The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-29

Two former Mayors OF New York have,
during tho present week. been honored
with responsible appointments. Mayor
GRANT on Tuesday az receiver OF tho st.
Nicholas Bank. and Mayor HALL on We'd
ncsday as co-recclvcr OF tho Hoffman House
corporation. Heretofore. the position Of
retired Mayor OF New York has been largely
ornamental. the duties being to respond to
toasts. to sign subscription lists. and to
comment In published interviews. adversely
upon the actual administration OF public
affairs. II Is. therefore q pleasant sign to
SEQ 80 many Of our Mayors again TAX
ing hand ut the wheel OF activity. On
the Same line Mayor WILLIAM RowDEDow
GRACE is now engaged In the cheerful pur-
suit Of constructing bricks without straw.
in tho political field. leading a party with
out votes. without influence. and without
any rational excuse for existing. As this Is
a case wherein industry Is its sole reward.
and there can be no other. the diligence OF
this ex-Mayor deserves all the praise
which may be withheld from tho wis
dom OF his undertaking. Again. there
is the distinguished Mayor HEWITT. the
ever-ready letter writer. who has come
forth from n reluctant obscurity to pay his
respects to the Ubiquitous and impractical
bic income tax proposed in Washington.
Nor does the list of dligent Mayors stop
at this point; there is work for the others.
What. for instance. is the matter with
Mayor SMITH Ely. Jr.. and why shouldn't
he. also. exert himself? There is vacancy
in the Fourteenth Congress district caused
by the election OF the eloquent JOHN r.
I'rrr Nett ri
ally. Brother ELY would not fill the
Colonel's place. but his alert mental outfit is
up to date. and there is nothing to prevent
his going to Washington. fresh from the
people OF New York to bear their mandate
upon. say. the Hawaiian question. Hawaii
Is n small country. the people OF which are
struggling for the right of self-govern-
ment against monarchlcal encroachment.
What more appropriate. therefore. than
that the defence OF their rights should de-
volye upon vigorous man of small stature
and large mind?
This leaves out OF the calculation only
two OF our living Mayors. EDWARD COOPER
and FRANKLIN EPSON; and assurcdly in
these times OF energy. there Is no reason
why they should not perform their share Of
public service. Mr.. Cooper. for instance,
might be right In line with tho present
WILSON Tariff bill. and who more so? As
an avowed and unconditional Democratic
protectionlst- was the only member OF
the platform committee OF tho 1888 Demo
cratic Convention to dissent from its report
he could impartally and consistently
support the WILSON policy Of continued
protection; and what other Democrat Of the
1883 or 1892 Convention could or would;
Business mon are getting to be quite
prominent In politics Just now. and what
moro lifting civic service. therefore. could
DO rendered by Mayor Epson. the last bust
ncss-man Mayor. than to acquaint tho pub
lie with the pcrplcxitles which hesot n
business man performing official functions
In southwest corner room Of the City Hall
The revived aud rcvlving vitality of tho
Mayors OF New York Is IL vindicuti n ~
those voters who elected them. and choer-
Ing and encouraging sign Of tho tine-. Let
THOMAS +. GMRoY look 10 his Iaurc,a'