New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-07
prRIIC SPIRIT.

"a publc-spirited man-nOW oi'oh W.
hear the phrase, how seldom we meet WIN
nerson whom it really fits. Artemus Wafd
was willing to sacrifice all his wife's relations
rather than sec the war for the integrity OF the
Union proye ! failure. The Ward sort OF
m,blic spirit is popular to a lamentable extent
MANY persons in every large community such
os this are enthusiastic for civic progress
provided they are not to be calico upon W
help defray the necessary expenses. AZ MS
recent address on the two hundred and hItieth
birthday of SouthOld, Long Islands oidest
town. DIR. Storrs discOursed on pubic spirit
with characteristic force AMI eloqnence. he
da6ned II TO be that temper which looks first
NJ the commonwealth and then at the local or
personal interest" This order-s"ch IS inc
prevailing selshness of the human race-'oo
often is reversed We look first at the per-
sonal. then at the local. and last OF all, NJ the
commonwealth interest 1t not 10 DO
wondered at, therefore, that the solution OF
the momentOus question OF the government OF
cities advances SO slowly.
Expreedcnt White of Cornell day or
two ago read paper before the Social SCI
ence Association in which was outlined an
admirable plan for improving the mnnicipal
governments of the United States. A recent
writer in lIarpcr's Magazine devoted an
article to maintaining the proposition that
birmingham. England was the best governed
city in the world Mr. Whites contention Is
Of the same kind, hut broader. lie holds
that. as rule, municipal development III the
Old World is better than that in the New
Conceding that this indictment OF our ciVihza-
ton is a true hill, what is the explanation
Mr.. White argues that We fall behind the
Old World in the vital particular in question
because we are endcavOring to govern our
cities upon theory which has never been
found to work practically in any part OF tho
word-the theory being that the city is p"-
htical body rather Than non-polltlcal cor
marathon. This is a sound view, bnf the fact
remains that the existing theory would prob
ably work satisfactorily it our citizens. as
rule. were public spirited. If they faithfully
attended to their political duties. Certainly
little can be accomplished for the general well
fare unless u change Of heart prcccdcS a change
of theory Not many years ago cOmmis-
sion. consisting Of Il number OF the foremost
citizens of this State with William VI. Evarts
at its head, was appointed TO prepare a plan
the commission submitted its report II was
a most able document. If it had been adopt
ed. and the suggestions Of the commission had
taken shape in the necessary laws ana con-
stitutiopal amendment, Ncw-York and the
other cities of the state would have had the
benefit u a thoroughly enlightened theory OF
municipal government. corresponding. it is in
tcresting to note in one Of its main features To
that which Mr. White advocated before the
Social Science Association. But nothing ever
came of the commissions work. Apparent!
there was not public spirit enough in the state
to put life into it. 1t was fruitlcss not be-
cause of popular opposition. but rather OF pop
ular indifference. Men read tho report AL
mitted that the changes which were recon-
mended would produce radical and sorcly need
cd reforms in tho administration OF city al
fairs, and then becoming absorbed in their
own vocations, they dismissed tho subject
from their mind.
The prime need Of our timc then would
seem to be- not the substitution OF an improved
theory Of municipal government for tho one
now in use. but 3 general qnickcning OF pub
lie spirit. Here and there throughout IN"
country organizations have sprung up OF lat"
wears having for their object to enforce the
claims of public dirty upon the citizen t"
cause him TO realize that he cannot Afford
to nsc one of his own phra>eS-to keep out
of politics This metr, polls boasts Of num-
Der Of these bcnciiccnt agencies. Albany's
"Commttee Of Thirtc"n' has acquired more
than local reputation for unscltish service in
behalf of the general veal Of tho capital, and
in every prominent city in the interior there
is to Ike found u reform club having similar
patriotic purpose. All these bodies in the last
analysis arc societies for the promotion Of
public spirit, and sooner Or later they must
produce the necessary general revival. And
when that takes place the problem of tho gov
eminent Of cities will readily be solved.