hc,u, mi tract LOW by IT d:sur'-i would be rc!aci
while a part n the Para little Used aih iittc ',c', "n
be utilized and i''cen"d her, "'aid In'r IT, , mn
served improved form ana III iih,n'n ~ ~, n. :,
crtdabi~ the city Of New I"ih tran i pNN,'e ~
most necessity 10 III" thrht' 81 F"i" , W." r
and cu,u, II. -: ,'nir>" 1t J. i"' 'r ~. H.
81 our II I, not the people ~ho ,-r ,hr 'Tia,' paths
and DRIVE. 81 course II l. ~" '' '''' 'a'' In,
PLAYER, nor liz. ",'r> "i n1-'i\ "hd al "i' - ~
mot part e.r", f. IT !. n. ..";:I; ava FIRTH ,
,l.re who ,>lr ii;> eirici. =" '"-c'N' ~ ~
poor IN. c~> Formulate 'laN'. IL",. however ',,'
rl-e and ere 'nitIra t" Goa" !I".'.''%. - i ,.y f..
be- hut out Lei Ii" Pirh pr",'" r-'r"a'i"i arms"
in-ni ENTERTAINMENT cdn'ati"n ;o all '''."> ANU
To-, .,.r and p:,., ..-i r IA lii ad n'N'r 'i'
i. a dc,-crni."n even Ia 'ri'',i i''h, ~ '.,' '
part IN the same, "hi'h o,h"! i'n!9n, "i ia" '"i"
az property dcv""'; 10 IL, who h.'e L." ht ,,
,l.,, il ai,old, The ri,*"t pi'.nr" a'd profit ana
in my judgment. II should never lr taken from ,nrn
That is Whole and sur-tii''" % "a ""., :.
- have belle, ID :" | have Ai"i. Mh'n ether
motive has been cnarrc! to my account II 1873 b'.
W charged falsely and without irtsoi mas n.,
no thought or pufpo,r III Tia, mater from brki'ihs
end otirr tina, /" ~'u!r 'hr n It ps'im aI,
lien Of :, question upon which have been 'Aiio
Tic plan le Nelasrlr wa. nrr dy p'grr
advanced In every step Of It's carer Ihric ma pen
10" ah"u, H. in.rr h." nrcm +" .onG r nn,r
the law patronage for any political fm uvh %ha
eSss sms t H"FS %"rs s n have H
and the contract for II must have been aWan 'ma
cucy or Republican machine ha- HAD any thing whatever
do with il fi"m he,tning to .iid 'pe'k aa ,n
S" commssioner O" "rs now more than I'VE y.a::
In Duration there has been advocated no WORK graz
political pressure than THIS hae hoen LARGELY "~inS
To my personal efforts that the plan has hr'n pn,mM
or machine ha, to my knowledge had the slightest
Interest in IT. fate. ,
have now MY ao the ana fact 1 nave the |
motives motives which have beer imputed 1" me. will
First The fact Of advocating the removal Of the
Menap-nc to the pac" Indicated Is surely consistent
lave been nc,uatcd. 10 you differ with me a, to
that. Mr.. Editor
Secondly You have not. does there ""i,t "a
sclntilla OF evidence that have been actiafcd DIV
any other motives. II there b" produce IT.
IL YOU do not challenge these assertions. as am
sure you cannot. ! put It 10 YOU frankly. ought not
the press to retract freely a, 1t has condemned
Permit me u say finally. that. beyond all doubt
nothing goes far ~ prevent reputable men from tax
Ing Office In day and generation az the indi'
criminate attacks in editorial columns that are so
likely 10 fall official whenever his course Is nor
in harmony with Editorial virwN The press !. the
sentinel. alert and always Watchful II, duty j.
plainly 10 challenge any ana every policy that i ad
verse 10 public good. The prss hi, never right
TO brand n mans good name. to imputc 70 him un,
worthy motives because his OF duty does not
roIncde with the opinions Of others. Assassination
NJ lie Is crime Assassination Of character and Npu
tntion f. da starlly NJ. G.. ID. BORDEN.
New. York, sept. Q, 1890
ANOTHER EFFECT OF AN EDUCATIONAL TEST.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.