New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-09
LILLE MAYOR'S CRITICS.

THE MAYORS CRITICS.
II Is perhaps unfortunate that the most ener-
gctic and enthusiastic champions Of reform have
so little OF the grace Of patience We say per
haps because are not quite sure that IN the
| general operation Of causes 1t Is really mis-
fortune that these gentlemen are In so much or
hurry and do keep themselves in such constant
stew because things do not 80 to suit them or
great reforms move at such an exasperaunSly
slow rate They must serve some useful purpose
in the economy Of nature; their temperament
leads them TO worry and fret about things they
| can't help. and it may be that they contribute
| to the advancement OF the general welfare ny
the very trials to which their righteousness SUD
| jects the patience Of the greater public. These
are the people who are quick TO scent 'reachery
upon any divergence in a line OF policy from their
| own views; whose suspicious are aroused by any
| appearance Of dissent from their preconceived
notions; and who. Immediately upon anything
happening that they have not forescen or 90 not
understand, set up wall that the cause mas
been betrayed. IL was that sort or people mat
| began nagging Mr. Lincoln with their urgency
for the abolition Of slavery before lie had fairly
taken his seat and kept II up all through mo
| War No doubt they were In sense the instrh'
mcnts Of Providence In tho accomplishment OF
| the great result but II may be- SAID That IN ne
eyes Of the Nation at large they were always
an irritating aud rasplng inscrulabllity. IL was
not their nagglng, but the sublime pnilcnco OF
Mr. Lincoln. working slowly and waiting calmly.
which saved ibc Union aud made an end OF
slavery.
The uprising Of last November against corrupt
municipal government was no less Significant III
It's purpose, and hardly less farreaching In It's
ultimate consequences than the Republican trl-
umph Of 1850 The impulse from which II sprung
was not momentary nor sporadic, nor was 1t
merely an outbreak Of Indignation against local
misrule II was the expression in this city ana
! State Of a popular feeling that had been rising
for some time and was now general throughout
the country The disgust for corrupt methods
and dishonest practices In municipal government
had become univ ersa: the longing for something
better for relief from fostering abuses ana the
domination Of organized crme-had become IN
! tense Out Of this there came TO MS something
In the nature of political revolution. All men
who contributed by their votes and Influence 10
This change were not actuate1 by absolutely I'M
selfish motives nor were they all wise. The
separation between those who were actuatcd
solely by public motives and those who We're
Influenced by the selfish desire OF promoting
nersonal or partisan advantage caI,c quickly, and
the lines were sharply drawn Then followed
what exnerience has shown to be inevitable, II
not unavoidable In such situations, an eruption
| Of differences Of opinion concerning the policy
10 be pursued and the methods TO be employed
to carry into practical operation and full erect
the reforms deemed necessary for the termlna'
ton OF rogue rule and the establishment Of hon
est administration under reasonable laws. The
resulting controversy has been growing warm
until in the discussion Of what Is now known as
the Bipartisan Police BILL it reached point
where It seemed as II the disputants over policies
and methods had almost less liberation for one
anoihcr's opinions than for the party which they
had united to overthrow.
In this state OF things It has seemed 10 us 10
be Il piece Of good fortune that we have had in
the office Of Mayor a patient, panstaking,
straightforward man, accessible to ALL courte-
Gus listener discreetly retcent, not hasty In
Judgment, but resoue in his convictions. and
possessing above all things imperturbabc good
nature and saving common-sense. lie has been
blamed for his slowness by the impatient, for
non -partisanship by partsans, for partisanship
by political theorists and purists, for favoritlsm
by some Of the disappointed, and for insensibiliiy
to the obligations of friendship by others; and 1t
seems TO us that he has borne himself under it
all with unusual fOrbearance, fOrilnde and mod
esty Above ALL he has demonstrated. AS we be
ieve, to the public satisfaction, that lie is AMI
mated by an honest purpose and sincere desire
to give this city the good government and clean
administration which were promised in his cleo
ton In approving the Bipartisan bill he has
taken a step which prOvokes the criticism Of
many Of the most ardent advocates Of municipal
reform Some Of them have already gone so far
as TO say that such a course would be q betrayal
Of the cause which his election represented
They are hasty and unwse Mayor Strong has
shown no disposition TO violate any OF the pledges
upon which he was elected or betray any cause
which he has espoused. No unprecedented or rea
sonablo man supposes for moment that In TAX
Ing The course he did he was impeed by my
other motive Than tho public good, The bill ho
approved IN fur from perfect Indeed, perfection
IA legislation Of this sort " never st,ainable
But this has seemed 10 him. NV wa believe II has
20 tho majority Of those who elected him. thu
best thing attninablc In existing conditions We
are confident. however, that under his admins
trntion much better results will accrue from II
than his critics now allow TO bc possible We
may not have IN ideal police system or m abso