New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-13
GRADY, j.


red-lettcr days for the human race when
Grady. J.. Of the Police Court Bepch, puts
off his crminc. unbtnds his dignity and relax
ing the restraints of his judicial position enlts
In siIyery discourse his views upon current po-
litical topics or grave social problems. This he
did NJ the East Fourteenth Street Home for the
Political Incurablcs on Friday evening. with
fudlty Of dlctlon that gradually gurgled into
Aux noise of manner that suggested with
much force the tiptoe Diana of the Garden
Tower and n volume Of sound that hurtlcd
through the hall, as when the looscncd winds
churn the high seas and strand the argoSics of
commerce. A contemporary describes Grady.
+. on this occasion as pink checked" But the
check of Grady. j. is inadcquatcly represented
in mere terms of color Its hue Is unimporiant.
What gives II it's significance and makes IL
monumental Is the broad expanse Of 1t. beside
which that Of the provcrbal right whale
seems narrow and unobtrusiyc. and the i'm
Venerable hardness of It, in comparison with
which the CHECK of a heather god Is dimplcd
softncss.
Grady. J.. was at his best on Friday night
For after n proper display of grief at the re-
tirement Of Mr. Croker from the leadership
Of Tammany Hall. he proceeded to describe
I'm impassloned language the arrogance Oh
wealth." the unbridlcd tyranny of the Chamber
of Commerce. the woes OF the "milkman, the
SORROWS of the elevated railroad guard aud
the oppression Of the poor. The text OF Grady
j. was the high-handel attempt OF the 'haihoer
Of CommeKce TO influence legislation AT Albany
ON the Pdlce Commission and Rapid Transit
bills. Think OF IT," said Grady. j. These
bills, not the work Of any political party repre-
scented by free primaries or al the polls, hui OF
the wealthy Chamber Of Commerce sell -collst-
tuted rulers OF NcwYork." Not twenty-five "r
them. he said knew where man was taken
when he was arrested. "wheih To station
house or police court or n hospital lie was
addressing an audience most OF whom KNOW
very well not only where a man Is taken Wh'h
arrested but when to have pull 10 E't
away. and his protest against permitting any
Interference with the police system by wealthy
men who had never experienced an arrest ana
consequently were In dense ignorance ot Inc
process was peculiarly effective. rs he pointer
out the absurdi,y Of the proposition. many
who had grown old learning where mon are
taken when arrested by the police applauded
enthusiastically.
I'pon the arrogant assumption OF the wealthy
men Of the Chamber Of Commerce that thcir
ideas of rapid transit should be- treated with
any consideration. Grady, j.. jumped from
great height with both feet Seldom have
wealthy men been thrown down. jumped on
and walked over with such cordially ana
warmth II was an extremely hard night Tor
wealth Grady, j.. showed II no quarter III
Is the old fight In n new FORM. said he. tine
old contention that because you are poor you
cannot be trusted with government II may
well be imagined that language like this al
dressed TO men suffering from the pangS OF
noverty 10 such an extent that the diamonds
IN their shirt fronts were hardly larger than
tho cnd Of n poor mans thumb, none Of whom
had been trusted with government except IN
the trifIng matters OF municipal and State
offices which they held without being trusted.
excited profound feeling. There are men. he
said. who revolt ut the idea that mllkman
can be IN Alderman, or IN elevated railroad
clanl be an Asscmblyman. These men Will
never submit 10 the development Of the humble
individual into the man who can handle pubic
affairs" Herein 1t seems 10 us, Grady, D.,
got lust about one hucklcbcrry on. NO man
would revolt at n milkman's becoming an Alder
man. but when the Alderman becomes MIX
man there is kicking among heads OF families
all along the route. Nor do we think there
would be much objection 10 an elevated ran
road guards becoming an Assemblyman The
travelling public, rich and poor, would be quite
willing that they should be Asscmbymcn or
anything else, indeed, except elevated railroad
guards.
In conclusion, Grady, j. said: 1.-THE loss OF
Mr. Croker merely serves notice on us to close
ranks. touch elbows and keep our powder dry
An eloquent appeal, which many Of his audi
ence had anticipated, their powder being al
ready dry, by exercising their elbows at the
nearest bar. But 1t was a great night for
Grady, j., and a great night for the oppressed
Door Of whom he Is the champion at the Mig
gardly salary Of $1,000 year. 1t was hard
night for wealth. but who shall say that AFRO
CANT wealth does not deserve TO be trampled |
on?