The morning call., 1894-09-06
COMING TO A HEAD.

The desultory talk which has given
prominence to the problem Of municipal
government in the past few months is now
showing results. In the New York papers
a. call has been published for mass
meeting ITO organize citizens movement
for the government of the city of New
York entirely outside of party politics and
solely in the interest of efficiency, economy
and the public health and safety" In its
editorial columns the Herald speaks OF
this call as "a timely public spirited move
ment, which should be followed up in
earnest with the hearty support OF all
good citizens" In national politics the
Herald, Of course. is classed as a Demo-
crat. But Mr.. Choate. the president OF
. the constitutional convention, indorses the
movement In the convention. when the
article on city government was under dis
cussion, Mr.. Choate said:
The government of this city Is not a govern
ment of the people, by the people or for the
people. 1t Is not government by majority
or party. 1t is a government by four or five
men, at whose dictation the city offices are
filled and city affairs are administered. 1t Is
simply corrupt 0ligarchy run by The few for
the benefit of the few. Its main purpose is
spoils for spoils hunters.
Mr. Choate has been much talked of as
the Republican candidate for Governor
His Endorsement OF q citizens movement
to take municipal government out OF poll
tics Will not improve his chances of a
nomination. But it opens wider field Of
activity for him. The statesman who
leads the way TO the separation of munich
pal government from national politics
will make place in history for himself
IL successful he will remove a recognized
danger from the path of a republican
form of government. Europeans who
wish the republic well have pointed out
this a. the rock upon which our Govern
ment would split. Ii was the one problem
which the genius of the people has as yet
failed to solve. Yet it is a problem of
oveIshadowing Importance. the solution
of which cannot much longer be delayed.
The lowering of the standard OF public
conduct which has been witnessed in every
large business city is sign Of the lack Of
that moral sense in the people without
which popular government is impossible.
In New York as in San Francisco the
bribery of public officials is hardly an
offense. 1t subjects the guilty parties 10
no reproof. The confessed briber there
or here is admonished not 10 be so candid.
lie may bribe as much as he pleases, but
he must not proclaim his methods. What
proportion of our voters hold the corrupt
members OF the last Board of Supervisors
responsible either to the city or to their
party? What distinction is made In the
public mind between members who were
true to the people and those who prosti-
tuted their offices for personal gain? The
need Of this city as of New York and
other large Eastern cities is a higher
standard OF official integrity. If it be said
that the government is as good as the peo-
pie the answer is that the people must
create a higher standard both for them
selves and Tor their officials. 1t is not true
that the mass of the people are indifferent
to what officials do. They feel the dis.
grace of corrupt government, but do not
see the way clear to escape from ii. Look
ing back over our recent history they find
little choice between parties so far as mu-
nicipal government Is concerned. Some
times one seems to be a shade better and
sometimes the other. There are always
in both parties men in Office who would
serve the public honestly and intslligently
il the conditions under which they hold
Office would permit. What the people
have to do is to create conditions that in
spIre good service and punish bad ser
wants.