Morning journal and courier., 1890-07-07

From the New York saturday Rev

lErOm tne new 1OIk EaluLeaE hcfloh-t
In theory at least the government of
country should command the respect of the
psople. Where it fails TO do so something
more than dissatisfaction is sooner or later
inevitable. No community will consent to
be ruled indefinitely by men whom 1t de-
spises. least of all If it be formed of Q race
which, like our own, has asserted its hatred
of Incompetence and its resistance to bad
lawmakers throughout centuries of hist ory.
We might apply this to congress and the
legislature, and the thought that we oan
do go ia not inspiring, but 1t is rather our
purpose to come nearer home and to test the
municipality by the principle. How many
New York citizens are there who respect the
city government Outside Of self-serying
politicians it is very doubtful whether there
are any. The material of which officials and
legislators are made is not such ss to excite
admiration, aud men with an honest side TO
their characters cannot approve and still less
respect Office holders who, besides having
bad antecedents, exhibit their unfitness by
constant malfeasance in fulfilling the trust
imposed upon them.
La this respect New York holds an unenvi-
able unique position. Il has become q trite
saying that We live in the worst governed
city in the world, and in sober truth IL would
be difficult to iud in any other nation q town
where the people are called upon to submit
to the misgovernment that We have here.
We are busy just now trying to think what
big place the Empire city might become. Ii
would be more profitable to devise a scheme
10y which, instead of inviting foreign atten-
tion by mere imitation, We could show. the
world an example of honest municipal rule.
As we are we present instead an illustration
of what municipal government may be low
cred to when unworthy men are put in Office
and corruption is allowed to eat its way
through all the machinery of official life.
Thousands of our citizens are now in Paris.
Thers they are witnessing an example of
popular government more perfect than any
thing this country affords. There 10 more
public liberty there tnsn in New York, and
better protection of life and property. The
| police are active In the performance of their
duties, the laws are respected and the author
| titles are looked up to with confidence and e.
| teem. Many other thousands OF Americans
| are in London, where similar observations
are presented to them. 1t has become the
custom, since we cannot praise local meth
Il ods, to underrate those of others- But trav-
Il elers learn the falsity of such arguments. III
| we cannot praise our own system, we GER
tainly may not condemn those which excel II
| 80 far that any comparison becomes impossi.
bls We do nos raise ourselves by striving
to tear down others to our own level. The
| police of London are efficient to a degrees
that is not attempted here, and while saloon
keepers aud professional politicians of the
lowest type are selected to govern New York
only men of the highest integrity, and
sound business capacity and tried honesty
need hope to fiud place among the alder
men of London. If 1t were wanted to selec
fifty men from the whole commercial world
as representatives of all the highest qualities
of business life and character, enjoying de
servedly the fullest confidence of their fel
low citizens, aotuated by the strictest princi
} Piles of honor and probity, Is would be saf
to go no further than the body of Londo,
aldermen for ore moie.y, and the direction
J suspicion of taint upon the reputation of
London merchant would be enough TO shu
him out from either body. Euglishmen o
the most unsullied merit would be not I'M
willing to have as their representatives suei
aldermen as Sir Robers N. Fowler, Sir Regi
nsld Hanson, Sir Andrew Lusk, Sir ]. Whit
) taker Ellis, Sir Henry Aaron Isaaos, or AM
| of their collessues in Office. We are no
prepared to say that New York business
, men would care to be gauged by the alder
: men of this city, or indeed by any OF the OF
ficials of the municipality, although thel
> take more than risk Of the comparison be
, ing made when they sanction tbs election o.
!. such men. No Municipality outside of tho
, Uuited States would intrust the govern
, lment of the town to its least desirable cit
, izsns and that is what as rule New Yorl
7 has done for many years. But 1t is time |
} change were made. Il is time that New
York banker or merchant should not b
: ashamed to have his own respectability meas
ured by the quality of the men whom b.
elects to govern public affairs, and that tn
J people should remember that the reputation
! of the city in foreign esteem is very apt {,
l depend upon the character of its officials
: If We elect representatives who are unworth
+ of respect we have no right to suppose 'tha
3 others will find much in MS to admire.