New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-05
A WARNING FOR THE CITIZENS UNION.

WAkNING run me CiIIHENc CNiV-''
In the course Of his very sensible remarks
Yesterday on the activities and prospects Of the
Citizens Union, Mayor Strong made good point
against hasty action by recalling the melan-
choly performance Of the Good Government cluns
In 1895 In that year the hope of that general
body Of citizens from which the present move
ment must draw Its strength was by union OF
voters without any sacrifice Of principle, TO de-
feat the Tammany candidates for Register and
County Clerk and put non partisan officials IN
those places But the men who had obtained
control Of the Good Government organization
adopted, with an irritating display Of assurance
and a fantastic assumption Of superior wisdom.
n programme Of their own and proceeded to
make independent nominations. Some Of the
clubs formally repudiated this action, and
great majority Of the total membership undoubt-
edly condemned it. But the managers, so far
from acknowledging that they were wrong, in
sisted all the more strenuously that they were
right, proclaimed that support of their candi-
dates was an infallible test of genuine devotion
to municipal reform, and appeared to enjoy the
reproach that they were doing all they could to
rehabilitate Tammany Hall. They went to the
polls in that temper and took about fifteen hun
dred voters with them. How many citizens OF
independent procllvities were deferred from
voting at all by this spectacle Of vain perversity
It Is, Of course, impossible to say. There may
have been enough Of them to have made ra-
tlonal union movement successful The certain
fact is that the Good Government leaders made
q sorry exhibition Of themselves and by FOR
feting public respect and confidence greatly
diminished both the moral weight and the prac-
teal utility of the organization which they had
msmanaged.
IT. as seems to be the case, there IS danger
that men who were conspicuous in the fasco OF
1895 will obtain large influence In the counsels
Of the Citizens Union, 1t Is important to protest
at once against the cultivation Of such mood
and the adoption of such policy as excited gen
eral disgust two years ago A great majority
of those who belonged to the Good Government.
clubs at that time. whether they still belong to
them or not, are now, as they were then, sincere
advocates Of efficient, non-partlsan municipal
government, and have sensible, practical views
as to the best way Of securing It. They made
the mistake Of leaving their credit and their
organization in the hands Of men who were not
fitted for the trust, and consequently had the
modification of seeing their moral resources
by that example. they need to guard against
similar disaster this year. 1t is not improper
under the circumstances to say that the leaders
who represented them in 1893 produced uni
versal impression Of egotism and selfishness,
and in addition to that. were politically as fresh
as paint" Their assumption Of virtue and sa-
gacity was Overwhelmingly rebuked at the polls,
and thei. emergence at this time in the capacity
Of guides to the Citizens Union would be great
misfortune.
We have no desire to dictate policy to the
good citizens who are hopefully enrolling them
selves in supper: Of the principle that this city
ought to be governed on sound business prin-
cples 1t is too early, in our opinion. for any
man or group Of men to arrange an exact plan
Of action. especially in view Of the fact that COM
munities which are about to be added to New
York. and which are expected to furnish large
contributions TO the Citizens Union, are entitled
to a voice in its transactions.