New-York tribune., 1895-10-02
THE AISTAKE OF IMPATIENCE.

The Good Government clubs-or the young
persons who, being the most active and ener-
re,c element in their membership hold the
same relation 10 them that the active and ener-
cctjc politicians do to other political organlza-
tions, and who consequently direct their action
have gone and made a mistake. 1t was just
such q mistake as they might have been expected
70 make: the mistake Of youth. inexperience and
impatience 1t is not irremedable. perhaps but
IT Is bad enough to confuse wiser counsels. give
a misleading start TO the fall campaign ana
make trouble which, by the exercise OF little
more patience and a little more discretion, might
have been avoided. The Good Government
clubs or the ruling spirits who shape ther
action undoubtedly mean well. They are very
much In earnest SO much in earnest tnat they
cannot conceive how anybody else can be just
as much in earnest in the same cause as the!
are themselves. This is very unfortunate frame
Of mind for any man or any body or men 10 De
In who are setting out upon political enter
prise the success Of which depends rather upon
the sympathy ard cooperation OF large num-
Der Of voters than upon the earnestness, energy
or zeal OF few. For the average voter, TO put
II with exceeding plainness, kicks at being led
by any small body Of persons, however superior
they may be- who seem TO the average voter 10
be stuck on themselves. In this case no one
denies that the young persons are superior, nor
that they are extremely good; but the essential
thing in political enterprises Is numbers; ana
when the young persons jump to the front, Sc
lect the leaders, and lay out the plans for cam
paign for several allied organizations equally
earnest. but little older, there Is general dis
position 10 enumerate them. If there are not
enough Of them to command success independent
" of the organizations which they refuse to
consult. but assume 10 lead, the average voter
laughs at them.
There are not enough voters In the member
ship of The Good Government clubs to warrant
them in sallying ont, as they apparently did on
Monday night, without regard TO any other or
canization and taking the right Of the line. The
Tribune has maintained all along that, though
the Republican party Of this county contributes
to The alliance in favor of good government ana
municipal reform an overwhelming majority OF
voters IL would be unwise for the party to lead
off in the coming campaign In an extensively In
dependent way, making its nominations without
consulting with the representatives, OF other or
ganizations equally favorable 10 the common
cause whose cooperation. If not absolutely essen
to the movement in which 1t is enlisted. And
when The Tribune urges its own party, con
fessedly the largest and most powerful Of the
allied organizations, to proceed with delibera-
ton and act only upon consultation and some
effort toward agreement with other members OF
the Municipal Reform and Good Government
alliance. it may be permitted TO urge the same
considerations upon the political bodies with
tYxtt, 1ati Ion A
have this year better municipal government
than last, better police force, better poilce
courts. and better administration in all depart
ments-which, we think. will be admitted by all
citizens who are not welded to the Tammany
organizatiOn-it Is due TO the political comDlna-
ton which was made last year under the auspices
Of the Committee Of Seventy, aud which was
only made possible by concessions and compro-
misses on unimportant matters by all parties TO
| the union But the work, as everybody knows,
was only begun last year. 1t cannot be continued
II the work OF disntegratlon begun Monday
night by the impatient and overzealous young
persons of the Good Government clubs goes on.
| The Tribune does not undertake 10 lay down
rules or set forth any particular programme 10
be followed 10 keep together In harmonious
operation the various elements which contributed
TO last years phenomenal success. But 1t does
most earnestly desire that result in the interest
Of good government and for the general welfare.
In this view it cannot but condemn the action
| Of the Good Government clubs as both impolitic
| and unwise. While doing this II recognizes their
sincerity and earnestness. 1t is case OF over
zeal and mpatence. Meantime there is lesson
in 1t to be learned by the older organizations.
The hardest thing in the world is TO be tolerant
of intolerance and patient with impaticnce The
young persons have manifested a degree Of in
tolerance toward those who do not agree with
them in all particulars. Let us be tolerant OF
their intolerance and administer TO them that
| gentlcst OF all rebukes Let us be patient with
| their impatence and give them example of
practical politics which may teach them that
| they do not know II all and be Of benefit 10
them hereafter Above all. now let there be a
patlent. united and continuous effort on the
,,art of the real friends Of Good Government to
bring about a union which shall be purposcful
| and affoctivp