New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-02
HE MIST BE FOUND.

The Aldermen, having in moment OF lnau-
vertence or something else bestowed upon some
namcess and mysterious person or persons the
privilege of ripping up the streets of New
York at pleasure for tho purpose of conierrng
vague but priceless benefits upon the com
munitv. have now resolved to reconsider their
generosity in case the Mayor will kindly hand
them back their little bill OF consent unsigned.
We hone that the Mayor will enter into me
spirit of the occasion and meet them halfway
or at somo other convenient point. The cry
is willing TO be blessed TO any extent, but 1t
is proud and desires to know the names OF
IFS bencfactors before receiving their good gifts.
The Aldermen supposed that all tho essential
propretics had been observed, or guaranteed,
when they gave the franchise; for they had
been led to think that Mr.. ]. Sergeant Cram
was asking for it, and that, of course, settled
the matter. But now II appears upon the
testimony of Mr. Cram himself, that this was
an error. lie has no interest whatsoever in the
scheme. he says, excepting the interest which
every intelligent citizen must feel in being
endowed with such incalculable advantages.
And therefore. since the franchise lacks the
seal of Mr. Grams approval, or at least is not
warranted by his personal and particular
excquatur, the Aldermen have wisely concluded
to institute search for the anonymous patriot
who is so solicitous TO bestow colossal boon
upon the metropolis
If therefore. tho Mayor is in a proper frame
of mind he will return their resolution to the
Aldermen, and thus facilitate the investga-
ton. A committee will be appointed with
power to look for tho cratic but generous
citizen who is working out municipal blessings
in the dark, and when he is found 81 expose
him in all his civic virtue 10 tho public gaze.
IL is a fascinating task. Think of H. Here
is a man whose name is very likely n household
word, who at this very moment perhaps. is
going in and out among us without any other
disguise than smile bland as TO diSarm
suspicion. whlo all the while he is dcyising
subtcrrancan felictieS, and with subtle magma
nimity causing others 10 receive tho credit.
We admire his dcxtcrous philanthropy, but
We cannot help him keep his secret. 1t is
contrary TO public policy 10 leave such a mys-
terry unrcveaed. The more bcneiicent the ser
vice the greater the obligation to discover the
authors identity. The community demands a
disclosure to the end that it may bestow a
suitable reward and thereby cause noble
example TO fructify
The secret is pretty certain to be discovered,
and the only rcgrcttabc circumstance of the
case is that numerous eminent citizens are
rising up 70 contradict the assertions and re-
Jet the disclaimers of one another. Everybody
whose name has been mentioned in connection
with the prospective boon has promptly de-
clared that somebody else was disseminating
inaccuracies. The motive OF these diversified
icbutrals is obvious and commendable. Nobody
is willing to be the object OF unmeritcd panc.
gyrics, and everybody who percclves that he is
exposed to that danger is more intent upon
saving his own honor than Sparing the feelings
of his fcllOw-citizcnS. But after all this is a
trivial incident. The main thing is 10 bring
our mysterious bcnefactor to light. 1t will bo
time enough, when he las been discovered, to
settle these minor issues Of veracity. We have
many agile and indefatigable sleuth -houndS in
town. They ought to take the trail before the
scent Gets cold