New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06
40 DANGER YET.

The satisfaction expressed by certain poll
ticians of this city because Mayor Strong shook
their hands instead Of punching their noses
when they driftcd into the city Hall To see how
he looked and acted. seems somewhat out OF
proportion 10 the magnitude Of the incident
There is Mr.. Justice Diver. for example. who
was recently acquitted and has not since been
convicted. of various rank offences. Diver ap
pears to be surprised and delighted III his re-
ception 10y the Mayor. evidently having surlnised
that another temporary loss Of cycsighl might
he the consequence of his tcmerity. ExMayor
Gilroy also, though more reticont is understood
to have been deeply moved by his successors
fOrbcarance. docming II a favorable augury for
the resuScitaion Of Tammany Hall. Other
statesmen who were lately informed that their
absence would he very precious To the people
are congratulating themselves and one another
that they have survived the ordeal Of New Years
Day in a comfortable condition of mind. body
and estate. We suppose that this general mood
Of establishment may he partly attributable 10
consciousness Of the eXaspcrating swaggcr with
which they have habtually confronted citizens
Of this town during n long lease, or usurpation,
of power But whatever the chief cause of their
surprise may be- the fact is one Of the inter
esting features of cheerful season.
Outside Of Tammany circles also slight ten
dcncy 10 exaggeratc the importance of Mayor
Strong's urbanity is observable and. without
precise knowledge on the subject dare affirm
that some timorous and suspicious souls have
been cast down by the horrd thought that per
haps Il mistake was made after all In picking
out reform Mayor. We can imagine their dis
appointment on learning that the new incumbent
did not fold his arms and survey his predecessor
and the rest of his recent antagonists with the
stern and awful visage that the mclodramatic
hero is wont TO turn upon the heavy villain.
But we cannot prevail upon ourselves 10 share
such dismal forebodincs. The law is alleged
not TO concern itself with triflcs. and good gov
eminent is not impcrillcd by an interchange Of
seasonable civilities The expectation Of the
voters who had some difficulty in agreeing 10
elect Mayor Strong has been that he would com
petely justify their action and give NcwYork
an administration Of It's municipal affairs which
all good citizens would enjoy while 1t lasted and
adopt as a standard for the future. So far as
we can see. the Mayor has done nothing tend
ing TO stihe that hope.
Indeed, having been in Office less than week
he has already given satisfactory proofs OF all
the sagacity and firmness which Mayor needs
to possess. He has made number OF appoint
ments. and not one of them is suggestive Of in
experience or instability. If anybody is dis
tressed because the new Mayor babe the old
Mayor a courteous farewell and laid his hand
upon Justice Diver only in the way of kind
ness he should console himself with the rcmeln-
brance that Colonel Strong has Instructed his
Commissioners of Accounts 10 go m III the
municipal departments with fine - n comb.
If ANYBODY is afraid Of the amenities 4 lfe he
nav recover his compOsure by reading the on
ergetic and saluary admonitlOn which The
Mayor yesterday addressed TO an official OF the
so-caled STRENGTHENING branch Of the govern
mental establishment. For ourselves we rather
like the good humor Of Colonel Strong In circum-
stances which vain or hypocritical person
would have converted into an opportunity for
Stimulating Spartan virtue. If he had contorted
his countenance into frOwn whenever Tam
many delinquent came within his range Of
vision we should have suspected him OF de-
sire to impress the alert. curious and repro
ductive reporter rather than the Tammany de
linGuent So long as an amiable salute Is the
only comfort which public enemies are able to
extract from Mayer Strong we shall continue
to believe that the city is safe.