New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-10
prrTSTNG THEIR ESTIMATES.

An American citizen generally thinks that he
knows what public opinion is. and does not hest
tate TO communicate his knowledge. mus the
practice of free speech Is constantly showing
how widely the speakers differ in their estimates,
and consequently proving that many must be
mistaken. A few weeks ago most Democrats
and some Republicans were convinced that the
polica Roord's enforcement Of the Excise law
was very unpopular; that Mr.. Roosevelt in par
,,cular was running his party; that the iene-
ment- house districts were seething with discon-
tent and longing for the polls to open, and that
the shrieks Of Freedom were welding her vo-
tarIes into a solid body Of crusaders who would
presently arise and glut their ire. There were
two questions presented to view. One of them
was whether or not the people wouid s's'aih III
enforcing the law officials who had sworn to en-
force It. great many persons thought 'hey
would NOT. What Mr.. Roosevelt and his col
leagues thought about this question we 90 not
know Whatever they may nave thoughi' 'hey
believed that their duty was plain, and they con-
tinued vigorously to put their beef INTO ACTON.
The other question was whether the people WOULD
ultimately be found to like or dislike the law
itself From the point of view OF the romeo
Commissioners that was not n pracucal ques-
ton though interesting and likely to become an
issue in the near future
Certainly as 10 the first Of these questions, rs
II appears to us, Il great number OF individuals
who were voluble have fallen into silence. The
inference is that great many opinions have
been modified Indications Of a popular upris-
ing are extremely few and faint so far as orr
observations extend. But since we are COM
,pontinr on the subject of cOcksureness. we
would be modest ourselves. Perhaps we are
mistaken And yet. time has gone on, evil
dence has seemed 10 be accumula'ing IN support
of the con lecture that enforcement OF the Excise
law Is producing more respect for than deiesla-
ton Of the Police Board; that majority OF lhe
people are lawabiding. whether their personal
inclinations are suited or not. and that on plain
issue of fidelity to an oath Of Office no puphc
official can be successfully mpeached or pllloried
in the State of New-York. 1t Is possible also
that as TO the other question the views OF man!
have undergone a considerable change. Recent
events especially have at least conveyed the sug-
cestjon that such an alteration would not be IRA
tional That was an impressive scene the other
night AT the convention Of the Catholic Total
Abstinence Union when Senator O'Sulllvan. gen
orally welcome speaker to Catholics and Irish
men. was vigorously Kissed for speech which
Mr. Roosevelt was enthusiastically cheered for
answering All the incidents Of that meeting
were very suggestive-the presence and approval
OF great dignitaries Of the Catholic Church, the
hearty welcome given TO the head of the mi-
nicipal government, the resolution that Presi-
dent Cleary's remarkably strenuous and uncom-
promising address should be printed for distrl-
button the general atmosphere Of rejoicing over
every blow struck at the Illegal promotion Of vice
We should not be surprised TO learn that there
has been pretty general revision OF political
estimates since that meeting.
There is other testimony bearing on one or
both of the questions under consideration. Many
n barroom loafer has declared that the poor are
being shamefuy oppressed and are conscious
of the fact Men of a different stamp. like the
Paulist Fathers. for example, say that the tene-
ment-house districts We're never before in their
experience so contented. We hardly think that
the barroom loafer is the better authority.
Finally we wish to repeat that We do not AS
sumo more knowledge of public opinion than we
possess We merely wish TO intimate that con-
fident prediction is often bad guess.