New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-18
CIGJLINCE STILL NEEDED.

|
The signs Of the times are full of encourage
mcnt for the friends of good government. In
| that fact. however. lies great danger 10 the
cause Just prior to the last November election
| It looked very much as if the rescue of the
State from the control of the Tammany Bosses
| who carrying things with such Il high
hand was Il hopeless undertaking. The com
| binaton had so fortified themselves in the large
cities and had so strengthened themselves at
all points by the legislation which their frardu-
lcntly gained maiortics in the Legislature had
enacted with that sole purpose that good cii-
zens were dishcartcned ut the prospect. The
mere fact that the Bosses who were known 10
be shrcwd and cunning political managers,
thoroughly conve~sant with the situation in the
State and acquainted with the mnutcst details
of the strength OF their party machine. had with
braZen audacity put in nomination for the
Court of Appeals the most unpopular man in
their party. riding rough shod over the protests
Of influential leaders and the opposition of
ajority Of the newspapers Of the party. OPP
Grated in some sense as n Encouragement in
stead of inspiring the confidence that naturally
flows from an opponents weakness. The Bosses
were confident Of Maynard's election. Tie Re
publcans feared it, and hardly dared hope for
his defeat
The result was Il surprise. Ever since il was
declared the Republicans astonshcd and clatcd
at finding themselves in unexpected possession
of both branches of the Legislature. have been
applying themselves 10 the consideration Of
measures and policies for the correction Of the
mischicfs which the two years license of the
Bosses has fastened on the State and on this
city, Republican leaders who have the conf
dcncc Of the party have been reused 10 a sense
Of the great responsibility which the results OF
the November election have placed upon the or
ganization and the necessity for such wise ana
prudent action OF the part OF the Legislature as
will Justify the confidence Of the people. Not
in many years has this sense Of responsibility
been so widely felt and so profound. The dis
position to subordinate individual ambitions
and sink personal considerations for The wei
fare Of the party and the public good has never
been more marked or general. The clation OF
victory. instead Of provoking Il reckless rush Of
sclfseckcrs for the spoils or n flood OF schemes
for partisan advantage and the perpetuaton Of
power as is too often the case, has settled into
the serious and thoughtful disposition which
properly BELTS the entrance Of q great party
upon a task Of the utmost consequence to itself
and to the State. In the uttcranccs OF all the
leaders and all the newspapers Of the party the
need Of caution blended with firmncss ana
courage has been urged. The Tribune has
pointed out the lines which reform legisla-
ton is impcrativcly demanded. 1t claims no
copyright or patent on its suggestions. nor VIII
il assume the sole or exclusive credit for them
If adopted Their chief merit Is that they ON
body what all Republicans and most OF their /
allies in the recent election are agreed upon and
unite in.
The present prospect is that the Legislature
which meets next month will give more than !
usual heed TO the counsels Of DISTINGUISHED lead !
ers Of thought and opinion. and will not in this ,
regard disappoint public expectation. But it
must be borne in mind. as already said. that In |
the signs of the times which so full Of on
coura cement there are also danger signals. The !
Bosses have been unusually quiet since election.
Some Of them have come TO grief TO an extent !
undrcamcd Of All Of them have suffered dis
appointment and wear Il subducd aspect. 1t
must not be for n moment thought, however,
that they are actually snbdncl. or that they or
any OF them contemplate retiring from politics
or giving up the fl glt for power. Their strength
has been shaken but not broken. The fight
against them is still on. 1t always will be. The
opponents Of disagreement and Boss rule can
never afford to lay down their arms or 90 off
luty. The Bosses may be momcntary discom-
dtcd bnt they soon rally. They are advcn-
Iurous audacious. desperate. What is more,
they are smooth. persuasive. plausible; have
rccupcrativc powers and ample re-
sources. There is 10 less need for constant
vigilance now that ShcelIan has been ''downe1"
II Buffalo. Mclaughlin in Brooklyn. Hill and
Murphy in The State, and the NcwYork Boss
las been drawn into thrcc-coumn interview
n his own defence.
From this time forward. at least, until the
legislature has done it's refornatoIy work and
let no good citizen relax his vigilance
II permit his interest 10 flag in the great work
t,..I