New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-03
ARE YOU READY, Mr.. MATORf

| ARE YOU READY, Mr.. MATORf
Unless Mayor Grant happens to fall sick, or
unless he prefers to take more time to think
il over. or unless he doubts whether he has
been sufficiently advised or unless he concludes
| 10 ma :ntain his stand in favor of a friendly
| committee or unless he decides that after all
it isn't really worth while to deny McCann's
charges or unless he and his counsel can de-
wise some other way of getting out of the me-
ccssity of an examination, he will be a witness
in his own defence before the Senate lnveSti-
eating Committee this morning. We are
anxious that Mr.. Grant should clearly appre-
bend what the city of New-IOrk expects of
him. As he remarked in the letter which he
| would probably give much to be able to
| recall as Mccain said he did give i'll 1884 for
the corruption of the Board OF Aldcmen-aS
he therein remarked, something is due TO his
exalted office. When he goes on the witness
stand, he should have that fact clearly in his
mind. 1t is due to his exalted Office that It's
incumbent should be able TO prove his inno-
cence of any charge affecting his integrity.
The Mayor of New-Yorll should be above sus-
picOn
Mr.. Grant should also have it in mind that
in the public estimation he has not acted since
the Mccain stories came ont as if he were
innocent. \ bad impression has been cree
atcd by his singular conduct. In
nocent men, when confronted with
accusations do not waste time bcraiing their
accuscr They know that the best way to
dispose of him is by disproving his charges.
That carries the consequence that he is per
jnrer and villain. Innocent men do not
IL md nd IN lN,
summoned before friendly one. On the CON
trary. they dare the sharpcSt scrutiny. Mr..
Grants course in these respects, 50 contrary
to that which a guitleSS person would natural
~ pursue, may have been due to mental dull
ness or to bad advice. But his testimony to-
day must be so clear, so convincing and 80
well supported as to overcome the impression
created by this ineXplicable behavior.
Mayor Grant must not fatter himself that
the public will be satisfied with his uncon-
frmed dcnialS. They would ordinarily be
sufficient, hut Mr.. Grant will surely realize
that he is embarrassed by the fact that he has
been compelled TO confess to the charge Of
having nlawfuly eXtorted over $4,000 from
the public while he was Sheriff of Newly Ork.
Now. a man who acknowledges that he charged
"cXtra compensation" for doing duties he was
sworn TO do for certain defined fees, and who
got such sum as $4,000 ont Of the people
on that extra compensation dodge must
expect to have rather a cold hearing when he
comes forward to deny other charges OF official
misconduct This charge he couldn't deny, for
the records told the story. He could only con
feSs and excuse. This Mr.. Grant did. He
said he charged the extra compensation. but
called it u g,auity and not an eAtorion.
Whether gratuity or cNtOrtiOn. it WAS big,
audacious grab and confessng that, he must
not blame the public if they ask him TO have
credible witnesses with him to-day who can
support the tale he i, going to tell.
The witnesses who will b. best received. we
NAV suggest. are Mrs. Mccain, Mrs. Croker
and Miss Flossic Croker. 1t won't do for the
Mayor to depend on his private secretary and
Mr. Gilroy. The people want to know if Mrs.
McCann told Mr.. Mccain what Mr.. Mccain
SAYS she did They want to know if Mrs.
Croker told Mrs. Mccain the same things.
They want TO know if Miss Fossc ever re-
ccived the money Mccain says she did, and
what she did with it. These are the witnesses
who will most interest the public, and unless
they tell a satisfactory story it will matter
little what the Mayor can get from his Tam
many friends and dependents.
We hope these considerations Will not be
lost on Mr. Grant. lie is on thin ice. and if
he allows the public to get angry and to stamp
its sovereign foot, there's no knowing what
may happen to him.