The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
! 1t VIII BE For Brooklyn's Advantage.

: Nt Will 1te rOr ErOORlyn'e AuVanCaRe.
We are sorry to see that the Brooklyn Ctt-
ven looks uniavorably on the plan for the
consolidation of the communities about this
port, expressing its opinion on the subject
In this decided way
Brooklyn regardless OF party, is opposed TO losing
her Identity and being merGed into New York No hu.
IMAM being here has ask cd for such consod tiOn and
nobody, so far hoard from wants It, Moreover this
city Is Overwhelmingly Democratic in sentiment. and
Tho majority cannot look with favor upon any scheme
FOR artificial enlargement without abandoning Demo
cratic principles GUvrruman mt adequate to the needs
of a community must with the community with
equal step Brooklyn prefers she ought to- normal
development with a municipal Government growing
normally with II. New York has all she attend
IN tho next twenty in filing up the chnks in her
territory. Brooklyn is in the position and neither
desires to compcate tho problem by reckless artificial
enlargement OF territory
If the people of Brooklyn do not desire the
consolidation, it Is because they do not yet
comprehend it's true purpose and the prin-
eiples upon which ii would be arranged.
The same is true Of tho Citizen, rs the re-
marks above quoted show very clearly.
In the first place, the consolidation is not
proposed with the vain object OF making n
big city merely Whether the towns gath
cred around the port of New York are differ
HuL III udluo anu SeJdIdlo Ill JuTlSulC- |
ton. or whether they are brought |
together and their population counted |
as one town, they really constitute single |
community. Naturally they are one, and |
their division is purely artificial. Nowhere |
else in the world is there population Of
three millions which is more homogeneous
and In closer sympathy, social, political and
material. Each part gains by the develop
ment OF every other. There is no conflict Of
Interests which is represented by the exist
Ing conflict Of jurisdiction. They ro a
single family occupying one great home
stead, which together they are working to
develop. The prosperity OF Manhattan
Island implies the prosperity of Brooklyn
and Jersey City, and their progress Is as
valuable to New York as it Is to themselves.
The motive for consolidation is the COM
mon advantage only. Otherwise there
would be nothing In the project worthy OF
the consideration Of sensible men. II it was
not desirable for Brooklyn, it would not be
desirable for New York; and there Is neither
less nor greater. SO far as concerns the
factors in the making up OF tho
9olidified community. They are all equals,
and the project Is merely to break down the
barriers which, to the injury Of all, keep
psunder those whom GOD has Joined to-
gether. 1t Is to give legal effect to a union
already compacted by nature and for the
practical purpose OF lessening the complex
ity and consequent waste OF the machinery
Of government.
Now. consolidation will do this, and when
the people OF Brooklyn so understand its
purpose. instead Of not wanting it every
sensible citizen will be as eager for it as Mr..
GREEN and Mr.. STRANAHAN themselves, for
1t can work no change 80 far as concerns the ,
political sentiment Of the town. We cannot {
what the Citizen means by say |
Ing that the unihcation of the great commu- I
nifty would involyethe abandonment Of Dem 7
ocratio principles. 1t would be- in strict ac- ,
cordance with Democratic principles by :
bringing together those who are kept sep ,
arate In spite OF their intrinsic unity, and =
whose political force and material advance
mont are weakened and hindered by the e
division. 1t would strengthen the great (
cause OF home rule by consolidating com I
powerful enough in numbers to :
command the right. 6
1t ls true that government must grow q
with the needs OF the community; but that Y
is the prime argument In favor OF consolida- s
tlou' "hoh VIC population ABOUT this port I
was comparatively small and scattered. |
with means OF communication between I
the different settlements relatively slow
and difficult separate municipal Gov I
ernments were necessary. But We have {
outgrowR that need since new and bet {
ter methods of transit have come into use.
The furthest limits Of the Greater Now
York are nearer together to-day and In {
closer relations than the Inhabitants of the
upper and lower wards of Manhattan Island
we're generation ago. There is more unity
Of interest between them, and they are more
familiar with each other. Yet. even as they
are now, the means Of communication are
and their full development re- I
quires harmony and consistency OF munich I
pal administration. {
Practically, consolidation would work I
DhNnGAs IN the municipal goysrRlsRtR Of 1