New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-26
TIE MAYORS OPPORTUNITY.

Mayor Grant is looking forward TO sec
ond term with hope, but not with absolute
confidence He is aware that the reputation
for disinterestedness public spirit, and gem
eral capacity for affairs with which the com
munity had endowed him has seriously de-
clined. Evidences of his perverseness, bad
Judgment and narrow devotion to his own
interests, as he has seen them reflected III
the Tammany mirror, have been pressed upon
public attention. Many of his appointments
have been indefensible, and some OF them
have been groteSque. On several occasions
he has shown himself in the light of bigoted
partisan. The revelations of his acts and
methods as Sheriff, and, above all, the com
mon belief that in giving $4,000 to his god
child he was really sharing the profits OF a
rich office with Mr. Croker, have irritated ana
disguised a very large number OF voters
Conscious of these facts and OF the ardent
desire of a great part of the people TO shiit
the burden of Tammany government from the
city's back, the Mayor is deeply solicltous 10
strengthen his support at every point.
This desire is legitimate but the Mayor is
not unlikely to adopt illegitimate methods OF
attaining il. II is the policy Of the organiza-
ton upon which he depends for his political
existence and preferment to recruit ltSen by
appeals to the vicious, the selfish, the lgno-
rant, and the brutal elements i'll society II
seeks TO solidify the saloons and the Sums III
ifs support, and to win disgIaceful popular
ity by enabling as many persons as poSSlDIe
10 live easily at the expense OF the city. II
the MAYOR follows the natural instincts OF the
Tammany Society, it is through the assiduouS
application of such devices as these that ne
will endeavor to keep himself intrenchcd at
the City Hail. But, whatever may have oc-
Cured in the past to suggest the wisdom OF
such tactics. we do not believe that this is a
| good wear to employ them. We believe that
| majority of the voters Of New-York are
tired of Tammany men and methods, and that
! thew are about ready 10 express themselves
to that effect at the polls.
There is, however, a way in which the peo-
ple of this city would be delighted to sec the
Mayor promoting his ambition and increasing
the number of his friends lie has chance
at this moment to perform an oflclal ac'
which would be as greatly to his credit as Il
the advantage of the community. In con
seauonce Of the lamentable death OF Com
missioner Howe it becomes Mayor Grant
privilege and duty to fill vacancy III the
Aqueduct Board. He can choose for this
place of trust a politician of small intelh
gence, low associations and criminal tenden
cies. or citizen like him Of whom we have
suddenly been bereft-sagacious broad mind
ed, patient, steadfast incorruptible. we arr
not without hope that the Mayor has deter
mined to take Mr. Howe as his model II
choosing Mr. Howe's successor. Though tn
Aqueduct is practically finished, work of grea
magnitude and importance still remains to b.
done under the supervision of the Aqueduc
Commissioners. NOmentous problems relat
ing TO dams and storage reservoirs are yet T.
be solved and in the maintenance Of the vas
property already acquired, in the reduction o
the departments forces and the establish
ment of its affairs upon permanent basis
high intelligence and perfect integrity ar
indispensable. The Mayor will win approba
ton where he most needs it if he honestl.
endeavors to make good deplorabe loss.