Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-02-22
THE PRICE OF COOP GOVERN
MENT

MENI.
Belief seems general that the forces OF
evil will be eliminated from municipal ad.
ministration in the government of the great
city of New York by reason of the effect OF
the election last Fall, and that the determi
nation of the people to have good govern
ment will hencelorth insure their permanent
retirement. Tammany and its supporters
and sympathizers have been Overwhelmingly
sent TO the rear, and the new administration
seems lmpregnsby intrenched behind the
moral support Of its fifty thousand majority.
The police department, rotten to the core,
is being thoroughly recognized, and, pre-
sunably, placed under controlling head.
The local judiciary is to be recast, and the
machinery of justice thoroughly cleansed.
Corruption is TO be brought to an end, and
the bride. takers and other official violators
Of law prosecuted and punished. The big
rogues will, of course, escape, with, possibly,
one or two exception. Accepting the popu-
lar decision that it is as well to be hung for
a sheep as lamb they have taken the whole
sheep, long experience having shown that
the man who is thus broad minded, not
only reaps the largest reward, but most
easily evades punishment. But the pro-
gramme of the reformers contemplates a
thorough purging of this municipal govern
ment.
There will be a general hope that it will
be successful, as it now promises, and per-
mahent But as Lowell said, "There is no
trick of perpetual motion in politics" and
all this has occurred before. Previous
spasms OF virtue have swept out Of exist
ence the most formidable of "rings" and
"bosses." New York is money getting
: city. The respectable voters are busy with
stocks and merchandise, and will not take
the time to hold down the disreputables,
who want to control for the money there is
in it. The respectables really want good
government, and if it could be had for the
asking, or did not involve neglect of business
or opposition to party or friends in order to
obtain it, they would be content They do
not forget that nothing good can be had
without effort, but they are busy and Opt
mistc, and hope that every thing will come
out right. The result is that the old corrupt
machine is recognized, the disreputable
and foreign element attracted to it by its
promise of plumber, as the respectabes be-
come careless and cease voting, it gradually
regains its former control. So long as il
governs well and does not steal too much,
its tenure is secure. But the tendency to
overreach itself is irresistible, and II goes
down at last under wave of outraged
virtue. Then the respectable renews its
determination to keep it down, and real
ly means it-for a while. Even the sub
merged disreputables begin to believe that
honesty may be good policy, and are ready
10 say with Mrs. Stoves slave catcher, 81
feel like reforming Bill, this is getting too
dangerous for me-"
But the old process repeats itself, and will
continue to do so until the good understand
thoroughly that good government cannot be
secured by methods or devices, and cannot
be maintained save by eternal vigilance 1t
is true that there is some good even in
periodic efforts at reformation They show
that the moral and law abiding citizens are
in majority and can suppress evil when they
wan, 10, and the municipal constitution is
given time to recuperate from the worst
effects of political corruption and debauch.
But ii is not pleasant to reflect upon the
hack Of civic pride and the failure to fulfill
civic obligations which surrenders MUM
cipal government, save for brief periods, to
the evil
just now determination seems to be strong
in the favor of good, clean and honest gov
ment for the City of New York, and its
good effect will be felt in all of the great
leading cities of the country. The new
mayor is starting ont in the right direc.
tion-he is evidently for clean men Tor posi-
tons OF trust and Importance The request
OF the old and currupt officials to hold over
appears to be met with the reply which Mr..
Lear puts into the mouth of the kangaroo
in his nonsense rhyme:
"Please give me ride On your back,
Said the duck to the kangaroo,
could sit quite still and say nothing but
quack
The whole of the long day through"
"Said the kangaroo to the duck,
This requires some little reflection,
-Peihaps,on the whole, it might bring me luck,
And there seems but one objection,
Which is, if you will let me speak so bold,
Your feet are unpleasanty wet and cold,
And would probably give me the roo
Matiz, said the kangaroo"