New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-18
THEY IRE MISTAKEN.

A member Of the Legislature was quoted on
Saturday as saying: IF the Police Magistrates
bill becomes law, it will be in such shape
that Mayor Strong will not benefit by II.
This is a significant remark, coming as 1t does
from one of those men in public station who
are obodiently executing the purpose OF prl-
yate citizen TO reduce the Mayor of Newly ork
to subsection If possible, and If not, TO impo-
tence 1t reveals very clearly, though perhaps
not intended TO do SO, the point Of view from
which these men contemplate their responsible
inv and their real attitude toward the people
of this city For we do not hear from any quar-
ter a denial that Mayor Strong IS endeavorlnS
10 discharge the duty with which he was IN
trusted by n great majority of the voters last
November nor is any respectable evidence pre-
scented 10 show that he is not satisfying their
expectation 1t is not pretended, furthermore
that he has any scheme Of personal aggrandize-
ment in hand. or is actuated by any secret am
btion Whatsoever Nobody charges him with
an intention TO build up faction bearing his
name and committed to his private interests
Indeed. one Of the accusations brought against
this eminent Republican is that he is not
politician as his opponents understand that
term
say that IF the Police Magistrates bill becomes
"a law. it will be in such shape that Mayor
"Strong will not benefit by it,: This is obv-
Ously threat, not merely prediction. But
who is threatened? Certainly not Mayor Strong
He has said more than once that he has no
pleasure or interest in such Il controversy with
the Legislature as his enemies are apparently
anxious TO foment. He has never made the
slightest claim to lawmaking functions. lie Is
content to do his duty as he sees ii, leaving
quite Cheerfuly and sensiby to others the
choice of doing or ncglccting theirs. lie Is not
looking for benefits for himself from the Police
Magistrates bill. or from any other legislative
project There Is no reason TO suppose that his
tranquility will be disturbed by the proceed
ings of those for whose character and conduct
he feels no responsibility, and over whom he
does not assume to exercise any control what
soevcr Nor IS there. from observation Of his
course thus far or from n reasonable forecast
of his course hereafter, the least occasion 10
apprehend that his reputation will he endan-
ccr(l by anything which the Legislature may
do or leave undone The Mayor has come to be
thoroughly we'll understood in this community,
and those whose welfare for the next three
years will depend more or less largely upon the
way in which he is to exercise his lawful
powers, whatever they may be, are not worry
ing on his account.
Mayor Strong is by this time well understood
elsewhere also; at Albany, for example. The
men there who announce their enmty to him
are not deceived as 10 his desires and inten-
tons. When, therefore. they say that 'if the
Police Magistrates bill becomes n law, it will
/ 'be in such shape that Mayor Strong will not
benefit 10y it." they confess, consciously or UNI
consciously, to a determination that the people
shall not benefit by it. That is the significance
of their threat. The people are 10 be sacrificed
to promote the selfish and destructive ambition
/ of an individual. There is not even a prctcnce
4 of denying that the bill is intrinsically a good
/ bill. bill that ought 10 pass on its merits and
/ would have passed before now. if the demon
/ strated need Of a radical reform Of the police
court system had been the only consideration
But the legislators who thus divulge their or
ders aud proclaim their subservicnce are willing
to bctray the people, and imagine that it is safe
to bclray them. They are mistaken.