The record-union., 1893-12-25
THE GREAT METROPOLIS.
Questions Agitating the Minds of
New Workers.
War Upon Tammany and the Police
Authorities VIII be to
the Knife.

Especial Correspondence REcoRD-USIoN.l
NEW YORK, Dec 1.-THE intensity of
interest, feeling and discussion which
goes into the thought and efforts eX-
pended here upon subjects uppermost in
the public mind, insures results of an inn
portant, if not of a beneficiary character.
Local problems are being driven speed
ily to solution, and national questions are
influenced very evidently by contribu-
tions hence, but in this latter field there
is disclosed a serious difficulty in the
minds that think for New Workers. They
do not reveal a consciousness of the feel
ings of all parts of the nation.
To Californians in this city it is both
disappointing and aggravating to follow
the Hawaiian controversy as conducted
here and to find that Western interests,
wishes and arguments are utterly un-
needed. Whether the Western view is
right or wrong, or whether it should pre-
vail or not. may well be an open ques-
ton for the whole country to decide. But
Pacific Coast interests are those which
most materially will be affected by the
final settlement of the subject, and it is
indicative of a limited mental horizon
that Eastern debate has left out of con-
sideration that part of the country which
is most naturally and deeply concerned.
One OF the proud boasts of the metrOpo-
lis is that in politics, literature, art and
business, it has got beyond the local and
sectional stage and concentrates within
itself the feelings, ideas, wants and satis-
factions of the whole country. This
claim is often conceded New York: Last
summer Chicago banker, Lyman Gage,
during a conversation about the re-
ported purpose Of the Chicago bankers to
draw to that city the radii of national
finance and cut out New York, said
TO me:
"That never will be possible. New
York is in touch with every part of the
country, and as a natural medium be-
tween the United States and Europe it
always will hold the position of the
American financial center. Its business
in a large way cannot be local and must
be national and international"
Now, it is one thing to be free of the
limitations of ones own city or sec
ton, but quite another to be imbued with
the sensibilities of all sections. Doubtless
the day will come when anything that
moves the nerves Of CalifOrnlans will be
felt in New York, just as an affront or a
blessing to Algiers electrifies Paris, or a
movement in Zululand arouses London.
But as yet New York is not connected
with all parts Of the United States. Her
thinkers can rise on occasions above local
prejudices, but they cannot always un-
derstand Southern or Western feelings,
and are often Indifferent to sectional
wants and advantages.
In the Hawaiian discussion Pacific Coast
views have not been unknown, but they
have been ignored. Nobody seemed to
care what California, Oregon and Wash
ington wanted. Y ct one OF the most per-
sistent and distasteful arguments has
been about what the American policy"
should be- Seltishly unaffected writers
here have made it a beautiful moral ques-
ton and the American sentiment" has
been both Haunted and kicked. Yet no
one has stepped from this Americanism to
a truly national view. There was more
than enough disinterestedness; there was
far too much, and while no one can COM
plain that the views of the most inter-
ested section" do not prevail over all
other considerations, there is still wide
room for the charge that New York and
indeed eastern debate generally has been
distinctly not national, not broad enough
to take in and weigh all the elements of
the problem.
Meanwhile events seem capable of
solving the question without the aid of
the talk.
Next to the Hawaiian question it is
local subject which now engrosses atten-
ton. 1t is the faro-moving development
of the police agitation. The last week has
brought about some interesting changes
of position on the part of mensconcerned.
DR.. Parkhurst has said for publication
that he has data which will enable him,
when ready, to penetrate to the center of
the scandalOus irregularities, and he has
taken some newspaper man into his con-
fdence, so that it can be stated positively
that when he gives the word, sensational
exposures can be made.
AT present, however, we are chafing
the police officials and the friction is
opening big holes in the department. Su-
perintendent Byrnes has ceased to defend
his service and is inspiring newspaper
attacks on the Police Commissioners,
while he apparently preserves silence.
This is shrewd move on Byrnes' part,
for II the papers are not very cautious
they Will commit themselves unalterably
to the support of the Superintendent who
may not be found, on investigation, to be
unimpeachable. At any rate, he has
shifted the point of attack and suspicion
to the Board of Police Commissioners,
and on Friday the first crack was opened
on that board, and a peep into the mouth
of the opening gave view right into the
heart of Tammany
For the board has been practically a
Tammany district leader and next in
rank TO Croker. But he is an ambitious
man and aims at Croker's throne. He
was a car-driver few years ago and is
an able, strong -willed but unscrupulous
politician and dangerous rival for the
big boss" Commissioner Sheehan is
also district leader of Tammany, and
while more trusted by Croker and less
able, he has been the personal enemy but
staunch supporter of Martin and his
police policy. Commissioner McClaTe is
q Republican, but more unwavering
ally of j. j. Martin than ever MIR.
Sheehsn was. These three men run"
the department. They appointed police
men, promoted them sergeants for cause
it is said and named captains and in
sDectors. Byrnes, as Superintendent, ac-
cOrding TO inspired accounts, could use
these men under his command only for
purposes not interfering with those of the
board.
For years, however, there has been in
the Fourth Commissionership a little
man named John f. MacLean. who
looks exactly like Samuel j. Tilden.
MacLean is a scholarly man. highly edu-
Gated and extremely sharp-Ininded. He
Is an independent in politics appointed by
ex-Mayor Hewitt. He has been in quiet
opposition to the majority of three in the
board. has voted steadily but amusingly
nope on almost everything. by way
of comment or explanation of his votes he
was wont to make only ap occasional
ironical remark or ask an innocent but
excessively Irritating question.
On FRIDAY he came out and moved to
impeaeh Captain. formerly of the ten
derloin district, and he told me yester-
day that be meant to push things through
TO disclosure Of all that is good or bad in
the department. He has bided his time
and it is to come. The public is aroused
and investigation is certain. Parkhurst
will have his charges to make before
Grand Juries, and the Legislature win