The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-21

Why They Fail.
AS a sharp easterly breeze usually precedes
q storm, and clear full moon bCtolcnS
fair weather. there hns come to he expected
In this town in anticipation of every imHor-
tant municipal election a Citizens move
ment organized by men OF high business and
personal character abundant zeal, and littlo
political knowledge 1t usually crosses the
meridian of local observation In August, and
goes out in total eclipse on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in November.
The sincerity of purpose of those in charge,
the imposing length and character OF their
names and titles, the great public benefits
promised and the high homes raised. make
the failure Of these movements source of
regret, alike to those whose patriotic concern
has been touched to the extent OF partcipa-
tion and to those whose knowledge is
greater than their hopes. Yet the annual
Citizens movement invariably fails. Why?
Is it the fault Of the philosophical Citizens,
OF tho hated politicians, or of the voters of
New York themselves, Indifferent to disin-
terestcd efforts in their behalf?
No! The fact is due to the plain common
sense of the great body Of the voters.
up of some 800, 900 persons, and, rs respects
language, business pursuits, aspirations, ma
tivity, conventional usagcs, and social aims
and purposes. it IS the most diverse and
variegated municipal constituency in the
world. In no other community where uni
vcrsal suffrage prevails are the interests so
varied; and yet in none is tho problem Of
representation so easy. Tho voters OF the
city have all OF them. direct concern in
tho outcome of an election: the rich have
their property to protect, the poor their
rights to preserve The overwhelming body
OF the voters have found. from long ex-
perence, that the best results in local
administration are achieved by acting
through the medium of established polt-
ical parties; and that party is most popular
here which represents the views and wishes
of the largest number of voters. The Dem
oCratlc party is the favorite because it
stands for principles which the voters be-
lieve in and it affords the fullest measure OF
representation to all elements Of the popu-
lation. The Republican party, on the other
hand, represents largely the restrictive, ire
sponsible and proscriptive ideas of the
try districts which dominate its policy in
satisfactory government OF a great cosmo-
polltan community.
When the so-called Citizens organize, they
inaugurate at once class movement. The
class they andcavOr to represent is the
smallest. numerically. 1t is made up OF
dilettanti reformer5, gentlemen of leisure,
and demonstrativc but uniformed persons,
living in and about the fashionable region Of
Murray Hill. They are n hopeless minority,
and their political programme is paternal-
ism repugnant alike to thinkers and toilers.
They propose to adopt policies which the
people do not want, but which the CitiZcus
think they ought to want; to elect candi-
dates whom the people do not favor. but
whom the Citizens think they ought to
favor; to adopt measures the people do
not demand. though the Citizens think
they ought TO demand them; to initiate
changes the people care nothing about
though the Citizens think they should clamor
for them; to break down tho political organ
izations which serve the peoples wishes, but
which the Citizens think the people ought
not to consider; and finally, to set up n priv
LEGGED, patrician class to manage things for
every one else.
Thus, when few years ago tho difficult
ties between capital and labor had led to
strikes and lockouts bringing temporary
paralysis to trade and restitution TO labor,
the Citizens passed resolutions advocating
more parks, in which idle mechanics might
sit with their families, listening to the emusic
Of birds, enjoying the fragrance of flowers
and sheltered by the shade of tho foliage.
They became very indignant because their
proposition was not well received.
Al the most generous estimate there are
10000 voters in New York who share the
views of the Citizens in favor of class GOV
eminent on a nun-partisan and paternal
basis. On the other hand, there are some
100000 voters who believe in popular goy-
eminent through political parties; and who
wish to see every element of the population
evenly and adequately participating in the
making and enforcing of all laws designed
to affect every one alike.
That Is why Citizens movement never
takes root outside of few districts, why 1t
never extends to the whole city, and why 1t
ends always in defeat. By no process OF
arithmetic can minority of 10000, arrayed
in opposition to the wishes, purposes, and
convictions Of majority Of 100000 win
while universal suffrage endurcS.
Little success has ever attended any effort
to make stones float, curlis sink, or water
ilOw up hill II may be attempted, and it is
attempted frequently, By those whose eye
teeth have not made their appearance 1t
never succeeds; yet that circumstance does
not prevent others from trying. Citizens
minority movements in New York city are